"I, certainly, have no reason to boast of parentage, after what I
have seen this night," said the girl, in a saddened voice. "I had
a mother, it is true; but of her name even, I am ignorant - and,
as for my father, it is better, perhaps, that I should never know
who he was, lest I speak too bitterly of him!"
"Judith," said Deerslayer, taking her hand kindly, and with a manly
sincerity that went directly to the girl's heart, "tis better to
say no more to-night. Sleep on what you've seen and felt; in the
morning things that now look gloomy, may look more che'rful. Above
all, never do anything in bitterness, or because you feel as if you'd
like to take revenge on yourself for other people's backslidings.
All that has been said or done atween us, this night, is your
secret, and shall never be talked of by me, even with the Sarpent,
and you may be sartain if he can't get it out of me no man can. If
your parents have been faulty, let the darter be less so; remember
that you're young, and the youthful may always hope for better
times; that you're more quick-witted than usual, and such gin'rally
get the better of difficulties, and that, as for beauty, you're
oncommon, which is an advantage with all.
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