Deerslayer turned quickly, and he regarded his friend with momentary
displeasure as this burst of weakness escaped him, and then
he soliloquized, as was his practice whenever any strong feeling
suddenly got the ascendancy.
"'Tis his gift! - yes, 'tis the gift of a red-skin to love finery,
and he is not to be blamed. This is an extr'ornary garment, too,
and extr'ornary things get up extr'ornary feelin's. I think this
will do, Judith, for the Indian heart is hardly to be found in all
America that can withstand colours like these, and glitter like
that. If this coat was ever made for your father, you've come
honestly by the taste for finery, you have."
"That coat was never made for father," answered the girl, quickly
- "it is much too long, while father is short and square."
"Cloth was plenty if it was, and glitter cheap," answered Deerslayer,
with his silent, joyous laugh. "Sarpent, this garment was made for
a man of your size, and I should like to see it on your shoulders."
Chingachgook, nothing loath, submitted to the trial, throwing aside
the coarse and thread bare jacket of Hutter, to deck his person
in a coat that was originally intended for a gentleman.
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