“I reckon I’ll be going up west now, Mistress Sue,” he said, as he half rose to his feet and looked toward the door.
“Oh!”—there was a note of real regret in the girl’s voice—“must you go so early, Master French?”
Big French sat down again quickly.
“Nay,” he said shortly, and there was silence again for another minute or so.
She stitched busily the while.
“Is it great business you have in the west, Master French?” she said at last, her eyes still on her work.
French discovered suddenly that it was easier to talk to her if she was not looking at him.
“Ay,” he said. “Black’erchief Dick will get in to-morrow.”
Sue sighed.
“Ah!” she said, “you have a fine life, Master French, travelling to and fro the way you do.”