She bewailed Lucy, not only as a
vanished relative but as a necessary member of the McMurdo escort. And
doubts of Zavier's lawful intentions shook her from the abandon of her
grief, to furious invective against the red man of all places and
tribes whereso'er he be.
"The dirty French-Indian," she wailed, "to take her off where he knows
fast enough there's no way of marrying her."
Courant tried to console her by telling her there was a good chance of
the fugitives meeting a Catholic missionary, but that, instead of
assuaging, intensified her woe.
"A Catholic!" she cried, raising a drenched face from her apron. "And
ain't that just as bad? My parents and hers were decent Presbyterians.
Does their daughter have to stand up before a priest? Why don't you
say a Mormon elder at once?"
The McMurdos' condition of grief and rage was so violent, that the
doctor suggested following the runaways. Bella rose in glad assent to
this. Catch Lucy and bring her back! She was cheered at the thought
and shouted it to Glen, who had gone off in a sulky passion and stood
by his oxen swearing to himself and kicking their hoofs.
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