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think she confounds me with somebody else； and is strange！
Sometimes when we are in company she stands alone and stares at
everybody； without saying a word； as if she didn't understand them。
Or else she gets painfully excited and dances all night until she
is exhausted。 I thought； perhaps；〃 he added timidly； 〃that you
might know； and would tell me if she had any singular experience as
a child；any illness； or；〃 he went on still more gently； 〃if
perhaps her mother or father〃
〃No；〃 interrupted Peter almost brusquely； with the sudden conviction
that this was no time for revelation of his secret； 〃no； nothing。〃
〃The doctor says；〃 continued Lascelles with that hesitating； almost
mystic delicacy with which most gentlemen approach a subject upon
which their wives talk openly； 〃that it may be owing to Jenny's
peculiar state of health just now； you know； and that ifall went
well； you know； and there should bedon't you seea little
child〃
Peter interrupted him with a start。 A child！ Jenny's child！
Silver Cloud's grandchild！ This was a complication he had not
thought of。 No！ It was too late to tell his secret now。 He only
nodded his head abstractedly and said coldly； 〃I dare say he is
right。〃
Nevertheless； Jenny was looking remarkably well。 Perhaps it was
the excitement of travel and new surroundings； but her tall； lithe
figure； nearly half a head taller than her husband's； was a
striking one among the officers' wives in the commandant's sitting…
room。 Her olive cheek glowed with a faint illuminating color；
there was something even patrician in her slightly curved nose and
high cheek bones； and her smile； rare even in her most excited
moments； was； like her brother's； singularly fascinating。 The
officers evidently thought so too； and when the young lieutenant of
the commissary escort； fresh from West Point and Flirtation Walk；
gallantly attached himself to her； the ladies were slightly
scandalized at the naive air of camaraderie with which Mrs。
Lascelles received his attentions。 Even Peter was a little
disturbed。 Only Lascelles； delighted with his wife's animation；
and pleased at her success； gazed at her with unqualified
admiration。 Indeed； he was so satisfied with her improvement； and
so sanguine of her ultimate recovery； that he felt justified in
leaving her with her brother and returning to Omaha by the regular
mail wagon next day。 There was no danger to be apprehended in her
accompanying Peter； they would have a full escort； the reservation
lay in a direction unfrequented by marauding tribes； the road was
the principal one used by the government to connect the fort with
the settlements； and well traveled； the officers' wives had often
journeyed thither。
The childish curiosity and high spirits which Jenny showed on the
journey to the reservation was increased when she reached it and
drew up before the house of the Indian agent。 Peter was relieved；
he had been anxious and nervous as to any instinctive effect which
might be produced on her excitable nature by a first view of her
own kinsfolk； although she was still ignorant of her relationship。
Her interest and curiosity； however； had nothing abnormal in it。
But he was not prepared for the effect produced upon THEM at her
first appearance。 A few of the braves gathered eagerly around her；
and one even addressed her in his own guttural tongue； at which she
betrayed a slight feeling of alarm； and Peter saw with satisfaction
that she drew close to him。 Knowing that his old interpreter and
Gray Eagle were of a different and hostile tribe a hundred miles
away； and that his secret was safe with them； he simply introduced
her as his sister。 But he presently found that the braves had
added to their curiosity a certain suspiciousness and sullen
demeanor； and he was glad to resign his sister into the hands of
the agent's wife； while he prosecuted his business of examination
and inspection。 Later； on his return to the cabin； he was met by
the agent； who seemed to be with difficulty suppressing a laugh。
〃Your sister is exciting quite a sensation here；〃 he said。 〃Do you
know that some of these idiotic braves and the Medicine Man insist
upon it that she's A SQUAW； and that you're keeping her in
captivity against your plighted faith to them！ You'll excuse me；〃
he went on with an attempt to recover his gravity； 〃troubling you
with their dd fool talk； and you won't say anything to HER about
it； but I thought you ought to know it on account of your position
among 'em。 You don't want to lose their confidence； and you know
how easily their skeery faculties are stampeded with an idea！〃
〃Where is she now？〃 demanded Peter； with a darkening face。
〃Somewhere with the squaws； I reckon。 I thought she might be a
little skeered of the braves； and I've kept them away。 SHE'S all
right； you know； only if you intend to stay here long I'd〃
But Peter was already striding away in the direction of a thicket
of cottonwood where he heard the ripple of women's and children's
voices。 When he had penetrated it； he found his sister sitting on
a stump； surrounded by a laughing； gesticulating crowd of young
girls and old women； with a tightly swaddled papoose in her lap。
Some of them had already half mischievously； half curiously
possessed themselves of her dust cloak； hat； parasol； and gloves；
and were parading before her in their grotesque finery； apparently
as much to her childish excited amusement as their own。 She was
even answering their gesticulations with equivalent gestures in her
attempt to understand them； and trying amidst shouts of laughter to
respond to the monotonous chant of the old women who were
zigzagging a dance before her。 With the gayly striped blankets
lying on the ground； the strings of beads； wampum； and highly
colored feathers hanging from the trees； and the flickering lights
and shadows； it was an innocent and even idyllic picture； but the
more experienced Peter saw in the performances only the uncertain
temper and want of consecutive idea of playing animals； and the
stolid unwinking papoose in his sister's lap gave his sentiment a
momentary shock。
Seeing him approach she ran to meet him； the squaws and children
slinking away from his grave face。 〃I have had such a funny time；
Peter！ Only to think of it； I believe they've never seen men or
women with decent clothes before；of course the settlers' wives
don't dress much；and I believe they'd have had everything I
possess if you hadn't come。 But they're TOO funny for anything。
It was killing to see them put on my hat wrong side before； and try
to make one out of my parasol。 But I like them a great deal better
than those gloomy chiefs； and I think I understand them almost。
And do you know； Peter； somehow I seem to have known them all
before。 And those dear little papooses； aren't they ridiculously
lovely。 I only wish〃she stopped； for Peter had somewhat
hurriedly taken