among white people, as she did in her own country
and with her own tribe, who had greatly admired her. Certainly Mrs.
Townley could find no fault with the woman as an Indian. She had taste,
carried her clothes well, and was superbly fresh in appearance, though
her hair still bore very slight traces of the grease which even the most
aristocratic Indians use.

But Lali would not talk. Mrs. Townley was anxious that the girl should
be dressed in European costume, and offered to lend and rearrange
dresses of her own, but she came in collision with Mr. Armour's
instructions. So she had to assume a merely kind and comforting
attitude. The wife had not the slightest idea where she was going, and
even when Mackenzie, at Mrs. Townley's oft-repeated request, explained
very briefly and unpicturesquely, she only looked incredulous or
unconcerned. Yet the ship, its curious passengers, the dining saloon,
the music, the sea, and all, had given her suggestions of what was to
come. They had expected that at table she would be awkward and ignorant
to a degree. But she had at times eaten at the trader's table at Fort
Charles, and had learned how to use a knife and fork. She had also
been a favourite with the trader's wife, who had taught her very many
civilised things. Her English, though far from abundant, was good.
Those, therefore, who were curious and rude enough to stare at her were
probably disappointed to find that she ate like "any Christom man."

"How do you think the Armours will receive her?" said Lambert to
Mrs. Townley, of whose judgment on short acquaintance he had come to
entertain a high opinion.

Mrs. Townley had a pretty way of putting her head to one side and
speaking very piquantly. She had had it as a girl; she had not lost it
as a woman, any more than she had lost a soft little spontaneous laugh
which was one of her unusual charms--for few women can laugh audibly
with effect. She laughed very softly now, and, her sense of humour
supervening for the moment, she said:

"Really, you have asked me a conundrum. I fancy I see Mrs. Armour's face
when she gets the news,--at the breakfast-table, of course, and gives
a little shriek, and says: 'General! oh, General!' But it is all very
shocking, you know," she added, in a lower voice. "Still I think they
will receive her and do the best they can for her; because, you see,
there she is, married hard and fast. She bears the Armour name, and
is likely to make them all very un