"Now, Maxby, my boy, take us into the house, and introduce us to old
Mrs Liston. But what splendid creature is this coming towards us?"

"Why that's Aunt Temple," I whispered, as she came forward. "Let me
introduce you, aunt, to Mr Macnab--the jolly fur-trader of whom you
have heard me speak so often and so much."

Macnab made a profound obeisance, and Aunt Temple returned a dignified
bow, expressing herself, "much pleased to make the acquaintance,"
etcetera, and saying that Mrs Liston, being unable to come out to greet
them, was anxious that we should enter. "Particularly Big Otter," said
Aunt Temple, turning to the grave chief, "for whom she has a very great
regard."

Thus invited and specially complimented, our tall Indian stooped to
enter the cottage door, but not being accustomed to the wooden wigwams
of the pale-faces, he did not stoop low enough, struck his head against
the top, and rather damaged an eagle's feather, with which his hair was
decorated.

Nothing, almost, could upset the dignity and imperturbable gravity of
Big Otter. He stooped lower to conquer the difficulty, and when inside
drew himself up to his full height, so that the eagle's feather touched
the ceiling, and tickled up some flies that were reposing in fancied
security there.

Glancing round till his black eyes caught sight of old Mrs Liston in a
darkish corner on a sofa, he stepped forward, and, stooping to grasp one
of her small hands in both of his, said tenderly--"Watchee."

"What cheer--what cheer?" said the accommodating old lady, responding to
the salutation in kind. "Tell him, George, that I'm _so_ happy to see
once again the friend of my beloved William."

"Big Otter rejoices to meet again the mother of Weeum," replied the
Indian.

"And tell him," said Mrs Listen, "that I hope he has now come to stay
with us altogether."

The Indian smiled gravely, and shook his head, intimating that the
question required consideration.

When the other members of the party were introduced--Jessie and Eve
having been separated for the purpose--we all adjourned to the verandah
to interchange news.

Need it be said that we had much to hear and tell? I think not.
Neither need the fact be enlarged on, that we all retired late that
night, in a state of supreme felicity and mental exhaustion.

There was one exception, however, as regards the felicity, for Mrs
Liston, out of regard for the friend of her darling William, insisted
that Big