"
"Then don't try to entice me to overlook my furlough, gal! A
furlough is a sacred thing among warriors and men that carry their
lives in their hands, as we of the forests do, and what a grievous
disapp'intment would it be to old Tamenund, and to Uncas, the
father of the Sarpent, and to my other fri'nds in the tribe, if
I was so to disgrace myself on my very first war-path. This you
will pairceive, moreover, Judith, is without laying any stress on
nat'ral gifts, and a white man's duties, to say nothing of conscience.
The last is king with me, and I try never to dispute his orders."
"I believe you are right, Deerslayer," returned the girl, after a
little reflection and in a saddened voice: "a man like you ought
not to act as the selfish and dishonest would be apt to act; you
must, indeed, go back. We will talk no more of this, then. Should
I persuade you to anything for which you would be sorry hereafter,
my own regret would not be less than yours. You shall not have it
to say, Judith - I scarce know by what name to call myself, now!"
"And why not? Why not, gal? Children take the names of their
parents, nat'rally, and by a sort of gift, like, and why shouldn't
you and Hetty do as others have done afore ye? Hutter was the
old man's name, and Hutter should be the name of his darters; - at
least until you are given away in lawful and holy wedlock.
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