Twice I caught him looking at Mr. Ewart, as if he were diagnosing his case, and I laughed inwardly. From time to time I surprised the same expression on his face when he was silent, smoking and, at the same time, watching me weave my baskets under the tutelage of a Montagnaise, the squaw of our postman. Mr. Ewart heard me express the wish to learn this handicraft, and within a week my teacher was provided. She remained in camp five days. Perhaps this opened the Doctor's eyes. Perhaps Jamie had spoken with him about what was evident to all. The Doctor grew more and more silent, more thoughtful, less inclined to jest with me. Added to this was the thought that we must break camp sooner than Mr. Ewart had intended. The "homing sense" was making itself felt, for September was with us. We saw some land birds going over early, and the first frost was a heavy one.
The Doctor and I followed the north trail for half a mile; then the Doctor bade me rest, for it was rough going.
"Marcia," he said abruptly, sitting down in front of me, his back against a tree, his hands clasping his knees, "let's have it out."
I saw he felt ill at ease and could but wonder, for, after all, it was only I with whom he had to deal.
"I am ready. I 've only been waiting for you all these weeks."
"Do you know that I have been to Delia Beaseley for certain information?"
"Yes; she wrote me. I wrote her to tell you all she knew of me."
He seemed to breathe more freely after my speaking so frankly, as if I really would welcome anything he might have to say.
"Ah--this clears the atmosphere; we can talk. Of course, you know with Cale's story dovetailing so perfectly into what I told you on my first making acquaintance with you, I simply had to put two and two together; besides, your smile was a constant reminder of some one whom I had known or met--but whom I could not recall try as hard as I might. The result of it all was that I went to Delia Beaseley and put a few questions. Now,"--he hesitated a moment; he seemed to brace himself mentally in order to continue,--"do you know positively whether your father is living or dead? Have you ever known?"
"No; but dead to me even if living--that is why I said I was an orphan."