es on his idees!
Inmity has made him thoughtful, and a loose tongue is no ricommend at
their council fires."

"I dare say March's tongue goes free enough when it gets on the subject
of Judith Hutter and her sister," said the girl, rousing herself as if
in careless disdain. "Young women's good names are a pleasant matter of
discourse with some that wouldn't dare be so open-mouthed if there was a
brother in the way. Master March may find it pleasant to traduce us, but
sooner or later he'll repent.

"Nay, Judith, this is taking the matter up too much in 'arnest. Hurry
has never whispered a syllable ag'in the good name of Hetty, to begin
with-"

"I see how it is--I see how it is," impetuously interrupted Judith.
"I am the one he sees fit to scorch with his withering tongue! Hetty,
indeed! Poor Hetty!" she continued, her voice sinking into low, husky
tones, that seemed nearly to stifle her in the utterance; "she is beyond
and above his slanderous malice! Poor Hetty! If God has created her
feeble-minded, the weakness lies altogether on the side of errors of
which she seems to know nothing. The earth never held a purer being than
Hetty Hutter, Deerslayer."

"I can believe it--yes, I can believe that, Judith, and I hope 'arnestly
that the same can be said of her handsome sister."

There was a soothing sincerity in the voice of Deerslayer, which touched
the girl's feelings; nor did the allusion to her beauty lessen the
effect with one who only knew too well the power of her personal charms.
Nevertheless, the still, small voice of conscience was not hushed, and
it prompted the answer which she made, after giving herself time to
reflect.

"I dare say Hurry had some of his vile hints about the people of the
garrisons," she added. "He knows they are gentlemen, and can never
forgive any one for being what he feels he can never become himself."

"Not in the sense of a king's officer, Judith, sartainly, for March
has no turn thataway; but in the sense of reality, why may not a
beaver-hunter be as respectable as a governor? Since you speak of it
yourself, I'll not deny that he did complain of one as humble as you
being so much in the company of scarlet coats and silken sashes. But 't
was jealousy that brought it out of him, and I do think he mourned over
his own thoughts as a mother would have mourned over her child."

Perhaps Deerslayer was not aware of the full meaning that his earnest
language conveyed. It is certain that h