"
Her father gave the fingers crooked on his arm a little squeeze with
his elbow. It was evident the pair were very good friends.
"You'll make these young men think I'm a helpless invalid, who'll lie
in the wagon all day. They won't want us to go with them."
This made her again uneasy and let loose another flow of authoritative
words.
"No, my father isn't really an invalid. He doesn't have to lie in the
wagon. He's going to ride most of the time. He and I expect to ride
all the way, and the old man who goes with us will drive the mules.
What's been really bad for my father was living in that dreadful hotel
at Independence with everything damp and uncomfortable. We want to get
off just as soon as we can, and this gentleman," indicating Leff, "says
you want to go, too."
"We'll start to-morrow morning, if it's clear."
"Now, father," giving the arm she held a renewed clutch and sharper
shake, "there's our chance. We must go with them."
The father's smile would have shown something of deprecation, or even
apology, if it had not been all pride and tenderness.
"These young men will be very kind if they permit us to join them," was
what his lips said.
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