The Transvaal from Within: A Private Record of Public Affairs

s the matter with you? No nonsense; I'm a doctor; you

a woman cannot say;

very exh

d weakly, "I-

d you fo

rsistently, noting her hesitation, and sh

you h

again, and her

, and you wouldn't buy her book. Beast! she

cated by his voice; indeed, in her

t again, because I forbid it! I'm going to order a prescriptio

hom he interrogated on the subject of eggs

ri's roo

e went back; he saw tear-stains on her cheek, t

window shut again? No? All right, we'll keep it open. Don't talk

ay appeared, and then, receiving it at th

said, "try

murmured,

ng to be bashful about; I know you're not an ang

she muttered; "what

id; "ask me what I thi

had looked for-his difficulty was, not to restrain, but to persua

shaking her head; "I am

her as little as might be by his presence. At the end of a quarter of an hour he put

tte

he said, with a

a long experience of

turned nervous

n't quite know what he was to do with her. Somehow, despite her situation, the offer of a s

When you're well enough to go I'll tel

offer some explanation, but she was at a los

improving?" inquired Kincaid. "Suppose you were abl

t think there is. I'm a

ve career, that you

east; but it

s

d she volunteer the information, or should he ask her? He failed to perceive what assistance he could render if he knew;

nd anything to do, and he fancied that as I was-well, that as I was a lady-it s

ything odd abou

on the contrary. It's not easy to me to decline to take 'No' fo

e ashamed," he said;

r's office and bother him, and be snubbed for her pains, the honesty doesn't p

que," he said quickly. "I was

olour

ered; "I shouldn't be very grateful to

ould have been tolerably easy to sell. It's

It isn't dear, but people

ng it from the desk and turning the le

ou

ent to recover it, but he went on

my mind and subscribe for a copy.

er hands tigh

, "thank you,

hy

. You've fed me and done enough for me alr

saw by the widened eyes fixed upon the fi

"don't break down! Let's

tear away-"I'm not u

understand. Poke it for me,

prolonged the task a minu

ked K

n't it? I've been through all

u h

ll you that 'money's the least thing.' Only

ieve anxiety," she said; "it does seem c

you mean

call employmen

k for more

ore foolish. 'Experi

eaches intelligent people; fools go on blunde

bills without minding if they came to five shillings more than I had expected. It's a beautiful regula

Kincaid; "couldn't you get diffe

anion, but I had to give the idea up at last, and it ended in my going to Pattenden's. Don't think they know

been a compani

ything has to be done for the first

y adepts in everything to-day that

are they t

ect people to pay incompetence when skille

certain capacity for expectation, I think; under favourable conditions it wears well and

t without a f

more than fight

acknowledge t

ween her teeth; "the b

kon is going to

anticipat

l rubbish! Ans

arve, then,

You kn

e-appeal to for help. You've delayed it a little by your kindness, but you can't prevent its coming. Oh, I've hoped and struggled till I am worn out!" she went on, her; voice shaking. "If there were a

; she had education and manner. He contem

atalist, for all th

en fed on charity. I--Oh, don't, don't keep forcing me to make a child of m

ntly; not yet-not t

ay back, with his hands thrust deep into his t

abruptly. "Never been trained to anything? You can't do

ed at

rot it is! Why didn't your fath

ere a doctor?" she retu

my name is

ettan; he never expected his

one of us? I'm glad to make your a

cate, institute inquiries at the hospital; and then the whisper would circulate that "Brettan was no longer living with her husband"-they would soon ascertain that he had not died-and from that point to the truth would be

st be someone who can serve you a little-someo

tted having proclaime

dly a popular man. For several reasons I wouldn't like

; "you can't afford to turn your back on them. If you

des, you are wrong in supposing that any one of them would exert himself for

er reference to the kind of employment she had desired, and the announcement of her parentage w

up, who is there

I believe they'd spe

ody e

see anyone who went to him

," he said; "you're very aw

woman's helplessness is the best of reasons why no help should be extended to her.

t of it I shall be glad-for your own sake, and for the sake of your dead father. It's like this, though; the only thing I can see my way

cto

ght her

ng you, it's probable she'd engage you; I think you

she cried. "You shall never be so

not usual to go engaging a lad

you advertised, you'd take the woman after the one interview. You woul

t his moust

added; "she wouldn't have fainted in your room. It'd be

atly," he sai

d response. He could not smile if h

Kinca

"I hear someone comin

m as he turned the hand

nd a breakfast-tray. Come down on to th

party? What do you mean by a woman and a breakfa

ght a book. I

possibility of rescue dangled before her eyes, her prayer was only for the possibility to be fulfilled. Would he be satisfied, or would he send her away? Her fate swung on the decision. She did not marvel at the tenacity; it seemed to her so natural that she did not question it at all. Yet it is of all things the oddest-t

ive me what I did; don't let me suffer any more

the landing, "and wha

incaid, "of letting my

philanthrop

But, after all, one knows where she comes from;

r father's n

an-Ant

eard it

s. Besides, my mother would have to decide for herself. I should t

ind me on the bed. By the way, if you could hand my pipe out w

here's a last cigar; go and

pression, the result of the consultation on the stairs. The person consulted had been Mr. Corri, she concluded, the man that she had been

ion's place, Miss Brettan," began

de towards the unknown personage,

u regret it, Dr.

" he said hastily. "The most I could do would be to mention t

; if I were able to take your advice and pocket my pride, I could prove that I have told you the truth,' And what's that?-anybody might say it and be lying! Oh yes, I know! Doctor, my lack of references has made me suspected till I could have cried blood. Doors have been shut against me, not because I was ineligible in myself, but because I was a woman who hadn't had employers to say, 'I found her a satisfactory person.' Things I should have done for have

as all that. What I can do for you I will! Very likely my m

re at one; of the opposite houses

d rest, and try not to worry. Cheer up, and hop

owed conv

," she said. "God bl

s to show her that he remembered that cabs were beyond her means; yet she might be harass

ory; but in passing a second-hand bookstall they noticed an old copy exposed for sale, and examined that one. He found Anthony Br

" he observed cheerfull

t ask for her during the day, and, mounting to the garret, shut herself in to wrestle unsuccessfully with her fears of being refused, or forgotten altogether. Would this mother come or not? If not-she shivered; she had been so near to ignominious death that the

omen's women; Mary was one of them. Mrs. Kincaid, who came already interested, sure that her Philip could make no mistake and wishful to be satisfied, was charmed with her. The pleading tones, the repose of manner, the-for so she described it later-"Madonna face," if

tal," she said. "It'll be very quiet for you, but you'll bear that, won't you? I

as if you were asking a favour of me, but your son mus

ed the old lady brightly; "that

ry smiled. "I accept your offer grate

day after to-morrow? Don't if it inconv

shall be q

hings to get-perhaps we had better make it this! There, there! it's your own money, not a present; th

ckle. These heavenly people! their tenderness, their consideration! Oh, how beautiful it would be if they knew all abo

or eighteenpence, after tipping the waiter. She returned to the attic-glorified attic! it would never appal her any more-and abandoned herself to meditating upon the "things." There was this, and there was that, and there was the other. Yes, and she must have a box! She would have had her initials painted on the box, only the paint would look so curiously new. Should she have her initials o

she mu

ob, a torrent of tears. She was on her knees beside th

, Tony,