The entrance of Captain Franklin put an end to the inspired portrayal of wifely devotion. As Katherine had said, he did not look stubborn. On the contrary, he seemed to be the mildest sort of a man, for he was quiet and unobtrusive in manner. His skin was very white, and the contrast of his jet-black hair and mustache made him look pale.
"Did you tell them the news?" he asked Ronald.
"'Pon my word, Captain, I haven't had time. They've been chattering so ever since I came in that I'm nearly deaf with it. You tell 'em."
"I don't know as you'd call it news," said the Captain; "but we can't afford to ignore any incident out here. A Kickapoo runner has come in from the Illinois River, and he says the pack-trains are about to start from there and from the Kankakee, and that they will be here soon."
"It's an early Spring," remarked Mrs. Franklin.
"I'm glad," said Katherine; "I love to be outdoors, and the Winters in this lonesome little Fort are almost unbearable."
"What?" asked Ronald, "with me here?"
"Drill to-morrow," said the Captain, turning to his subordinate. The Ensign saluted gravely, but made no reply.
The Captain lingered a few moments, listening while the others talked. "Are you going home, Mary?" he asked.