The Story of an African Farm

use was a little square daub-and-wattle building, far out in the karoo, two miles from the homestead. It was covered outside with a sombre coating of brown mu

, and was not itself an object conspicuous enoug

hat in his countenance for which even his depressing circumstances failed to account. Again and again he looked at the

cher filled one end of the hut, and a rack for a gun and a little hanging looking-glass diversified the gable opposite, while in the centre stood a chair and table. All was scrupulously neat and clean, for Gregory kept a little duster folded i

suppressed groan he dropped it back and sat down beside the table. Half-past four! Presently he roused himself. He would write to his sister Jemi

mself, an honest English farmer, knew nothing of his noble descent; but his wife and daughter knew-especially his daughter. There were Roses in England who kept a park and dated from th

n deeper reflection he determined to take a pink one, a

je A

y afte

ear J

cted there, with curling brown beard and hair; but in the dark blue eyes there

lass that hangs opposite me, I wo

conceited or unmanly to be looking at his own face in the glass. No,

ne, "Monda

, yet could you now see me I know what you would say, I know what mother wo

and calling me a blockhead, though, as they themselves allowed, I had the best memory of any boy in the school, and could repeat whole books from beginning to end. You know how cruelly father always used me, calling me a noodle and a milksop, just because

a thing, which the soul longs

d wanting and wanting to kiss some one's mouth, and you may not

re this place has a little stepdau

n hardly go on writing 'E'. I've loved her ever since I came here. For weeks I have not been able to eat or drink; my very tobacco when

oo! I thought, 'It is all right; she will be mine; she loves me!' Just then, Jemima, in came a fellow, a great, coarse fellow, a German-a ridiculous fellow, with curls right down to his shoulders; it makes one sick to look at him. He's only a s

f I went to sleep for a moment I dreamed that her finger was pressing mine; but

his m

uses me I shall go and kill myself tomorrow. There is a dam of water close by. The s

from me, think of me tenderly, and forgive me. Without her, life would be a howling wilderness, a long tribula

d who dreamed tha

ith, 'I lo

p eyes look down thro

t is, in all probability, the last

Nazianz

tuds. I left them in the wash-hand-stand dra

turn down one corner you may know I have been accepted; if

.N

much approval, put it in an envelope, addressed it, and

e cow-kraal. Em leaned over the poles that barred the gate, and watched the frothing milk run through the black fingers of the herdsman, while the unwilling cows stood with tethered heads by the milking poles.

be standing here?" said Grego

short horns is bringing up the calf of the white cow that died. She loves it so-ju

think it is going to ra

up as well as she could fo

s hand under the cloak, and found there a small fist doub

an all the world besides! Tel

esitating, and trying s

world, darling?" he asked, bending down so lo

y much; but I love my cousin who is at school, and W

and the cows, busy with their calves, took no notice of the little human farce. "Em, if you talk so to me I will go mad! You must love me, love me better than all! You must give yourself to me. I have love

ld, and the cloak fluttered down on to the ground, and the w

u. I love you better than Waldo, but I can't tell if I love you better than L

the cloak and wr

once come near you till then. Good-bye! Oh, Em," he said, turning again, and twining his arm about her, and kissing her surp

d Em. "Come, let us go, a

bye! You will not see

kitchen. She had come to fill the kettle for the next morning's coffee, and now stood before the fire. T

ife, and had got none of it back with interest. Now one said, "I love you better than all the world." One loved her better than she loved him. How suddenly rich she was. She kept clasping and unclasping her hands. So a b

ou as long as I live." She said the wor

ow, and I will tell him how

tter was still in his pocket. And, therefore, much as he disliked the appearance of vac

l only bow to her. She shall see that

ving a deep crease. That would show that he was neither accepted nor rejected, but that matter

f. When he had given the letter, and Waldo had gone, Gregory bowed stiffly and prepared to remount his own pony, but somewhat slowly. It w

however much he kissed her. "I wish I was beautiful and nice," sh

were in hell I would go after you to find you there! If you were dead, though my body moved, my soul would be under the g

e was as she looked up into it. She raised

d, my Em," he cried. "Have

e of wonder f

ything you tell

say? Her idea of lo

l not have it! If every relation I had in the world were to die tomorrow, I would be quite happy if I still only had you! My darling, my lo

d very gravely

d I will try not to love any one else.

ll day. I think of nothing else, love, nothi

mber that in six months her cousin would come back from school, and she had thoug

"but I cannot love you so much as you love me. Perhaps it is

m the huts. He kissed her again, eye

contemplated marriage within the year with one or other of her numerous

h her daily, almost hourly, and the six months which elapsed before Lyndall's return passed, a

the changes they would make when the Boer-woman was gone, and the farm belonged to them alone. There should be a new room here, and a

the lover. "It comes over me in

smi

t is true. My hands are as short and broad as a duck's foot, and

was so nice to think

like a little queen: her shoulders are so upright, and her head looks as though it ought to have a lit

e is your cousin; but do you think I could e

seething ey

d Em, slipping her right hand into his; "but you will

doorstep to call a greeting after him; and she waited, as she always

ring, and through the little room that was all draped in w

m a smouse. There, too, was a ring Gregory had given her, and a veil his sister had sent, and there was a little roll of fine embroidered work which Trana had given her. It was too fine and good even for Gregory's wife-just right for something very small and soft. She would keep it. And she touched it gently with h

so like to see it-the little wreath, and the ring, and the white veil! It would be so nice! Then

would look about and say, "Where is my wife? Has no one se

last, and she knelt up and extende

! I do not know what I have done t