She was interrupted in her musing by the arrival of Alice, who came in, bright and cloud-dispelling, bearing a basket which she placed on the table, while she laughed at the wonder in Lissa’s large eyes.
“I’ve come to take you over to breakfast with me,� she said. “Ah, I see you haven’t even thought of breakfast yet. What a lazy girl! We get up early here in the West. The sun doesn’t have to climb any mountains or tall tree-tops before he reaches us. Why, how bewildered you look! I’ve been to the post this morning, pony and I. Nate sent by me to get a few things which are in the basket.�
“You don’t mean to say you carried that big basket on the back of that diminutive pony?� Lissa exclaimed.
“To be sure I did, and another one like it. But come now, we’ll walk over. It will give you an appetite for breakfast.�
When Lissa had once more returned to her own home, which, humble as it was, had an irresistible attraction for her, she found plenty of employment in unpacking and arranging the contents of the large trunks which had been brought out from C—— the previous day. Although at first it seemed impossible to find places for so many things, there was pleasure in devising ways and means. Lissa found that the trunks could be utilized as packing-cases and window-seats, the dry-goods boxes converted into cupboards and wardrobes, and before many hours, with Nathan’s assistance, she had succeeded in arranging everything to her satisfaction.
As they were seated at their little table for an early tea, Lissa suddenly gave a faint scream and overturned a cup of the scalding fluid which she was handing to her husband, soiling the snowy whiteness of the table-cloth.
“Why, Lissa, what is the matter?� cried Nathan, in alarm; but following the direction of her eyes, he saw the face of an Indian flattened against the pane of glass of their small window, and his alarm changed to mirth.
The redman, seeing he was noticed, presented himself at the door, and drawing in his chest, and assuming a most woe-be-gone expression, said “te-cawpox,� accompanying his words by a gesture indicating that he desired something to eat.
“He says he is hungry,� said Nathan. “What can we give him?�
Lissa lifted the plate of warm biscuits from the table, but Nathan interposed.