They pushed and writhed into the room.  Some of them were half drunk.  They trod upon each other.  What they might have done if Reverdy had not managed them out of the kindness of his heart and with a certain adroitness is past conceiving.  It seemed to me that a riot was on the point of breaking loose at any minute.  But having satisfied themselves, they began to file out.  Some lingered to wish the bride and groom a happy life.  Reverdy spoke with each one in such friendliness of voice and manner, in which there was neither nervousness nor resentment.  He took it all as a matter of course.  But Sarah was visibly distrait.  I could see that she was relieved as they began to depart.  A few yells, a few intermittent shots marked their going away.  Then all was silent.  The guests now began to leave.  And as I was going back to my hut for the night I came to Reverdy and Sarah to bid them God-speed.  I had never seen Sarah look so charming.  Her bridal dress was made of striped calico.  She had a bonnet to match.  Reverdy had a new suit of blue jeans.  He looked handsome and strong.  And he turned his eyes upon Sarah with a look of protecting tenderness.  I took their hands in mine to emphasize my blessing with the closeness of affectionate contact.  Sarah kissed me on the cheek; and I left, bestriding my horse at the gate, and riding through the darkness to my hut.

Zoe was to come to me the next morning.

CHAPTER XII

The next morning while I was sitting near the door, cleaning my rifle, I heard the soft pounding of a horse’s hoofs on the heavy sod, and looking up saw Reverdy and Sarah.  He was in the saddle, she was riding behind.  I was about to ask for Zoe when I saw her peeping mischievously around the shoulder of Sarah, showing her white teeth in a happy smile.  It was not Reverdy’s Indian pony that was carrying so many travelers, but a larger horse.  They all got down and came in to see my hut.  Sarah was greatly pleased with it, and Zoe could not contain her delight.  Reverdy and Sarah were on their way to Winchester to pay a brief visit to Sarah’s aunt.  They were soon off, Reverdy giving me the assurance that it would only be a few days before he would again be at work on my new house.  Meanwhile the other men would continue getting the logs.

Zoe did not delay a minute in taking charge of the house.  I had not cleared the breakfast table.  She did so, then made my bed.  I told her to spread it with clean sheets as it was to be hers now, but she would not hear to this.  She was afraid to be on the ground floor where an intruder could walk in upon her, or a stray wolf push the door open and wake her with its unfriendly nose against her cheek.  I told her then to look at the loft.  She climbed the ladder and took a peek, descended with the remark that she liked it and would take it for hers.  Almost at once we had perfect order in the hut.