“No; not in ten million years. What sort of freedom would that be?”
“Yet the learned ones at the mission-house will surely persuade you to take some such step.”
Hyacinth laughed scornfully.
“One cannot persuade a hummingbird to come to one’s hand. No; nor can these ones of the mission-house persuade me to do aught against my will.”
“But they of the mission-house—Mr. Blount—insinuated that we have not the right to possess you.”
“He is foolish. He has blue eyes,” said she of the blue eyes, disdainfully.
“Yet it is true that we have no legal right to you,” said Aoi, sadly.
“No? And why have you not?”
“Because I am not your real mother, and the time may come when others may claim you.”
“Since my own mother is gone, has not my foster-mother all right over me?”