He took off his dusty hat and scratched his head. "I ain't right
certain, yet, ma'am. Soon as I know I'm consoled, I'll be round
with an invite to the wedding."
"That is, if you are."
"If I am--yes. Y'u can't most always tell when they have eyes
like hers."
"You're quite an authority on the sex considering your years."
"Yes, ma'am." He looked aggrieved, thinking himself a man grown.
"How did y'u say Mr. Bannister was?"
"Wait, and I'll send Nora out to tell you," she flashed, and
disappeared in the house.
Conversation at the bunkhouse and the chucktent sometimes circled
around the young women at the house, but its personality rarely
grew pronounced. References to Helen Messiter and the housemaid
were usually by way of repartee at each other. For a change had
come over the spirit of the Lazy D men, and, though a cheerful
profanity still flowed freely when they were alone together,
vulgarity was largely banished.
The morning after his conversation with Miss Messiter, McWilliams
was washing in the foreman's room when the triangle beat the call
for breakfast, and he heard the cook's raucous "Come and get it."
There was the usual stampede for the tent, and a minute later Mac
flung back the flap and entered.
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