n half an hour?"

"Yes, I will come," he said, still watching his bicycle tube, which
sprawled nakedly on the floor. The forward drop of his head was
curiously beautiful to her, the straight, powerful nape of the neck,
the delicate shape of the back of the head, the black hair. The way
the neck sprang from the strong, loose shoulders was beautiful.
There was something mindless but _intent_ about the forward reach of
his head. His face seemed colourless, neutral-tinted and
expressionless.

She went indoors. The young men were moving about making
preparations.

"Come upstairs, Miss Houghton!" called Madame's voice from above.
Alvina mounted, to find Madame packing.

"It is an uneasy moment, when we are busy to move," said Madame,
looking up at Alvina as if she were a stranger.

"I'm afraid I'm in the way. But I won't stay a minute."

"Oh, it is all right. Here are the things you brought--" Madame
indicated a little pile--"and thank you _very_ much, _very_ much. I
feel you saved my life. And now let me give you one little token of
my gratitude. It is not much, because we are not millionaires in the
Natcha-Kee-Tawara. Just a little remembrance of our troublesome
visit to Woodhouse."

She presented Alvina with a pair of exquisite bead moccasins, woven
in a weird, lovely pattern, with soft deerskin soles and sides.

"They belong to Kishwegin, so it is Kishwegin who gives them to you,
because she is grateful to you for saving her life, or at least from
a long illness."

"Oh--but I don't want to take them--" said Alvina.

"You don't like them? Why?"

"I think they're lovely, lovely! But I don't want to take them from
you--"

"If I give them, you do not take them from me. You receive them.
He?" And Madame pressed back the slippers, opening her plump
jewelled hands in a gesture of finality.

"But I don't like to take _these_," said Alvina. "I feel they belong
to Natcha-Kee-Tawara. And I don't want to rob Natcha-Kee-Tawara, do
I? Do take them back."

"No, I have given them. You cannot rob Natcha-Kee-Tawara in taking a
pair of shoes--impossible!"

"And I'm sure they are much too small for me."

"Ha!" exclaimed Madame. "It is that! Try."

"I know they are," said Alvina, laughing confusedly.

She sat down and took off her own shoe. The moccasin was a little
too short--just a little. But it was charming on the foot, charming.

"Yes," said Madame. "It is too short. Very well. I must find you
something else."