his moccasin and heavy woolen sock. The strong white foot was like
marble, but the ankle was swollen and discolored. Bella clicked her
tongue. "He _is_ a brute, you know!" She laughed shortly. Since
Garth's departure she had become almost a human being. The deaf-mute
look had melted from her, and a sardonic humor emerged; her eyes
cleared; she could even smile. "Why do we care so much for him,
Pete--the two of us?"

Pete winced under her touch and puckered his brows. "Because he's
such a kid, I guess. He's always fretting after the moon."

"Don't you ever get angry with him, Pete? He does treat you shameful
sometimes."

"N-no. Not often. He's always sorry and ashamed afterward. He'd like
to be as kind as God. I believe if he could only fool us into thinking
he _was_ God, he could act like Him--ouch, Bella! Go easy."

"You're an awful smart boy, Pete. It's a sin you've never had any
schooling."

"Schooling! Gosh! I've had all the schooling I could digest. Hugh
beat it into me. He's taught me all he had in his head and a whole
lot he never ought to have had there, I guess. But _you've_ taught
me most, Bella--that's the truth of it."

"_Me_! I never knew anything. They saw to that. They never did
anything for me at home but abuse me. Hugh Garth was the only relation
I ever had in the world that spoke kind to me. Remember how I used
to run over from my folks to tuck you into bed in your little room