صفحة 252 من 439

Her father turned reproachfully upon her. "Now, honey, yo' done

wrong to say that. Yo' know Mr. Fraser is welcome to stay in my

house long as he wants. I'm proud to have him stay. Do you think

I forgot already what he done for us?"

"Of course not. Then it's all settled," Arlie cut in, and rushed

on to another subject. "How's the round-up coming, dad?"

"We'll talk about the round-up later. What I'm saying is that Mr.

Fraser has only got to say the word, and I'm there to he'p him

till the cows come home."

"That's just what I told him, dad."

"Hold yore hawsses, will yo', honey? But, notwithstanding which,

and not backing water on that proposition none, we come to

another p'int."

"Which Jed made to you carefully on the way down," his daughter

interrupted scornfully.