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Rosebud laughed; and at least three people understood that laugh. Mrs. Rickards turned to Ma. "You know, Mrs. Sampson, Rosebud has never yet regarded her position seriously. She is curiously situated but pleasantly, if she will only enter into the spirit of her father's will. Has she told you about it?" Ma shook her head. The men went on with their meal in silence.
The folk on White River Farm are in no way behind their neighbors. Seth's returning strength permits him to take his share in the work, and thus Rube finds his burden lightened. But only partially, for Seth has much else to do, or seems to have, for he has many comings and goings which take up time. Mrs. Rickards is still staying on at the farm. She thoroughly enjoys this new, simple life.
Rube knew nothing of her going, and Ma had her time too much occupied with Mrs. Rickards and her maid to attend to anything but her household duties. So Rosebud was left to her own devices, which, as might have been expected, led her to do the one thing least desirable. Wanaha was overjoyed at the girl's return.
Rickards went on thoughtfully, "if Seth ever wants rest and peace? I don't think it. What a man!" She relapsed into silent admiration of the man of whom she was speaking. Ma noted her look. She understood the different place Seth now occupied in this woman's thoughts. "But I was not thinking about the affairs of this farm and the Indians so much as something else," Mrs.
Moreover, the longer and the more steadily the duellist fixes his eye on his adversary, the less likely he is to miss. Griffith was very pale, but dogged. Neville was serious, but firm. Both eyed each other unflinchingly. "Gentlemen, are you ready?" asked Neville's second. "Then," said Major Rickards, "you will fire when I let fall this handkerchief, and not before.
She would probably have succeeded in recovering her natural good-humored composure but for the girl herself, who, in the midst of the good creature's expostulations, put the final touch to her mischief. Mrs. Rickards had turned solicitously upon her charge with an admonitory finger raised in her direction. "And as for Rosie, she insists on being called Rosebud still, Mrs.
Levitt this amazing figure had disappeared and given place to a tapping of heels and a furtive, scuffling laugh on the stairs outside. A shriller laugh that must be Mrs. Rickards a long Sh-sh-sh! Then the bang of the front door covering the lady's retreat, and Mrs. Levitt came in, stifling merriment under a minute pocket-handkerchief. He took it in then. They were sisters, Mrs.
The surgeon smiled satirically, comparing silent Griffith's peril with his second's. Griffith took no notice. He went like Fortitude plodding to Execution. Major Rickards fell behind, and whispered Mr. Islip, "Don't like his looks; doesn't march like a winner. A job for you or the sexton, you mark my words."
Seth smiled in his slow fashion. "An' I guess I ain't bustin' fer you to hoe p'taters neither," he said. For a moment Mrs. Rickards looked about her helplessly; she hardly knew what to say. Then, at last, she, too, joined in the spirit which pervaded the party. "Well, you are the strangest creature but there, I said you were a little savage, and so did Mr. Seth."
The bullet had passed through Neville's hat, and had actually cut a lane through his magnificent hair. The seconds now consulted, and it was intimated to Griffith that a word of apology would be accepted by his antagonist. Griffith declined to utter a syllable of apology. Two more pistols were given the men. "Aim lower," said Rickards. "I mean to," said Griffith.
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