Chapter 22 - Page 2

live together."

"How do I know, Judith, that you wouldn't be as glad to find I am
not your sister, as you are in finding that Thomas Hutter, as you
call him, was not your father. I am only half witted, and few people
like to have half witted relations; and then I'm not handsome - at
least, not as handsome as you - and you may wish a handsomer sister."

"No, no Hetty. You and you only are my sister - my heart, and
my love for you tell me that - and mother was my mother - of that
too am I glad, and proud; for she was a mother to be proud of -but
father was not father!"

"Hush, Judith! His spirit may be near; it would grieve it to
hear his children talking so, and that, too, over his very grave.
Children should never grieve parents, mother often told me, and
especially when they are dead!"

"Poor Hetty! They are happily removed beyond all cares on our
account. Nothing that I can do or say will cause mother any sorrow
now -there is some consolation in that, at least! And nothing you
can say or do will make her smile, as she used to smile on your
good conduct when living."

"You don't know that, Judith. Spirits can see, and mother may
see as well as any spirit. She always told us that God saw all we
did, and that we should do nothing to offend him; and now she has
left us, I strive to do nothing that can displease her. Think how
her spirit would mourn and feel sorrow, Judith, did it see either
of us doing what is not right; and spirits may see, after all;
especially the spirits of parents that feel anxious about their
children."

"Hetty - Hetty - you know not what you say!" murmured Judith,
almost livid with emotion - "The dead cannot see, and know nothing
of what passes here! But, we will not talk of this any longer.
The bodies of Mother and Thomas Hutter lie together in the lake,
and we will hope that the spirits of both are with God. That we,
the children of one of them, remain on earth is certain; it is now
proper to know what we are to do in future."

"If we are not Thomas Hutter's children, Judith, no one will dispute
our right to his property. We have the castle and the Ark, and
the canoes, and the woods, and the lakes, the same as when he was
living, and what can prevent us from staying here, and passing our
lives just as we ever have done?"

"No, no poor sister - this can no longer be. Two girls would not
be safe here, even should these Hurons fail in getting us into their
power. Even father had as much as he could sometimes do, to keep
peace upon the lake, and we should fail altogether. We must quit
this spot, Hetty, and remove into the settlements."