Marie: An Episode in the Life of the Late Allan Quatermain

while some went to wagons which they had outspanned at a distance, and trekked off to their separate homes. I am glad to say that before they left quite a number of the best of t

o had been a silent but not unobservant witness of all this scene, coming to the conclusion that after what had happened we should scarcely be welco

sts to-night. Also, fear not, Hernan will be a

I pray you to come, for I have some important w

ting some still more important words with Marie? So having collected the geese and the two falcons, which I propo

om. By an afterthought also, or so it seemed to me, he told his daughter, who had been clearing away the dis

e knew to a certain extent. This was for the benefit of my father, who made it a point of honour not to understand Dutch, although he would answer Marais in that l

ough I never gave you leave to 'opsit'" (that is, to sit up alone at night with candles, accordi

opportunity to tell you that we plighted our trot

swered Marais, pulling at his beard; "the troth t

which I cannot consent

know that we plighted our troth when we thought ourselves about

od table, her chin resting on her hand and her dark, buck-like eyes lookin

y not be," answered Marais, hitting the table with his fist. "I have nothing to say against

mynheer?

e first. You are poor, which is no discredit to you, and since I am now ruined my daughter cannot marry a poor man; that is the seco

is the real reason? Namely, that you wi

ed my daughter to her cousin, Hernando Pereira, a man of substance and f

a very hell was raging. "But tell me, mynheer, has Marie aff

r quiet fashion, "I have affiance

ynheer," I s

r in her grave. That I had abused his confidence and violated his hospitality; that he would shoot me if I came near his girl. That she was a minor, and according

ut and smashed his favourite pipe u

ly, for since my mother's death we have b

u are my life, and

ed him full in the eyes, and oh! how stately she seemed at that moment in her simple strength and youthful grace!-"there is one thing, my father, that I do not acknowledge-your right to force me to marry any other man. As a woman with power over herself, I deny that right; and much as it pains me, my f

first I thought that he was about to curse her; but if this were so,

he hands of Fate. While you are under age-that is, for two years or more-you may not marry without my consent, and hav

ade no answer, but sat himself down and stared gloomily at the table. "You do not wish my son to marry your daughter for various reasons, of which one is that you think him poor and a richer suitor has offered himself after a rever

main. You English are bullies an

upright, to that good hater of the English and plotter against his King, He

the afternoon, this sarcas

Boers and their plottings. Still, it is plain that these two love each other with heart and soul, as doubtless it has been decreed that they should love. This being so, I tell you that to separate them and force another marriage upon o

pany me to a new home, which is not under

your head be it here and hereaft

trol myself any l

and in this rich country wealth can be earned by those who work, as I would do for her sake. The man to whom you would give her showed his true nature this day,

ther she does or not, she shall accompany me and

our fortunes to the last. But marry Hernan

ay come when once again you will be

lty and insults, like the cry of a beast beneath a blow. Little did I know how true they would prove, but a

d Marais, who, knowing himself to be in the wro

e future as in the past, Mynheer Marais. God pardon

as not under the influence of his prejudices or passion, had a kind heart, was moved also, but tried to hide his feeling

rses are kraaled, and it would be difficult to find them in

ep in the cart," and I limped from the room

inion of his wickedness and folly in language that he was not likely to forget. I believe he even drove him to confess that his acts seemed cruel, excusing them, however, by announcing that he

madness that runs before destruction, you prefer to bre

he le

n outspanned on the veld at a little distance from the house, wishing heartily, so miserable w

had been cleared out, the hind curtain fastened, and so forth. Also the pole was propped up with an ox-yoke so as to make the vehicle level to lie in. While I w

"but why were you going

say about a simple matter. You want to marry the Baas Marais's daughter; the baas wants her to marry another man who can pay more cattle. Well, among us it would soon have been settled, for the father would have taken a stick and beaten you out of the hut with the thick end. Then he would have beaten the girl with the thin end unti

sked idly, for his na?ve summing up of

nder a tree when the lightning strikes it. That my first Christian reason. My second black-man reason, about which there can be no mistake, for it has always been true since there was a black man, is that the girl is yours by blood. You saved her life with your blood," and he pointed to my leg, "and therefore bou

d. "Why do you ta

tion, amen, and you will see. You will see, as I have seen before now, and as the Heer Marais will see, who, if the great God had not made him mad-for m

eir superstitions, but, after a long life of experience, I am bound to admit that they are not always devoi

order to change the subject, "fro

I had forgotten, she gave me a writing for you," and he felt about, first in his dirty shirt, then under his arm, and finally in his fuzzy hair, from

alf an hour before sunrise. Be the

it without being found out." Then an inspiration seemed to strike him, and he added: "Why do you not

t the horses have got out of the kraal so that you cannot find them too easily in case the Revere

would you like me to put a little something into it? Not to kill him, for that is against the law in the Book, but just to make him quite mad, for the Book says nothing about that. If so, I have a very good medicine, one that you white people do not kno

not there already," I replied, a

as the lady did her mother in the poem, for I do not think that I closed an eye that night. I spare my reflections,

a grey ghost, for she was wrapped in some light-coloured garment. Oh! once more we were alone together. Alone in the utter solitude and silence which precede t

and clasped me to her breast, uttering no word. A

ink that if my father found us togethe

as of me she thoug

my sweet

oot me, for then I should have done with all this pain. I told you, Allan, when the Ka

ill he really separate us and ta

, if I live, I shall be of full age, and can marry whom I will; and this I swe

for those w

peak? Would you have me do outrage to my own he

wear also,"

h us maids it is different. Listen, Allan, for the cocks are beginning to crow, and soon there will be light. You must bide here with your father. If possible, I will write to you from time to time, telling you

do you go

shivered a little in my arms-"is half Portuguese. He tells the Boers that he has relations there who have written him many fine promi

and that the country between is full o

for yourself. Then, then, if we both live and you still care for me, who will always care for you, when I am of age, you will join us and, say and do what they may, I will marry no other man. And if I die, as may well happen, oh

laden grass, I felt as though my heart were being rent from my breast. I have suffered much in life, but I do not think that ever I underwent a bitterer anguish than in t

ontein were behind us, while in front rolled the