f out East, an' our village; only that
wasn't built on the bottomless pit, like this."

"This is the Fort. After you've finished your business with the
officer in charge, we'll go home and get our dinner."

The stranger observed with surprise and some pride the great respect
with which this girl, who had once been under her own care, was
treated by all she met. The few soldiers on duty that morning saluted
her with a smile and military precision, while the women hailed her
coming with exclamations of:

"Oh, Kitty! You here? I'm so glad; for I wanted to ask you about my
work"; or: "Say, Kit! There are a lot of new newspapers, only a week
old, that I've hidden for you to read first before the others get hold
of them."

One called after her, as they started homeward:

"How are the sick ones to-day?"

"What did she mean?" demanded Mercy.

"Oh, that house on the edge of the village is a sort of hospital and
school combined. I am there most of the time, though my real home is
with the Littlejohns, just as it has always been; though the Doctor is
not rich, as you fancied, in anything save wisdom and goodness."

"You're a great scholar now, Kitty, I s'pose--could even do figurin'
an' writin' letters."

"I can do that much without being a 'scholar.' I've learned all sorts
of things that came my way, from civil engineering--enough to survey
lots for people--to a little Greek. The surveying was taught me by a
man who was in our sick-room, and in gratitude for the care we gave
him. It's very useful here."

"Can you sing, or play music?"

"I always sang, you know; and I can play the violin to guide the hymns
'in meeting.'"

"What's that? A fiddle--to hymns!"

"Yes. Why not, since it's the only instrument we have?"

"My land! You'll be dancin' at worship next!"

"Maybe. There _are_ religious people who dance at their services. But
here we are. This is the Doctor's house, and you'll meet Wahneenah."

"Wahneeny! You don't tell me that good, pious parson is consortin'
with that bad-tempered Indian squaw!"

"Wait, Mercy. You must not speak like that of her, nor think so.
She is as my very own mother. She is nobility itself. Everybody
acknowledges that. I want there should be peace, even if there can't
be love, between you two. It's better, isn't it, to understand thing
in the beginning?"

"Hmm! You can speak your mind out yet, I see. But that's all right. I
don't care, child. I don't care. It does my old eyes good