The Land Claim — page 66: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 THE LAND-CLAIM. “And will you avail yourse]f of this man’s generosity ?” asked Allen. “I do not think my father will consent,’ she answered, evasively. “If your father’s consent is all that is wanting, you may become the ward of this Indian trader !” Allen spoke disdainfully, almost resentfully, too; and the tears, always so ready to her eyes, began dropping down her cheeks. , “T should like your consent besides,” she said, timidly. “And what if I would not give it ?” | “Then I should not wish to go,” she answered, in a broken voice. “ There, little sister! how foolish of you to cry,” said Allen, as he took her hand and raised her from her chair. “ The moon is shining brightly, there is a breeze and no dew—run and ask Mrs. Wyman if you may not take a walk with me down by the river-bank.” The needful consent was obtained, accompanied by injunc- tions not to be gone long, and to keep well wrapped up. Alicia felt very happy as she walked beside the tall and strong young man, her arm drawn through his, and one hand snugly stowed away in his broader palm. “ And so you will not let this Frenchman send you to school unless I give my consent to the arrangement ?” he asked, with ‘a little triumph in his voice. “I should be very unhappy if I thought you did not like it,” she answered. _“ Why should you be unhappy to displease only me if your other friends approved? Am I of so much consequence in your esteem that you prefer my approbation to theirs? That is a very high compliment indeed.” “IT am sure you deserve it, if it is. You were my first friend, and I believed my best friend, and so you became my dearest friend ; afid though I know I am not worthy, I am proud when you call me ‘ /ittle sister.’” “ But I don’t intend to call you ‘little sister’ any more. I have thought of another name I would prefer to call you by. Let us sit down here on this fallen tree and listen to the mur- mur of the river, and talk about the new name.” / Commicloooks.conn