The two men went into the cabin.An hour later they reappeared,accompanied by the girl.Wilfred was still seated obediently on the rock,but at sight of them he rose with a gay laugh and advanced.
Come over here in the shade,Willock called,as he strode toward a grassy bank that sloped up to a line of three cedar trees of interlocked branches.Come over here and know her.This is our gal.
Lahoma looked at the young man with grave interest,taking note of his garments and movements as she might have examined the skin and actions of some unknown animal.Bill Atkins also watched him,but with suspicious eye,as if anticipating a sudden spring on his ward.
Set down,said Willock,sinking on the grass.The last man up is the biggest fool in Texas!
Lahoma and Wilfred instantly dropped as if shot,at the same time breaking into unexpected laughter that caused Willock's beard to quiver sympathetically.Bill Atkins,sour and unresponsive,stood as stiffly erect as possible,aided no little in this obstinate attitude by the natural unelasticity of age.
The young man exclaimed boyishly,still smiling at the girl,We're friends already,because we've laughed together.
Yes,cried Lahoma,and Brick is in it,too.That's best of all.
I ain't in it,cried Bill Atkins so fiercely that the young man was somewhat discomposed.
Now,Bill,exclaimed the girl reprovingly,you sit right down by my side and do this thing right.She explained to the young man,Bill Atkins has been higher up than Brick,and he knows forms and ceremonies,but he despises to act up to what he knows.Sit right down,Bill,and make the move.There was something so unusual in the attitude of the blooming young girl toward the weather-beaten,forbidding-looking man,something so authoritative and at the same time so protecting,at once the air of a superior who commands and who shelters from the tyranny of others--that Wilfred was both amused and touched.
Yes,Bill,said Willock,make the move.Make 'em know each other.
This is Miss Lahoma Willock,growled Bill;and this--waving at the young man disparagingly--SAYS he is Wilfred Compton.Know each other!
I'm glad to know you,Lahoma declared frankly.It's mighty lucky you came this way,for,you see,I just live here in the cove and never touch the big world.I believe you know a thousand things about the world that we ain't never dreamed of--
That we have never dreamed of,corrected Bill Atkins.
--That we have never dreamed of,resumed Lahoma meekly;and that's what I would like to hear about.I expect to go out in the big world and be a part of it,when I am older,when I know how to protect myself,Brick says.I'm just a little girl now,if I do look so big;I'm only fifteen,but when I am of age I'm going out into the big world;so that's why I'm glad to know you,to use you like a kind of dictionary.Are you coming back here again?
I hope so!he exclaimed fervently.
And so do I.In my cabin I have a long list of things written down in my tablet that I'd like to know about;questions that come to me as I sit looking over the hill into the sky,things Brick doesn't know,and not even Bill Atkins.You going to tell me them there things?
Bill interposed:Will you kindly tell me those things?
Will you kindly tell me those things?Lahoma put the revised question as calmly as if she had not suffered correction.
You see how it is,son,Willock remarked regretfully;Lahoma keeps pretty close to me,and I'm always a-leading her along the wrong trails,not having laid out an extensive education when I was planning the grounds I calculated to live in.When I got anything to say,I just follows the easiest way,knowing I'll get to the end of it if I talk constant.People in the big world ain't no more natural in talking than in anything else.They builds up fences and arbitrary walls,and is careful to stay right in the middle of the beaten path,and I'm all time keeping Bill busy at putting up the bars after me,so Lahoma will go straight.
So that's why I'm glad to know you,Lahoma said gravely.But why did you want to know ME?She fastened on him her luminous brown eyes,with red lips parted,awaiting the clearing up of this mystery.
Wilfred preserved a solemn countenance,I've been awfully lonesome,Lahoma,the last two years because,up to that time,I'd lived in a city with friends all about town and no end of gay times --and these last two years,I've been in the terrible desert.You are the first girl I've seen that reminded me of home;when I saw you and knew you were my kind,the way you held yourself and the smile in your eyes--
Bill interposed:Don't you forget that binding,young man!
Of course not.But I don't know how to tell just what it means to me to be with her--with all of you,I mean--but her especially,because--well,I had so many friends among the girls,back home and--and--It's no use trying to explain;if you've known the horrible lonesomeness of the plains you already understand,and if you don't...
I know what you mean,Willock remarked,with a reminiscent sigh.Let it not be put in words,Bill persisted.If a thing can't be expressed,words only mislead.I never knew any good to come of talking about smiles in eyes.There's nothing to it but misleading words.
Go on,Lahoma,said Willock encouragingly,we're both staying with you,to see that you come out of this with flying colors.Just go ahead.
I want to ask you all about yourself,remarked Lahoma thoughtfully,because I can see from your face,and the way you talk,that you're a real sample of the big world.If I tell you all about myself,will you do the same?
