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place this window in Lahoma's side of the dugout； but it was work
thoroughly enjoyed。 Lahoma's room was on the west； and from noon to
sundown； the advantage of the window was a source of never…ending
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delight。
〃Good thing we've got our window；〃 Brick would say as they sat on
the low rude bench before the little stove； and the furious wind of January
howled overhead。 Or； when the wintry sky was leaden and all Brick's side
of the partition was as dark as the hole of a prairie…dog； he would visit
Lahoma； and gloat over the dim gray light stealing through the small
panes。 〃That window's no bad idea！〃 he would chuckle； stooping his great
bulk cautiously as he seated himself； as if to lighten his weight by
doubling in upon himself。
〃Good thing I've got my window；〃 Lahoma would say as the snow lay
thick on the plains and in broken lines all over the mountain； and the
cutting blast made the fire jump with sudden fright。 She would hold her
book close to the dirt square in which the frame was planted； and spell out
words she had never heard used； such as 〃lad；〃 〃lass；〃 〃sport；〃 and the like
mysteries。 〃This window is going to civilize me； Brick。〃
It did not lessen their relish in the subject that they had discussed it
already a hundred times。 It was the same way with the hand…made bench；
with the trench that carried water from their door during sudden
downpours； and with the self…congratulation over owning two ponies to
keep each other company。
〃They's one thing about us； Lahoma； which it ain't according to the big
outside world； and yet I hope it won't never be changed。 We are mighty
glad we've got what we've got。 And to be glad of what you've got is a sure
way to multiply your property。 Every time you brag on that window； it
shines like two windows to me。〃
Spring came late that year； and in the early days of March； Brick rode
over to the cove behind the precipice after Bill Atkins。 〃I want you to
come over to my place；〃 he begged； 〃and answer some of Lahoma's
questions。 Being closeted with her in that there dugout all winter； she has
pumped me as dry as a bone。〃
Perhaps Bill Atkins had had his fill of solitude during that cold winter…
…or perhaps he was hungry for another hour of the little girl's company。
Nothing； however； showed his satisfaction as he entered her chamber。
〃Here I am；〃 he announced； seating himself on the bench。 This was his
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only greeting。
〃Is it drug or dragged？〃 demanded Lahoma。
〃Dragged。〃
〃Why don't God send me a little girl to play with； after me asking for
one every night； all winter？〃
〃Don't understand God's business；〃 replied Atkins briefly。
〃I puts it this way；〃 Brick spoke up； 〃God's done sent one little girl；
and it ain't right to crowd Him too far。〃
〃Will I be all they is of me； as long as I live？〃
〃Nobody won't never come to live in these plains；〃 Brick declared；
〃unless its trappers and characters like us。 But we'll stay by you； won't we；
Bill Atkins？〃
Atkins looked exceedingly gruff and shook his head as if he had his
doubts about it。 〃You'll have to be taken to the States；〃 he declared。
〃But what would become of Brick？〃
〃Well； honey；〃 said Brick； 〃you want to take your place with people in
the big world； don't you？〃
〃Oh； YES！；〃 cried Lahoma； starting up and stretching her arm toward
the window。 〃In the big worldyes！ That's the place for me that's where I
want to live。 But what will become of you？〃
〃Well；〃 Brick answered slowly； 〃the rock pile； t'other side the
mountain is good enough for me。 Your mother sleeps under it。〃
〃Oh； Brick！〃 She caught his arm。 〃You wouldn't die if I went away；
would you？〃
〃Why； you see； honey； they wouldn't be nothing left to go on。 I'd just
sort of stop； you knowbut it wouldn't matterout there in the big world；
people don't remember very long； and when you're grown you wouldn't
know there'd ever been a cove with a dugout in it； and a window in the
wall； and a Brick Willock to carry in the wood for the fire。〃
〃I'll always rememberand I won't go without you。 He COULD go
with me； couldn't he； Bill？〃
〃I suspicion he has his reasons for not；〃 Atkins observed gravely。
〃I has； and I shall never go back to the States。〃
〃Then what's the use civilizing me？〃 demanded Lahoma mournfully。
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〃I want you to enjoy yourself。 And when I'm old and no…'count； you'd
need somebody to take care of youand you'd go full…equipped and ready
to stand up to any civilized person that tried to run a bluff on you。〃
〃But； oh； I want to GOI want to go out THEREwhere there ain't no
plains and alkali and buffalo…grasswhere they's pavements and
policemen and people in beautiful clothes。 I don't mean NOW； I mean
when I have got civilized。〃 She drew herself up proudly。 〃I wouldn't go till
I was civilized； till I was like them。〃 She turned impulsively to Brick： 〃But
you've got to go with me when I go！ I'm going to stay with you till I'm fit
to go； and then you're going to stay with me the rest of my life。〃
〃Am I fit to go with her？〃 Brick appealed to Bill Atkins。
〃You ain't；〃 Bill replied。
〃I ain't fit；〃 Brick declared firmly。 〃I'm a…going to fitten you； but it's
too late to work on me； and besides； if they WAS time enough； it ain't to
the grain of my nature。 I knows all I wants to know； which if little or much
is enough for me。 And I wouldn't be fit to go with you out into the big
world and cut a figger in it； which couldn't be no figger but a figger naught。
And Atkins who knows more than me； he says the same。〃
The tears were in Lahoma's eyes。 She looked from one to the other； her
little face deeply troubled。 Suddenly she grabbed up her books and started
toward the stove。 〃Then this here civilizing is going to stop；〃 she declared。
〃Lahoma！〃 Brick cried in dismay。
〃Yes； it isunless you promise to stay with me when I go to live in the
big world。〃
〃Honey； I'll promise you this：