Garland's eyes followed. Unconsciously they besought her.
"We lig—if you stay—among us," said Purple-Eyes, haltingly.
But there was something else—just the timid lifting of an eyelid. Garland answered this with a rift of pleasure which shot across his face.
"Me? I lig also if you stay among us—I."
But now it was spoken to the mats. There was the edge of a smile visible, nevertheless, and Garland felt the courage it took for this.
"Well, if you like," said Garland,—he laughed suddenly,—" I like too."
"Thangs!"
They both said it at once; but some splendid reward passed from Purple-Eyes to Garland.
So presently they had a feast, in which four little tables stood in a circle—one for each. There would have been only three had not Garland insisted that the mother should dine with them. He had not the least idea how fearfully he had disarranged domestic matters, for the mother, of course, instantly did as he requested. And then the