The boys signaled each another to attention by kicking
surreptitiously under the table, but nothing happened. Evadna
bowed a demure acknowledgment when her Aunt Phoebe introduced the
two, accepted the sugar-bowl from Grant and the butter from
Peppajee, and went composedly about the business of eating her
supper. She seemed perfectly at ease; too perfectly at ease,
decided Grant, who had an instinct for observation and was
covertly watching her. It was unnatural that she should rub
elbows with Peppajee without betraying the faintest trace of
surprise that he should be sitting at the table with them.

"Long time ago," Peppajee was saying to Peaceful, taking up the
conversation where Evadna had evidently interrupted it, "many
winters ago, my people all time brave. A]1 time hunt, all time
fight, all time heap strong. No drinkum whisky all same now."
He flipped a braid back over his shoulder, buttered generously a
hot biscuit, and reached for the honey." No brave no more--kay
bueno. All time ketchum whisky, get drunk all same likum hog.
Heap lazy. No hunt no more, no fight. Lay all time in sun,
sleep. No sun come, lay all time in wikiup. Agent, him givum
flour, givum meat, givum blanket, you thinkum bueno. He tellum
you, kay bueno. Makum Injun lazy. Makum all same wachee-typo"
(tramp). "All time eat, all time sleep, playum cards all time,
drinkum whisky. Kay bueno. Huh." The grunt stood for disgust
of his tribe, always something of an affectation with Peppajee.

"My brother, my brother's wife, my brother's wife's--ah--" He
searched his mind, frowning, for an English word, gave it up, and
substituted a phrase. "All the folks b'longum my brother's wife,