José — page 148: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JOSE. 141 bending her head down to. his, and treating him almost like an intelligent creature. With a shake of the head, McAllister watched her graceful move- ments, his face wreathed in happy smiles. From that time forward, the open space in front of the rear gate became the scene where the girl practiced her horsemanship in all its details. Furthermore she soon relieved the overseer of the necessity of opening and closing the gate. Dinner, the meal at which she was never absent, was generally served in the reception-room of the front wing, which was also used as a dining-room, and here she would loiter, at the young man’s re- quest, longer even than the meal rendered it neces- sary. As long as the conversation ranged on general topics, her words bore the character of innocent _ pleasure, and McGregor’s familiar tone seemed to pass unnoticed. The sultry afternoons, keeping the men indoors, she would pass in the privacy of her own room, frequently in Hattie’s company, and entertained by her narratives of the dangers attend- ing the early settlement, or anecdotes of the Mc- Gregors. Only at intervals did she show signs of weariness. Supper was but a repetition of the noon- day meal. McGregor granted unrestricted scope to her posi- tion as the future mistress, and overseer and house- keeper were both enjoined to obey her slightest command. He was aware of her novel occupation, and seemed pleased with the keen interest she manifested in at least one object. Familiar as was his tone toward her, and determined his conduct when in her society, his behavior was characterized by a marked attentiveness, and frequently sum- Eomichboo Ss) (E(0)