too lazy, to put it into speech.

Kiopo observed her out of the corner of his eye, walking past with great
dignity, as much as to say that she needn't pity _him_. She was a very
feminine bear, and he was a very masculine wolf. She took up more room
in the world than he did, and had a wider way when she sat down. If it
had not been for the Little Brother, he could do without her in a world
where the bear-folk and the wolf-folk do not mix. But the Little Brother
carried confusion with him. He seemed brother to half the forest. He
made acquaintances right and left. If you made a kill, you could never
be sure that the Little Brother would not make a fuss because you had
killed one of his folk!

If the Little Brother's way got general, all the world would become
brothers, and there would be nothing left to kill.

Dusty Star went up to the old bear joyfully, and gave her a playful
push.

"We've come back," he said.

Goshmeelee grunted, as much as to say that she had already perceived the
fact.

"Say you're glad!" Dusty Star said, shaking her thick coat.

Goshmeelee gave a second grunt, which might mean anything, or nothing.
She did not feel she had any cause for special thankfulness. But she
looked at her tormentor with such a grave expression that he felt
uncomfortable. Goshmeelee's way was to make you feel she had things to
say before she said them.

"I am very glad to be back," Dusty Star said, pretending he hadn't
noticed anything odd in Goshmeelee's manner.

There was a pause. Then Goshmeelee asked him suddenly:

"Will you be glad to go?"

"Go? But we have only just come back!" he exclaimed.

"In Carboona there are many comings and goings," Goshmeelee said
vaguely. "One does not always remain."

"But why should I go?" Dusty Star asked earnestly; for his curiosity was
now fully roused.

Goshmeelee swayed a little, and grunted, which meant that the _reason_
for his going was hidden from _her_.

"But we have come back to stay always," Dusty Star said uneasily. "Has
anything happened since we have been away?"

"Strange feet are walking," the bear replied darkly. "In the forest
there is a new trail."

What the trail told, where, by whom made, Goshmeelee would not say. All
Dusty Star's utmost efforts were useless to induce her to throw any
further light on her mysterious remarks. When she had stared at him for
a little longer, in an aggravating dumbness, she dropped down on her
front feet, and lumbered