to weaken the interest her situation excited.
An idiot she could not properly be termed, her mind being just enough enfeebled
to lose most of those traits that are connected with the more artful qualities,
and to retain its ingenuousness and love of truth. It had often been remarked of
this girl, by the few who had seen her, and who possessed sufficient knowledge
to discriminate, that her perception of the right seemed almost intuitive, while
her aversion to the wrong formed so distinctive a feature of her mind, as to
surround her with an atmosphere of pure morality; peculiarities that are not
infrequent with persons who are termed feeble-minded; as if God had forbidden
the evil spirits to invade a precinct so defenceless, with the benign purpose of
extending a direct protection to those, who had been left without the usual aids
of humanity. Her person, too, was agreeable, having a strong resemblance to that
of her sister's, of which it was a subdued and humble copy. If it had none of
the brilliancy of Judith's, the calm, quiet, almost holy expression of her meek
countenance, seldom failed to win on the observer, and few noted it long, that
did not begin to feel a deep and lasting interest in the girl. She had no
colour, in common, nor was her simple mind apt to present images that caused her
cheek to brighten, though she retained a modesty so innate, that it almost
raised her to the unsuspecting purity of a being superior to human infirmities.
Guileless, innocent, and without distrust, equally by nature and from her mode
of life, providence had, nevertheless, shielded her from harm, by a halo of
moral light, as it is said to temper the wind to the shorn lamb.
    »You are Hetty Hutter,« said Deerslayer, in the way one puts a question,
unconsciously to himself assuming a kindness of tone and manner that were
singularly adapted to win the confidence of her he addressed. »Hurry Harry has
told me of you, and I know you must be the child?«
    »Yes, I'm Hetty Hutter,« returned the girl in a low, sweet voice, which
nature, aided by some education, had preserved from vulgarity of tone and
utterance - »I'm Hetty; Judith Hutter's sister; and Thomas Hutter's youngest
daughter.«
    »I know your history, then, for Hurry Harry talks considerable, and he is
free of speech when he can find other people's consarns to dwell on. You pass
most of your life on