"But you are a boy, Ben," interposed Mrs. Wyman, "and can do a great variety of things. Lilian isn't strong enough for hard riding, and, besides, she misses her friends."
"Let her make new ones," piped up Jamie. "There's lots of nice people all over these prairies."
"She will find them in time," said Mrs. Wyman. "But you must cheer her all you can meanwhile."
Lilian overheard herself discussed, and began to sob afresh.
Jack went into the sitting-room and playfully pulled her ears, and tried to laugh her out of her gloom.
"Come now, Lil. What is it you want—a gallop, a sleigh-ride?"
Lilian could confess anything to Jack.
She told him all that had been in her thoughts—how the Deerfield girls were getting ready for callers, what pretty dresses they would have, and what gay, good times.
"Do you want callers? Is that what you want, Lilian?"
"Oh, you stupid fellow! I want anything except this awful experience. I told mother I even wished the Indians would drop down on us."