Her
voice, however, was low and husky, instead of having its former
clearness and animation.
"It is a hard thing to fear truth, Hetty," she said, "and yet do I
more dread Deerslayer's truth, than any enemy! One cannot tamper
with such truth - so much honesty - such obstinate uprightness!
But we are not altogether unequal, sister - Deerslayer and I? He
is not altogether my superior?"
It was not usual for Judith so far to demean herself as to appeal
to Hetty's judgment. Nor did she often address her by the title of
sister, a distinction that is commonly given by the junior to the
senior, even where there is perfect equality in all other respects.
As trifling departures from habitual deportment oftener strike
the imagination than more important changes, Hetty perceived the
circumstances, and wondered at them in her own simple way. Her
ambition was a little quickened, and the answer was as much out of
the usual course of things as the question; the poor girl attempting
to refine beyond her strength.
"Superior, Judith!" she repeated with pride. "In what can Deerslayer
be your superior? Are you not mother's child - and does he know
how to read - and wasn't mother before any woman in all this part
of the world? I should think, so far from supposing himself your
superior, he would hardly believe himself mine.
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