"’Mysalvationisinwork，ifIshouldstopbutforonemomentyouwouldcreepdownuponme，’hereplied。Andtheyputouttheirlongnecksfurther。
　　"’Lookdownintothecreviceatyourfeet，’theysaid。’Seewhatliethere——whitebones！Asbraveandstrongamanasyouclimbedtotheserocks。’Andhelookedup。Hesawtherewasnouseinstriving；hewouldneverholdTruth，neverseeher，neverfindher。Sohelaydownhere，forhewasverytired。Hewenttosleepforever。Heputhimselftosleep。
　　Sleepisverytranquil。Youarenotlonelywhenyouareasleep，neitherdoyourhandsache，noryourheart。Andthehunterlaughedbetweenhisteeth。
　　"’HaveItornfrommyheartallthatwasdearest；haveIwanderedaloneinthelandofnight；haveIresistedtemptation；haveIdweltwherethevoiceofmykindisneverheard，andlabouredalone，toliedownandbefoodforyou，yeharpies？’
　　"Helaughedfiercely；andtheEchoesofDespairslunkaway，forthelaughofabrave，strongheartisasadeathblowtothem。
　　"Neverthelesstheycreptoutagainandlookedathim。
　　"’Doyouknowthatyourhairiswhite？’theysaid，’thatyourhandsbegintotremblelikeachild’s？Doyouseethatthepointofyourshuttleisgone？——itiscrackedalready。Ifyoushouldeverclimbthisstair，’theysaid，’itwillbeyourlast。Youwillneverclimbanother。’
　　"Andheanswered，’Iknowit！’andworkedon。
　　"Theold，thinhandscutthestonesillandjaggedly，forthefingerswerestiffandbent。Thebeautyandthestrengthofthemanwasgone。
　　"Atlast，anold，wizened，shrunkenfacelookedoutabovetherocks。Itsawtheeternalmountainsrisewithwallstothewhiteclouds；butitsworkwasdone。
　　"Theoldhunterfoldedhistiredhandsandlaydownbytheprecipicewherehehadworkedawayhislife。Itwasthesleepingtimeatlast。Belowhimoverthevalleysrolledthethickwhitemist。Onceitbroke；andthroughthegapthedyingeyeslookeddownonthetreesandfieldsoftheirchildhood。Fromafarseemedbornetohimthecryofhisownwildbirds，andheheardthenoiseofpeoplesingingastheydanced。Andhethoughtheheardamongthemthevoicesofhisoldcomrades；andhesawfaroffthesunlightshineonhisearlyhome。Andgreattearsgatheredinthehunter’seyes。
　　"’Ah！Theywhodietheredonotdiealone，’hecried。
　　"Thenthemistsrolledtogetheragain；andheturnedhiseyesaway。
　　"’Ihavesought，’hesaid，’forlongyearsIhavelaboured；butIhavenotfoundher。Ihavenotrested，Ihavenotrepined，andIhavenotseenher；
　　nowmystrengthisgone。WhereIliedownwornoutothermenwillstand，youngandfresh。BythestepsthatIhavecuttheywillclimb；bythestairsthatIhavebuilttheywillmount。Theywillneverknowthenameofthemanwhomadethem。Attheclumsyworktheywilllaugh；whenthestonesrolltheywillcurseme。Buttheywillmount，andonmywork；theywillclimb，andbymystair！Theywillfindher，andthroughme！Andnomanlivethtohimselfandnomandiethtohimself。’
　　"Thetearsrolledfrombeneaththeshrivelledeyelids。IfTruthhadappearedabovehiminthecloudsnowhecouldnothaveseenher，themistofdeathwasinhiseyes。
　　"’Mysoulhearstheirgladstepcoming，’hesaid；’andtheyshallmount！
　　theyshallmount！’Heraisedhisshrivelledhandtohiseyes。
　　"Thenslowlyfromthewhiteskyabove，throughthestillair，camesomethingfalling，falling，falling。Softlyitfluttereddown，anddroppedontothebreastofthedyingman。Hefeltitwithhishands。Itwasafeather。Hediedholdingit。"
　　Theboyhadshadedhiseyeswithhishand。Onthewoodofthecarvinggreatdropsfell。Thestrangermusthavelaughedathim，orremainedsilent。Hedidso。
　　"Howdidyouknowit？"theboywhisperedatlast。"Itisnotwrittenthere——notonthatwood。Howdidyouknowit？"
　　"Certainly，"saidthestranger，"thewholeofthestoryisnotwrittenhere，butitissuggested。Andtheattributeofalltrueart，thehighestandthelowest，isthis——thatitraysmorethanitsays，andtakesyouawayfromitself。Itisalittledoorthatopensintoaninfinitehallwhereyoumayfindwhatyouplease。Men，thinkingtodetract，say：’Peoplereadmoreinthisorthatworkofgeniusthanwaseverwritteninit，’notperceivingthattheypaythehighestcompliment。Ifwepickupthefingerandnailofarealman，wecandecipherawholestory——couldalmostreconstructthecreatureagain，fromheadtofoot。ButhalfthebodyofaMumboo—jumbowidolleavesusutterlyinthedarkastowhattherestwaslike。Weseewhatwesee，butnothingmore。Thereisnothingsouniversallyintelligibleastruth。Ithasathousandmeanings，andsuggestsathousandmore。"
　　Heturnedoverthewoodenthing。
　　"Thoughamanshouldcarveitintomatterwiththeleastpossiblemanipulativeskill，itwillyetfindinterpreters。Itisthesoulthatlooksoutwithburningeyesthroughthemostgrossfleshlyfilament。
　　Whosoevershouldportraytrulythelifeanddeathofalittleflower——itsbirth，suckinginofnourishment，reproductionofitskind，witheringandvanishing——wouldhaveshapedasymbolofallexistence。Alltruefactsofnatureorthemindarerelated。Yourlittlecarvingrepresentssomementalfactsastheyreallyare，thereforefiftydifferenttruestoriesmightbereadfromit。Whatyourworkwantsisnottruth，butbeautyofexternalform，theotherhalfofart。"Heleanedalmostgentlytowardtheboy。
　　"Skillmaycomeintime，butyouwillhavetoworkhard。Theloveofbeautyandthedesireforitmustbeborninaman；theskilltoreproduceithemustmake。Hemustworkhard。"
　　"AllmylifeIhavelongedtoseeyou，"theboysaid。
　　Thestrangerbrokeofftheendofhiscigar，andlitit。Theboyliftedtheheavywoodfromthestranger’skneeanddrewyetnearerhim。Inthedog—likemannerofhisdrawingneartherewassomethingsuperblyridiculous，unlessonechancedtoviewitinanotherlight。Presentlythestrangersaid，whiffing，"Dosomethingforme。"
　　Theboystartedup。
　　"No；staywhereyouare。Idon’twantyoutogoanyowhere；Iwantyoutotalktome。Tellmewhatyouhavebeendoingallyourlife。"
　　Theboyslunkdownagain。Wouldthatthemanhadaskedhimtorootupbusheswithhishandsforhishorsetofeedon；ortoruntothefarendoftheplainforthefossilsthatlaythere，ortogathertheflowersthatgrewonthehillsattheedgeoftheplain；hewouldhaverunandbeenbackquickly——butnow！
　　"Ihaveneverdoneanything，"hesaid。
　　"Thentellmeofthatnothing。IliketoknowwhatotherfolkshavebeendoingwhosewordIcanbelieve。Itisinteresting。Whatwasthefirstthingyoueverwantedverymuch？"
　　Theboywaitedtoremember，thenbeganhesitatingly，butsoonthewordsflowed。Inthesmallestpastwefindaninexhaustibleminewhenoncewebegintodigatit。
　　Aconfused，disorderedstory——thelittlemadelargeandthelargesmall，andnothingshowingitsinwardmeaning。Itisnottillthepasthasrecededmanystepsthatbeforetheclearesteyesitfallsintoco—ordinatepictures。ItisnottilltheIwetellofhasceasedtoexistthatittakesitsplaceamongotherobjectiverealities，andfindsitstruenicheinthepicture。Thepresentandthenearpastisaconfusion，whosemeaningflashesonusasitslinksawayintothedistance。
　　Thestrangerlitonecigarfromtheendofanother，andpuffedandlistenedwithhalf—closedeyes。
　　"Iwillremembermoretotellyouifyoulike，"saidtheboy。
　　Hespokewiththatextremegravitycommontoallveryyoungthingswhofeeldeeply。Itisnottilltwentythatwelearntobeindeadlyearnestandtolaugh。Thestrangernodded，whilethefellowsoughtforsomethingmoretorelate。Hewouldtellalltothismanofhis——allthatheknew，allthathehadfelt，hisinmostsorestthought。Suddenlythestrangerturneduponhim。
　　"Boy，"hesaid，"youarehappytobehere。"
　　Waldolookedathim。Washisdelightfuloneridiculinghim？Here，withthisbrownearthandtheselowhills，whiletherarewonderfulworldlayallbeyond。Fortunatetobehere？
　　Thestrangerreadhisglance。
　　"Yes，"hesaid；"herewiththekaroo—bushesandredsand。DoyouwonderwhatImean？Toallwhohavebeenbornintheoldfaiththerecomesatimeofdanger，whentheoldslipsfromus，andwehavenotyetplantedourfeetonthenew。WehearthevoicefromSinaithunderingnomore，andthestillsmallvoiceofreasonisnotyetheard。Wehaveprovedthereligionourmothersfedusontobeadelusion；inourbewildermentweseenorulebywhichtoguideourstepsdaybyday；andyeteverydaywemuststepsomewhere。"
　　Thestrangerleanedforwardandspokemorequickly。"Wehaveneveroncebeentaughtbywordoracttodistinguishbetweenreligionandthemorallawsonwhichithasartfullyfasteneditself，andfromwhichithassuckeditsvitality。Whenwehavedraggeddowntheweedsandcreepersthatcoveredthesolidwallandhavefoundthemtoberottenwood，weimaginethewallitselftoberottenwoodtoo。Wefinditissolidandstandingonlywhenwefallheadlongagainstit。Wehavebeentaughtthatallrightandwrongoriginateinthewillofanirresponsiblebeing。Itissometimebeforeweseehowtheinexorable’Thoushaltandshaltnot，’arecarvedintothenatureofthings。Thisisthetimeofdanger。"
　　Hisdark，mistyeyeslookedintotheboy’s。
　　"Intheendexperiencewillinevitablyteachusthatthelawsforawiseandnoblelifehaveafoundationinfinitelydeeperthanthefiatofanybeing，Godorman，eveninthegroundworkofhumannature。
　　"Shewillteachusthatwhososheddethman’sblood，thoughbymanhisbloodbenotshed，thoughnomanavengeandnohellawait，yeteverydropshallblisteronhissoulandeatinthenameofthedead。Shewillteachthatwhosotakesalovenotlawfullyhisown，gathersaflowerwithapoisononitspetals；thatwhosorevenges，strikeswithaswordthathastwoedges——
　　oneforhisadversary，oneforhimself；thatwholivestohimselfisdead，thoughthegroundisnotyetonhim；thatwhowrongsanothercloudshisownsun；andthatwhosinsinsecretstandsaccursedandcondemnedbeforetheoneJudgewhodealseternaljustice——hisownall—knowingself。
　　"Experiencewillteachusthis，andreasonwillshowuswhyitmustbeso；
　　butatfirsttheworldswingsbeforeoureyes，andnovoicecriesout，’Thisistheway，walkyeinit！’Youarehappytobehere，boy！Whenthesuspensefillsyouwithpainyoubuildstonewallsanddigearthforrelief。Othershavestoodwhereyoustandtoday，andhavefeltasyoufeel；andanotherreliefhasbeenofferedthem，andtheyhavetakenit。
　　"Whenthedayhascomewhentheyhaveseenthepathinwhichtheymightwalk，theyhavenotthestrengthtofollowit。Habitshavefastenedonthemfromwhichnothingbutdeathcanfreethem；whichclingcloserthanhissacerdotalsanctimonytoapriest；whichfeedontheintellectlikeaworm，sappingenergy，hope，creativepower，allthatmakesamanhigherthanabeast——leavingonlythepowertoyearn，toregret，andtosinklowerintheabyss。
　　"Boy，"hesaid，andthelistenerwasnotmoreunsmilingnowthanthespeaker，"youarehappytobehere！Staywhereyouare。Ifyoueverpray，letitbeonlytheoneoldprayer——’Leadusnotintotemptation。’Liveonherequietly。Thetimemayyetcomewhenyouwillbethatwhichothermenhavehopedtobeandneverwillbenow。"
　　Thestrangerrose，shookthedustfromhissleeve，andashamedathisownearnestness，lookedacrossthebushesforhishorse。
　　"Weshouldhavebeenonourwayalready，"hesaid。"Weshallhavealongrideinthedarktonight。"
　　Waldohastenedtofetchtheanimal；buthereturnedleadingitslowly。Thesooneritcamethesoonerwoulditsriderbegone。
　　Thestrangerwasopeninghissaddlebag，inwhichwereabrightFrenchnovelandanoldbrownvolume。Hetookthelastandhelditouttotheboy。
　　"Itmaybeofsomehelptoyou，"hesaid，carelessly。"ItwasagospeltomewhenIfirstfellonit。Youmustnotexpecttoomuch；butitmaygiveyouacentreroundwhichtohangyourideas，insteadoflettingthemlieaboutinaconfusionthatmakestheheadache。Weofthisgenerationarenotdestinedtoeatandbesatisfiedasourfatherswere；wemustbecontenttogohungry。"
　　Hesmiledhisautomatonsmile，andrebuttonedthebag。Waldothrustthebookintohisbreast，andwhilehesaddledthehorsethestrangermadeinquiriesastothenatureoftheroadandthedistancetothenextfarm。
　　Whenthebagswerefixed，Waldotookuphiswoodenpostandbegantofastenitontothesaddle，tyingitwiththelittlebluecottonhandkerchieffromhisneck。Thestrangerlookedoninsilence。Whenitwasdonetheboyheldthestirrupforhimtomount。
　　"Whatisyourname？"heinquired，unglovinghisrighthandwhenhewasinthesaddle。
　　Theboyreplied：
　　"Well，Itrustweshallmeetagainsomeday，soonerorlater。"
　　Heshookhandswiththeunglovedhand；thendrewontheglove，andtouchedhishorse，androdeslowlyaway。Theboystoodtowatchhim。
　　Oncewhenthestrangerhadgonehalfacrosstheplainhelookedback。
　　"Poordevil，"hesaid，smilingandstrokinghismoustache。Thenhelookedtoseeifthelittlebluehandkerchiefwerestillsafelyknotted。"Poordevil！"
　　Hesmiled，andthenhesighedwearily，verywearily。
　　AndWaldowaitedtillthemovingspeckhaddisappearedonthehorizon；thenhestoopedandkissedpassionatelyahoof—markinthesand。Thenhecalledhisyoungbirdstogether，andputhisbookunderhisarm，andwalkedhomealongthestonewall。Therewasararebeautytohiminthesunshinethatevening。
　　Chapter2。III。GregoryRoseFindsHisAffinity。
　　Thenewman，GregoryRose，satatthedoorofhisdwelling，hisarmsfolded，hislegscrossed，andaprofoundmelancholyseemingtorestoverhissoul。Hishousewasalittlesquaredaub—and—wattlebuilding，faroutinthekaroo，twomilesfromthehomestead。Itwascoveredoutsidewithasombrecoatingofbrownmud，twolittlepanesbeingletintothewallsforwindows。Behinditwerethesheep—kraals，andtotherightalargedam，nowprincipallycontainingbakedmud。Faroffthelittlekopjeconcealedthehomestead，andwasnotitselfanobjectconspicuousenoughtorelievethedrearymonotonyofthelandscape。
　　BeforethedoorsatGregoryRoseinhisshirt—sleeves，onacamp—stool，andeverandanonhesigheddeeply。Therewasthatinhiscountenanceforwhichevenhisdepressingcircumstancesfailedtoaccount。Againandagainhelookedatthelittlekopje，atthemilk—pailathisside，andatthebrownpony，whoashortwayoffcroppedthedrybushes——andsighed。
　　Presentlyheroseandwentintohishouse。Itwasonetinyroom，thewhitewashedwallsprofuselycoveredwithprintscutfromthe"IllustratedLondonNews"，andinwhichtherewasanoticeablepreponderanceoffemalefacesandfigures。Astretcherfilledoneendofthehut，andarackforagunandalittlehanginglooking—glassdiversifiedthegableopposite，whileinthecentrestoodachairandtable。Allwasscrupulouslyneatandclean，forGregorykeptalittledusterfoldedinthecornerofhistable—
　　drawer，justashehadseenhismotherdo，andeverymorningbeforehewentouthesaidhisprayers，andmadehisbed，anddustedthetableandthelegsofthechairs，andeventhepicturesonthewallandthegun—rack。
　　Onthishotafternoonhetookfrombeneathhispillowawatch—bagmadebyhissisterJemima，andtookoutthewatch。Onlyhalfpastfour！Withasuppressedgroanhedroppeditbackandsatdownbesidethetable。Half—
　　pastfour！Presentlyherousedhimself。HewouldwritetohissisterJemima。Healwayswrotetoherwhenhewasmiserable。Shewashissafety—
　　valve。Heforgotherwhenhewashappy；butheusedherwhenhewaswretched。
　　Hetookoutinkandpaper。Therewasafamilycrestandmottoonthelatter，fortheRosessincecomingtothecolonyhaddiscoveredthattheywereofdistinguishedlineage。OldRosehimself，anhonestEnglishfarmer，knewnothingofhisnobledescent；buthiswifeanddaughterknew——
　　especiallyhisdaughter。TherewereRosesinEnglandwhokeptaparkanddatedfromtheConquest。Sothecolonial"RoseFarm"became"RoseManor"
　　inremembranceoftheancestraldomain，andtheclaimoftheRosestonoblebloodwasestablished——intheirownmindsatleast。
　　Gregorytookuponeofthewhite，crestedsheets；butondeeperreflectionhedeterminedtotakeapinkone，asmoresuitabletothestateofhisfeelings。Hebegan：
　　"KopjeAlone，"Mondayafternoon。
　　"MyDearJemima——"
　　Thenhelookedupintothelittleglassopposite。Itwasayouthfulfacereflectedthere，withcurlingbrownbeardandhair；butinthedarkblueeyestherewasalookoflanguidlongingthattouchedhim。Here—dippedhispenandwrote：
　　"WhenIlookupintothelittleglassthathangsoppositeme，Iwonderifthatchangedandsadface——"
　　Herehesatstillandreflected。Itsoundedalmostasifhemightbeconceitedorunmanlytobelookingathisownfaceintheglass。No，thatwouldnotdo。Sohelookedforanotherpinksheetandbeganagain。
　　"KopjeAlone，"Mondayafternoon。
　　"DearSister，——ItishardlysixmonthssinceIleftyoutocometothisspot，yetcouldyounowseemeIknowwhatyouwouldsay，Iknowwhatmotherwouldsay——’CanthatbeourGreg——thatthingwiththestrangelookinhiseyes？’
　　"Yes，Jemima，itisyourGreg，andthechangehasbeencomingovermeeversinceIcamehere；butitisgreatestsinceyesterday。YouknowwhatsorrowsIhavepassedthrough，Jemima；howunjustlyIwasalwaystreatedatschool，themasterskeepingmebackandcallingmeablockhead，though，astheythemselvesallowed，Ihadthebestmemoryofanyboyintheschool，andcouldrepeatwholebooksfrombeginningtoend。Youknowhowcruellyfatheralwaysusedme，callingmeanoodleandamilksop，justbecausehecouldn’tunderstandmyfinenature。Youknowhowhehasmadeafarmerofmeinsteadofaminister，asIoughttohavebeen；youknowitall，Jemima；
　　andhowIhaveborneitall，notasawoman，whowhinesforeverytouch，butasamanshould——insilence。
　　"Buttherearethings，thereisathing，whichthesoullongstopourforthintoakindredear。
　　"Dearsister，haveyoueverknownwhatitistokeepwantingandwantingandwantingtokisssomeone’smouth，andyoumaynot；totouchsomeone’shand，andyoucannot？Iaminlove，Jemima。
　　"TheoldDutchwomanfromwhomIhirethisplacehasalittlestepdaughter，andhernamebeginswith’E’。
　　"SheisEnglish。IdonotknowhowherfathercametomarryaBoer—woman。
　　Itmakesmefeelsostrangetoputdownthatletter，thatIcanhardlygoonwriting’E’。I’velovedhereversinceIcamehere。ForweeksIhavenotbeenabletoeatordrink；myverytobaccowhenIsmokehasnotaste；
　　andIcanremainfornomorethanfiveminutesinoneplace，andsometimesfeelasthoughIwerereallygoingmad。
　　"EveryeveningIgotheretofetchmymilk。Yesterdayshegavemesomecoffee。Thespoonfellontheground。Shepickeditup；whenshegaveitmeherfingertouchedmine。Jemima，IdonotknowifIfanciedit——I
　　shiveredhot，andsheshiveredtoo！Ithought，’Itisallright；shewillbemine；shelovesme！’Justthen，Jemima，incameafellow，agreat，coarsefellow，aGerman——aridiculousfellow，withcurlsrightdowntohisshoulders；itmakesonesicktolookathim。He’sonlyaservantoftheBoer—woman’s，andalow，vulgar，uneducatedthing；that’sneverbeentoboarding—schoolinhislife。Hehadbeentothenextfarmseekingsheep。
　　Whenhecameinshesaid，’Goodevening，Waldo。Havesomecoffee！’ANDSHE
　　KISSEDHIM。
　　"AlllastnightIheardnothingelsebut’Havesomecoffee；havesomecoffee。’IfIwenttosleepforamomentIdreamedthatherfingerwaspressingmine；butwhenIwokewithastartIheardhersay，’Goodevening，Waldo。Havesomecoffee！’
　　"Isthismadness？
　　"Ihavenoteatenamouthfultoday。ThiseveningIgoandproposetoher。
　　IfsherefusesmeIshallgoandkillmyselftomorrow。Thereisadamofwatercloseby。Thesheephavedrunkmostofitup，butthereisstillenoughifItieastonetomyneck。
　　"Itisachoicebetweendeathandmadness。Icanendurenomore。Ifthisshouldbethelastletteryouevergetfromme，thinkofmetenderly，andforgiveme。Withouther，lifewouldbeahowlingwilderness，alongtribulation。Sheismyaffinity；theoneloveofmylife，ofmyyouth，ofmymanhood；mysunshine；myGod—givenblossom。
　　"’Theyneverlovedwhodreamedthattheylovedonce，Andwhosaith，’Ilovedonce’？——
　　Notangels，whosedeepeyeslookdownthroughrealmsoflight！’
　　"Yourdisconsolatebrother，onwhatis，inallprobability，thelastanddistractednightofhislife。
　　"GregoryNazianzenRose。
　　"P。S。——Tellmothertotakecareofmypearlstuds。Ilefttheminthewash—hand—standdrawer。Don’tletthechildrengetholdofthem。
　　"P。P。S。——Ishalltakethisletterwithmetothefarm。IfIturndownonecorneryoumayknowIhavebeenaccepted；ifnot，youmayknowitisallupwithyourheartbrokenbrother，G。N。R。"
　　Gregoryhavingfinishedthisletter，readitoverwithmuchapproval，putitinanenvelope，addressedit，andsatcontemplatingtheinkpot，somewhatrelievedinmind。
　　Theeveningturnedoutchillyandverywindyaftertheday’sheat。Fromafaroff，asGregorynearedthehomesteadonthebrownpony，hecoulddistinguishalittlefigureinalittleredcloakatthedoorofthecow—
　　kraal。Emleanedoverthepolesthatbarredthegate，andwatchedthefrothingmilkrunthroughtheblackfingersoftheherdsman，whiletheunwillingcowsstoodwithtetheredheadsbythemilkingpoles。Shehadthrowntheredcloakoverherownhead，andhelditunderherchinwithalittlehand，tokeepfromherearsthewind，thatplayfullyshookit，andtossedthelittlefringeofyellowhairintohereyes。
　　"Isitnottoocoldforyoutobestandinghere？"saidGregory，comingsoftlyclosetoher。
　　"Oh，no；itissonice。Ialwayscometowatchthemilking。Thatredcowwiththeshorthornsisbringingupthecalfofthewhitecowthatdied。
　　Shelovesitso——justasifitwereherown。Itissonicetoseeherlickitslittleears。Justlook！"
　　"Thecloudsareblack。Ithinkitisgoingtoraintonight，"saidGregory。
　　"Yes，"answeredEm，lookingupaswellasshecouldforthelittleyellowfringe。
　　"ButI’msureyoumustbecold，"saidGregory，andputhishandunderthecloak，andfoundthereasmallfistdoubledup，soft，andverywarm。Hehelditfastinhishand。
　　"Oh，Em，Iloveyoubetterthanalltheworldbesides！Tellme，doyoulovemealittle？"
　　"Yes，Ido，"saidEm，hesitating，andtryingsoftlytofreeherhand。
　　"Betterthaneverything；betterthanalltheworld，darling？"heasked，bendingdownsolowthattheyellowhairwasblownintohiseyes。
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidEm，gravely。"Idoloveyouverymuch；butIlovemycousinwhoisatschool，andWaldo，verymuch。YouseeIhaveknownthemsolong！"
　　"Oh，Em，donottalktomesocoldly！"Gregorycried，seizingthelittlearmthatrestedonthegate，andpressingittillshewashalfafraid。Theherdsmanhadmovedawaytotheotherendofthekraalnow，andthecows，busywiththeircalves，tooknonoticeofthelittlehumanfarce。"Em，ifyoutalksotomeIwillgomad！Youmustloveme，lovemebetterthanall！Youmustgiveyourselftome。IhavelovedyousincethatfirstmomentwhenIsawyouwalkingbythestonewallwiththejuginyourhands。
　　Youweremadeforme，createdforme！IwillloveyoutillIdie！Oh，Em，donotbesocold，socrueltome！"
　　Heheldherarmsotightlythatherfingersrelaxedtheirhold，andthecloakfluttereddownontotheground，andthewindplayedmoreroughlythaneverwiththelittleyellowhead。
　　"Idoloveyouverymuch，"shesaid；"butIdonotknowifIwanttomarryyou。IloveyoubetterthanWaldo，butIcan’ttellifIloveyoubetterthanLyndall。IfyouwouldletmewaitforaweekIthinkperhapsIcouldtellyou。"
　　Gregorypickedupthecloakandwrappeditroundher。
　　"IfyoucouldbutlovemeasIloveyou，"hesaid；"butnowomancanloveasamancan。IwillwaittillSaturday。Iwillnotoncecomenearyoutillthen。Good—bye！Oh，Em，"hesaid，turningagain，andtwininghisarmabouther，andkissinghersurprisedlittlemouth，"ifyouarenotmywifeIcannotlive。Ihaveneverlovedanotherwoman，andInevershall！——
　　never，never！"