So she asked them a trifle shyly, and they thanked her gravely, turned one by one to take a silent leave of me, then went noiselessly out into the early dusk.
"Euan, my dear mother is awaiting you in our best room."
"I will instantly pay my duties and–"
"Lana is there also."
"Does she know?"
"Yes. God help her and the young thing she has taken to her heart. The news came by courier a week ago."
"How he died? Does she know?"
"Oh, Euan! Yes, we all know now!… I have scarce slept since I heard, thinking of you.... When you have paid your respects to my mother and to Lana, come quietly away with me again. Lana has been weeping—what with the distant music of the approaching regiments, and the memory of him who will come no more–"
"I understand."
She lifted her face to mine, laying her hands upon my shoulders.
"Dost thou truly love me, Lois?" I asked.
[26 - "Thou seest."]"Sat-kah-tos," she murmured.
[27 - "Dost thou love?"]"Se-non-wes?" I insisted.
[28 - "I love thee, O Loskiel… Ah, thou mightest have been destroyed! If thou hadst perished by the wayside–"]"Ke-non-wes, O Loskiel." Her arms tightened around my neck, "Ai-hai! Ae-saya-tyen-endon! Ae-sah-hah-i-yen-en-hon–"
"Hush, dearest—dearest maid. 'Twixt God and Tharon, nothing can harm us now."
And I heard the faint murmur of her lips on mine:
"Etho, ke-non-wes. Nothing can harm us now."
THE END
notes
1
Thus it befell!
2
Corn, squash, and bean were so spoken of affectionately, as they always were planted together by the Iroquois.
3
*Seneca River.
4
"This thing shall happen, Lois!"
5
"It shall happen, O Loskiel! We love, thou and I."
6
"I am going to this war, Lois."
7
"I understand perfectly. I am resigned."
8
"I am working for somebody."
9
"It is well!"
10
"I am weeping."
11
"Mouse."
12
"No, I am weeping."
13
"I love your beautiful foot, little mouse."
14
"My foot? I consent."
15
"I thank you."
16