"Presents for her! why we in general give presents or money with a wife," said Emma. "Yes, I know you do, but English wives an't Injun wives; an English wife requires people to work for her and costs money to keep, but an Injun wife works for herself and her husband, so she is of value and is generally bought of the father; I reckon in the end that it's cheaper to pay for an Injun wife than to receive money with an English one; but that's as may be." "That's not a very polite speech of yours, Malachi," said Mrs Campbell. "Perhaps it an't, ma'am, but it is near the mark, nevertheless. Now I am willing that Martin should have the Strawberry, because I know that he is a smart hunter, and will keep her well; and somehow or another, I feel that if he made her his wife, I should be more comfortable; I shall live with them here close by, and Martin will serve you, and when he has a wife he will not feel inclined to change service and go into the woods." "I think it is an excellent proposal, Malachi, and am much pleased with it, as we now shall have you all together," said Mrs Campbell. "Yes, ma'am, so you will, and then I'll be always with the boy to look after him, and you'll always know where we are, and not be frightened." "Very true, Malachi," said Mr Campbell; "I consider it a very good arrangement. We must build you a better lodge than the one that you are in." "No, sir, not a better one, for if you have all you want, you can't want more; it's big enough, but perhaps not quite near enough. I'm thinking that when the sheep-fold is finished, it might be as well to raise our lodge inside of the palisades, and then we shall be a sort of guard to the creatures." "A very excellent idea, Malachi. Well, then, as far as I am concerned, Martin has my full consent to marry as soon as he pleases." "And mine, if it is at all necessary," observed Mrs Campbell. "But who is to marry them?" said Emma; "they have no chaplain at the fort; he went away ill last year." "Why, miss, they don't want no chaplain; she is an Injun girl, and he will marry her Injun fashion." "But what fashion is that, Malachi?" said Mary. "Why, miss, he'll come to the lodge, and fetch her away to his own house." Alfred burst out into laughter. "That's making short work of it," said he. "Yes, rather too short for my approval," said Mrs Campbell. "Malachi, it's very true that the Strawberry is an Indian girl; but we are not Indians, and Martin is not an Indian, neither are you who stand as her father; indeed, I cannot consent to give my sanction to such a marriage." "Well, ma'am, as you please, but it appears to me to be all right. If you go into a country and wish to marry a girl of that country, you marry her according to the rules of that country. Now, Martin seeks an Injun squaw, and why not, therefore, marry her after Injun fashion?"