The Land Claim — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

WHAT WAS SAID BY THE RIVER. 63 It was charming, the young girl thought, to sit there in the moonlight, hearing the river, and leaning on the strong arm that was now around her waist; it was so charming that she forgot to be curious about the meaning of “little sister” being rejected, until she was reminded of it by finding her head drawn down against the manly breast, and beholding a pair of luminous eyes gazing into her own. “ No, dearest of dear little girls, I don’t want to be your brother any more ; because I foresee that as a brother I shall not have power to keep at a distance those who would be wishing to assume a nearer relationship. Suppose this French trader should want to marry you, Alicia, after sending you to school for a year or two—would you like that ?” “Oh, Mr. Allen, how could you imagine any thing so—so shocking {” exclaimed Alicia, struggling to free herself from his arms. “That is just what I think about it,” said Allen, laughing softly, and holding her closely. “ It would be a shocking thing for a pure young girl like you to be united to this man; whom, on account of his good qualities, I refrain from calling hard names. But I am quite sure he contemplates such a possibil- ity: And I have my reasons for believing that your father will consent to give you up to him.” “ But my father warned me against him only the night before—his misfortune. I know he does not think well of Mr. Mauvais; and how then could he give me up to him ?” “Your father is differently cireumstanced now ; and may think it is*the best thing he can do for you, bad as itis. Mau- vais is rich, and riches are all-powerful in this as in every other country. He promised you to bring about a reconcilia- tion with your father ; and he evidently has no power to do so more than another, unless he should come to some such arrangement with him as I have spoken of.” The words “ differently cireumstanced”” were the ones that struck Alicia’s ear in this answer, and awakened her fears. She was thinking that Allen talked as if her father would bequeath her to somebody because he had no hopes of regain- ing his life and liberty ; and she tremulously asked him if that was his meaning. “No,” said he, “not as far as my belief is concerned. I COMicbooKxs.CQin