The Teton says through me, who am no more
than a mouthpiece, and therein not answerable for the sin of his
words, but he says, as this good woman is getting past the comely age,
it is reasonable for you to tire of such a wife. He therefore tells
you to turn her out of your lodge, and when it is empty, he will send
his own favourite, or rather she that was his favourite, the 'Skipping
Fawn,' as the Siouxes call her, to fill her place. You see, neighbour,
though the Red-skin is minded to keep your property, he is willing to
give you wherewithal to make yourself some return!"
Ishmael listened to these replies, to his several demands, with that
species of gathering indignation, with which the dullest tempers mount
into the most violent paroxysms of rage. He even affected to laugh at
the conceit of exchanging his long-tried partner for the more flexible
support of the youthful Tachechana, though his voice was hollow and
unnatural in the effort. But Esther was far from giving the proposal
so facetious a reception.
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