Next in preciousness to her mother's things were the long-hidden gifts of Jean Isbel.

She could part with neither.
While she was selecting and packing this bundle Colter again entered and, without speaking, began to rummage in the corner where her father kept his possessions.

This irritated Ellen.
"What do y'u want there ?" she demanded.
"Wal, I reckon your dad wants his papers--an' the gold he left heah--an' a change of clothes.

Now doesn't he ?" returned Colter, coolly.
"Of course.

But I supposed y'u would have me pack them." Colter vouchsafed no reply to this, but deliberately went on rummaging, with little regard for how he scattered things.