"Whenyouhavethreewagonstolookafterallnight，youaresometimessotiredyoucanhardlystand。AtfirstwhenIwalkedalongdrivingmywagonsinthenightitwasglorious；thestarshadneverlookedsobeautifultome；andonthedarknightswhenwerodethroughthebushtherewerewill—
　　o’—the—wispsdancingoneachsideoftheroad。Ifoundoutthateventhedampanddarkarebeautiful。ButIsoonchanged，andsawnothingbuttheroadandmyoxen。Ionlywishedforasmoothpieceofroad，sothatI
　　mightsitatthefrontanddoze。Attheplaceswhereweoutspannedthereweresometimesrareplantsandflowers，thefestoonshangingfromthebush—
　　trees，andnutsandinsects，suchasweneverseehere；butafteralittlewhileIneverlookedatthem——Iwastootired。
　　"IateasmuchasIcould，andthenlaydownonmyfaceunderthewagontilltheboycametowakemetoinspan，andthenwedroveonagainallnight；soitwent，soitwent。IthinksometimeswhenIwalkedbymyoxenIcalledtotheminmysleep，forIknowIthoughtofnothing；Iwaslikeananimal。Mybodywasstrongandwelltowork，butmybrainwasdead。Ifyouhavenotfeltit，Lyndall，youcannotunderstandit。Youmaywork，andwork，andwork，tillyouareonlyabody，notasoul。Now，whenIseeoneofthoseevil—lookingmenthatcomefromEurope——navvies，withthebeast—
　　like，sunkenface，differentfromanyKaffer’s——Iknowwhatbroughtthatlookintotheireyes；andifIhaveonlyoneinchoftobaccoIgivethemhalf。Itiswork，grinding，mechanicalwork，thattheyortheirancestorshavedone，thathasmadethemintobeasts。Youmayworkaman’sbodysothathissouldies。Workisgood。Ihaveworkedattheoldfarmfromthesun’srisingtillitssetting，butIhavehadtimetothink，andtimetofeel。Youmayworkamansothatallbuttheanimalinhimisgone；andthatgrowsstrongerwithphysicallabour。
　　"Youmayworkamantillheisadevil。Iknowit，becauseIhavefeltit。
　　Youwillneverunderstandthechangethatcameoverme。NoonebutIwilleverknowhowgreatitwas。ButIwasnevermiserable；whenIcouldkeepmyoxenfromstickingfast，andwhenIcouldfindaplacetoliedownin，I
　　hadallIwanted。AfterIhaddriveneightmonthsarainyseasoncame。
　　Foreighteenhoursoutofthetwenty—fourweworkedinthewet。Themudwentuptotheaxlessometimes，andwehadtodigthewheelsout，andweneverwentfarinaday。Mymastersworeatmemorethanever，butwhenhehaddonehealwaysofferedmehisbrandy—flask。WhenIfirstcamehehadoffereditme，andIhadalwaysrefused；butnowIdrankasmyoxendidwhenIgavethemwater——withoutthinking。AtlastIboughtbrandyformyselfwheneverwepassedanhotel。
　　"OneSundayweoutspannedonthebanksofaswollenrivertowaitforitsgoingdown。Itwasdrizzlingstill，soIlayunderthewagononthemud。
　　Therewasnodryplaceanywhere；andallthedungwaswet，sotherewasnofiretocookfood。Mylittleflaskwasfilledwithbrandy，andIdranksomeandwenttosleep。WhenIwokeitwasdrizzlingstill，soIdranksomemore。Iwasstiffandcold；andmymaster，wholaybyme，offeredmehisflask，becauseminewasempty。Idranksome，andthenIthoughtI
　　wouldgoandseeiftheriverwasgoingdown。IrememberthatIwalkedtotheroad，anditseemedtobegoingawayfromme。WhenIwokeupIwaslyingbyalittlebushonthebankoftheriver。Itwasafternoon；allthecloudshadgone，andtheskywasdeepblue。TheBushmanboywasgrillingribsatthefire。Helookedatmeandgrinnedfromeartoear。’Masterwasalittlenice，’hesaid，’andlaydownintheroad。Somethingmightrideovermaster，soIcarriedhimthere。’Hegrinnedatmeagain。Itwasasthoughhesaid，’YouandIarecomrades。Ihavelaininaroad，too。I
　　knowallaboutit。’
　　"WhenIturnedmyheadfromhimIsawtheearth，sopureaftertherain，sogreen，sofresh，soblue；andIwasadrunkencarrier，whomhisleaderhadpickedupinthemud，andlaidattheroadsidetosleepouthisdrink。I
　　remembermyoldlife，andIrememberyou。Isawhow，oneday，youwouldreadinthepapers：’AGermancarrier，namedWaldoFarber，waskilledthroughfallingfromhiswagon，beinginstantlycrushedunderthewheel。
　　Deceasedwassupposedtohavebeendrunkatthetimeoftheaccident。’
　　Therearethosenoticesinthepapereverymonth。Isatup，andItookthebrandy—flaskoutofmypocket，andIflungitasfarasIcouldintothedarkwater。TheHottentotboyrandowntoseeifhecouldcatchit；ithadsunktothebottom。Ineverdrankagain。But，Lyndall，sinlooksmuchmoreterribletothosewholookatitthantothosewhodoit。Aconvict，oramanwhodrinks，seemssomethingsofaroffandhorriblewhenweseehim；buttohimselfheseemsquiteneartous，andlikeus。Wewonderwhatkindofacreatureheis；butheisjustwe，ourselves。Weareonlythewood，theknifethatcarvesonusisthecircumstance。
　　"IdonotknowwhyIkeptonworkingsohardforthatmaster。Ithinkitwasastheoxencomeeverydayandstandbytheyokes；theydonotknowwhy。PerhapsIwouldhavebeenwithhimstill；butonedaywestartedwithloadsfortheDiamondFields。Theoxenwereverythinnow，andtheyhadbeenstandingaboutintheyokealldaywithoutfood，whilethewagonswerebeingloaded。Notfarfromthetownwasahill。Whenwecametothefootthefirstwagonstuckfast。Itriedforalittlewhiletourgetheoxen，butIsoonsawtheonespancouldneverpullitup。Iwenttotheotherwagontoloosenthatspantojointhemoninfront，butthetransport—
　　rider，whowaslyingatthebackofthewagon，jumpedout。
　　"’Theyshallbringitupthehill；andifhalfofthemdieforittheyshalldoitalone，’hesaid。
　　"Hewasnotdrunk，butinbadtemper，forhehadbeendrunkthenightbefore。Hesworeatme，andtoldmetotakethewhipandhelphim。Wetriedforalittletime，thenItoldhimitwasnouse，theycouldneverdoit。Hesworelouderandcalledtotheleaderstocomeonwiththeirwhips，andtogethertheylashed。Therewasoneox，ablackox，sothinthattheridgeofhisbackbonealmostcutthroughhisflesh。
　　"’Itisyou，devil，isit，thatwillnotpull？’thetransport—ridersaid。
　　’Iwillshowyousomething。’Helookedlikeadevil。
　　"Hetoldtheboystoleaveoffflogging，andheheldtheoxbythehorn，andtookuparoundstoneandknockeditsnosewithittillthebloodcame。
　　Whenhehaddonetheycalledtotheoxenandtookuptheirwhipsagain，andtheoxenstrainedwiththeirbacksbent，butthewagondidnotmoveaninch。
　　"’Soyouwon’t，won’tyou？’hesaid。I’llhelpyou。’
　　"Hetookouthisclasp—knife，andranitintothelegofthetremblingoxthreetimes，uptothehilt。Thenheputtheknifeinhispocket，andtheytooktheirwhips。Theoxen’sflanksquivered，andtheyfoamedatthemouth。Straining，theymovedthewagonafewfeetforward，thenstoodwithbentbackstokeepitfromslidingback。Fromtheblackox’snostrilsfoamandbloodwerestreamingontotheground。Itturneditsheadinitsanguishandlookedatmewithitsgreatstartingeyes。Itwasprayingforhelpinitsagonyandweakness，andtheytooktheirwhipsagain。Thecreaturebellowedaloud。IfthereisaGod，itwascallingtoitsMakerforhelp。Thenastreamofclearbloodburstfrombothnostrils；itfellontotheground，andthewagonslippedback。Themanwalkeduptoit。
　　"’Youaregoingtoliedown，devil，areyou？We’llseeyoudon’ttakeittooeasy。’
　　"Thethingwasjustdying。Heopenedhisclasp—knifeandstoopeddownoverit。IdonotknowwhatIdidthen。ButafterwardIknowIhadhimonthestones，andIwaskneelingonhim。Theboysdraggedmeoff。Iwishtheyhadnot。Ilefthimstandinginthesandintheroad，shakinghimself，andIwalkedbacktothetown。Itooknothingfromthataccursedwagon，soI
　　hadonlytwoshillings。Butitdidnotmatter。ThenextdayIgotworkatawholesalestore。Myworkwastopackandunpackgoods，andtocarryboxes，andIhadtoworkfromsixinthemorningtosixintheevening；soIhadplentyoftime。
　　"Ihiredalittleroom，andsubscribedtoalibrary，soIhadeverythingI
　　needed；andintheweekofChristmasholidaysIwenttoseethesea。I
　　walkedallnight，Lyndall，toescapetheheat，andalittleaftersunriseI
　　gottothetopofahighhill。Beforemewasalong，low，blue，monotonousmountain。Iwalkedlookingatit，butIwasthinkingoftheseaIwantedtosee。AtlastIwonderedwhatthatcuriousbluethingmightbe；thenitstruckmeitwasthesea！Iwouldhaveturnedbackagain，onlyIwastootired。Iwonderifallthethingswelongtosee——thechurches，thepictures，themeninEurope——willdisappointusso！YouseeIhaddreamedofitsolong。WhenIwasalittleboy，mindingsheepbehindthekopje，I
　　usedtoseethewavesstretchingoutasfarastheeyecouldreachinthesunlight。Mysea！Istheideaalwaysmorebeautifulthanthereal？
　　"Igottothebeachthatafternoon，andIsawthewaterrunupanddownonthesand，andIsawthewhitefoambreakers；theywerepretty，butI
　　thoughtIwouldgobackthenextday。Itwasnotmysea。
　　"ButIbegantolikeitwhenIsatbyitthatnightinthemoonlight；andthenextdayIlikeditbetter；andbeforeIleftIlovedit。Itwasnotliketheskyandstars，thattalkofwhathasnobeginningandnoend；butitissohuman。OfallthethingsIhaveeverseen，onlytheseaislikeahumanbeing；theskyisnot，northeearth。Buttheseaisalwaysmoving，alwayssomethingdeepinitselfisstirringit。Itneverrests。Itisalwayswanting，wanting，wanting。Ithurrieson；andthenitcreepsbackslowlywithouthavingreached，moaning。Itisalwaysaskingaquestion，anditnevergetstheanswer。Icanhearitinthedayandinthenight；
　　thewhitefoambreakersaresayingthatwhichIthink。Iwalkalonewiththemwhenthereisnoonetoseeme，andIsingwiththem。Iliedownonthesandandwatchthemwithmyeyeshalfshut。Theskyisbetter，butitissohighaboveourheads。Ilovethesea。Sometimeswemustlookdowntoo。AfterfivedaysIwentbacktoGrahamstown。
　　"Ihadgloriousbooks，andinthenightIcouldsitinmylittleroomandreadthem；butIwaslonely。Booksarenotthesamethingswhenyouarelivingamongpeople。Icannottellwhy，buttheyaredead。Onthefarmtheywouldhavebeenlivingbeingstome；buthere，wherethereweresomanypeopleaboutme，Iwantedsomeonetobelongtome。Iwaslonely。I
　　wantedsomethingthatwasfleshandblood。Onceonthisfarmtherecameastranger；Ididnotaskhisname，buthesatamongthekarooandtalkedwithme。Now，whereverIhavetravelledIhavelookedforhim——inhotels，instreets，inpassengerwagonsastheyrushedin，throughtheopenwindowsofhousesIhavelookedforhim，butIhavenotfoundhim——neverheardavoicelikehis。OnedayIwenttotheBotanicGardens。Itwasahalf—
　　holiday，andthebandwastoplay。Istoodinthelongraisedavenueandlookeddown。Thereweremanyflowers，andladiesandchildrenwerewalkingaboutbeautifullydressed。Atlastthemusicbegan。Ihadnotheardsuchmusicbefore。
　　"Atfirstitwasslowandeven，liketheeverydaylife，whenwewalkthroughitwithoutthoughtorfeeling；thenitgrewfaster，thenitpaused，hesitated，thenitwasquitestillforaninstant，andthenitburstout。
　　Lyndall，theymadeheavenrightwhentheymadeitallmusic。Ittakesyouupandcarriesyouaway，away，tillyouhavethethingsyoulongedfor，youareupclosetothem。Youhavegotoutintoalarge，free，openplace。I
　　couldnotseeanythingwhileitwasplaying；Istoodwithmyheadagainstmytree；but，whenitwasdone，Isawthattherewereladiessittingclosetomeonawoodenbench，andthestrangerwhohadtalkedtomethatdayinthekaroowassittingbetweenthem。Theladieswereverypretty，andtheirdressesbeautiful。Idonotthinktheyhadbeenlisteningtothemusic，fortheyweretalkingandlaughingverysoftly。Iheardalltheysaid，andcouldevensmelltheroseonthebreastofone。Iwasafraidhewouldseeme；soIwenttotheothersideofthetree，andsoontheygotupandbegantopaceupanddownintheavenue。
　　"Allthetimethemusicplayedtheychatted，andhecarriedonhisarmthescarfoftheprettiestlady。Ididnothearthemusic；Itriedtocatchthesoundofhisvoiceeachtimehewentby。WhenIwaslisteningtothemusicIdidnotknowIwasbadlydressed；nowIfeltsoashamedofmyself。
　　Ineverknewbeforewhatalow，horriblethingIwas，dressedintancord。
　　Thatdayonthefarm，whenwesatonthegroundunderthethorn—trees，I
　　thoughthequitebelongedtome；now，Isawhewasnotmine。Buthewasstillasbeautiful。Hisbrowneyesaremorebeautifulthananyone’seyes，exceptyours。
　　"Atlasttheyturnedtogo，andIwalkedafterthem。Whentheygotoutofthegatehehelpedtheladiesintoaphaeton，andstoodforamomentwithhisfootonthesteptalkingtothem。Hehadalittlecaneinhishand，andanItaliangreyhoundranafterhim。Justwhentheydroveawayoneoftheladiesdroppedherwhip。
　　"’Pickitup，fellow，’shesaid；andwhenIbroughtithershethrewsixpenceontheground。Imighthavegonebacktothegardenthen；butI
　　didnotwantmusic；Iwantedclothes，andtobefashionableandfine。I
　　feltthatmyhandswerecoarse，andthatIwasvulgar。Inevertriedtoseehimagain。
　　"Istayedinmysituationfourmonthsafterthat，butIwasnothappy。I
　　hadnorest。Thepeopleaboutmepressedonme，andmademedissatisfied。
　　Icouldnotforgetthem。EvenwhenIdidnotseethemtheypressedonme，andmadememiserable。Ididnotlovebooks；Iwantedpeople。WhenI
　　walkedhomeundertheshadytreesinthestreetIcouldnotbehappy，forwhenIpassedthehousesIheardmusic，andsawfacesbetweenthecurtains。
　　Ididnotwantanyofthem，butIwantedsomeoneformine，forme。I
　　couldnothelpit。Iwantedafinerlife。
　　"Onlyonedaysomethingmademehappy。Anursecametothestorewithalittlegirlbelongingtooneofourclerks。Whilethemaidwentintotheofficetogiveamessagetoitsfather，thelittlechildstoodlookingatme。Presentlyshecameclosetomeandpeepedupintomyface。
　　"’Nicecurls，prettycurls，’shesaid；’Ilikecurls。’
　　"Shefeltmyhairallover，withherlittlehands。WhenIputoutmyarmsheletmetakeherandsitheronmyknee。Shekissedmewithhersoftmouth。Wewerehappytillthenurse—girlcameandshookher，andaskedherifshewasnotashamedtositonthekneeofthatstrangeman。ButIdonotthinkmylittleoneminded。Shelaughedatmeasshewentout。
　　"IftheworldwasallchildrenIcouldlikeit；butmenandwomendrawmesostrangely，andthenpressmeaway，tillIaminagony。Iwasnotmeanttoliveamongpeople。Perhapssomeday，whenIamgrownolder，IwillbeabletogoandliveamongthemandlookatthemasIlookattherocks，andbushes，withoutlettingthemdisturbme，andtakemyselffromme；butnotnow。SoIgrewmiserable；akindoffeverseemedtoeatme；Icouldnotrest，orread，orthink；soIcamebackhere。IknewyouwerenotherebutitseemedasthoughIshouldbeneareryou；anditisyouIwant——youthattheotherpeoplesuggesttome，butcannotgive。"
　　Hehadfilledallthesheetshehadtaken，andnowlifteddownthelastfromthemantelpiece。Emhaddroppedasleep，andlayslumberingpeacefullyontheskinbeforethefire。Outofdoorsthestormstillraged；butinafitfulmanner，asthoughgrowinghalfwearyofitself。Hebentoverhispaperagain，witheagerflushedcheek，andwroteon。
　　"Ithasbeenadelightfuljourney，thisjourneyhome。Ihavewalkedonfoot。Theeveningbeforelast，whenitwasjustsunset，Iwasalittlefootsoreandthirsty，andwentoutoftheroadtolookforwater。Iwentdownintoadeeplittlekloof。Sometreesranalongthebottom，andI
　　thoughtIshouldfindwaterthere。ThesunhadquitesetwhenIgottothebottomofit。Itwasverystill——notaleafwasstirringanywhere。InthebedofthemountaintorrentIthoughtImightfindwater。Icametothebank，andleapeddownintothedrybed。TheflooronwhichIstoodwasoffinewhitesand，andthebanksroseoneverysidelikethewallsofaroom。
　　"Abovetherewasaprecipiceofrocks，andatinystreamofwateroozedfromthemandfellslowlyontotheflatstonebelow。Eachdropyoucouldhearfalllikealittlesilverbell。Therewasoneamongthetreesonthebankthatstoodcutoutagainstthewhitesky。Alltheothertreesweresilent；butthisoneshookandtrembledagainstthesky。Everythingelsewasstill；butthoseleaveswerequivering，quivering。Istoodonthesand；Icouldnotgoaway。Whenitwasquitedark，andthestarshadcome，Icreptout。Doesitseemstrangetoyouthatitshouldhavemademesohappy？ItisbecauseIcannottellyouhownearIfelttothingsthatwecannotseebutwealwaysfeel。Tonighthasbeenawild，stormynight。I
　　havebeenwalkingacrosstheplainforhoursinthedark。Ihavelikedthewind，becauseIhaveseemedforcingmywaythroughtoyou。Iknewyouwerenothere，butIwouldhearofyou。WhenIusedtositonthetransportwagonhalf—sleeping，Iusedtostartawakebecauseyourhandswereonme。
　　Inmylodgings，manynightsIhaveblownthelightout，andsatinthedark，thatImightseeyourfacestartoutmoredistinctly。Sometimesitwasthelittlegirl’sfacewhousedtocometomebehindthekopjewhenI
　　mindedsheep，andsitbymeinherbluepinafore；sometimesitwasolder。
　　Iloveboth。Iamveryhelpless；Ishallneverdoanything；butyouwillwork，andIwilltakeyourworkformine。SometimessuchasuddengladnessseizesmewhenIrememberthatsomewhereintheworldyouarelivingandworking。Youaremyveryown；nothingelseismyownso。WhenIhavefinishedIamgoingtolookatyourroomdoor——"
　　Hewrote；andthewind，whichhadspentitsfury，moanedroundandroundthehouse，mostlikeatiredchildwearywithcrying。
　　Emwokeup，andsatbeforethefire，rubbinghereyes，andlistening，asitsobbedaboutthegables，andwanderedawayoverthelongstonewalls。
　　"Howquietithasgrownnow，"shesaid，andsighedherself，partlyfromwearinessandpartlyfromsympathywiththetiredwind。Hedidnotanswerher；hewaslostinhisletter。
　　Sheroseslowlyafteratime，andrestedherhandonhisshoulder。
　　"Youhavemanyletterstowrite，"shesaid。
　　"No，"heanswered；"itisonlyonetoLyndall。"
　　Sheturnedaway，andstoodlongbeforethefirelookingintoit。Ifyouhaveadeadlyfruittogive，itwillnotgrowsweeterbykeeping。
　　"Waldo，dear，"shesaid，puttingherhandonhis，"leaveoffwriting。"
　　Hethrewbackthedarkhairfromhisforeheadandlookedather。
　　"Itisnousewritinganymore，"shesaid。
　　"Whynot？"heasked。
　　Sheputherhandoverthepapershehadwritten。
　　"Waldo，"shesaid，"Lyndallisdead。"
　　Chapter2。XII。Gregory’sWomanhood。
　　Slowlyovertheflatcameacart。OnthebackseatsatGregory，hisarmsfolded，hishatdrawnoverhiseyes。AKafferboysatonthefrontseatdriving，andathisfeetsatDoss，who，nowandagain，liftedhisnoseandeyesabovethelevelofthesplashboard，tolookatthesurroundingcountry；andthen，withanexceedinglyknowingwinkofhislefteye，turnedtohiscompanions，therebyintimatingthatheclearlyperceivedhiswhereabouts。Noonenoticedthecartcoming。Waldo，whowasatworkathiscarpenter’stableinthewagon—house，sawnothing，tillchancingtolookdownheperceivedDossstandingbeforehim，thelegstrembling，thelittlenosewrinkled，andaseriesofshortsuffocatingbarksgivingutterancetohisjoyatreunion。
　　Em，whoseeyeshadachedwithlookingoutacrosstheplain，wasnowatworkinabackroom，andknewnothingtill，lookingup，shesawGregory，withhisstrawhatandblueeyes，standinginthedoorway。Hegreetedherquietly，hunghishatupinitsoldplacebehindthedoor，andforanychangeinhismannerorappearancehemighthavebeengoneonlythedaybeforetofetchlettersfromthetown。Onlyhisbeardwasgone，andhisfacewasgrownthinner。Hetookoffhisleathergaiters，saidtheafternoonwashotandtheroadsdusty，andaskedforsometea。Theytalkedofwool，andthecattle，andthesheep，andEmgavehimthepileoflettersthathadcomeforhimduringthemonthsofabsence，butofthethingthatlayattheirheartsneithersaidanything。Thenhewentouttolookatthekraals，andatsupperEmgavehimhotcakesandcoffee。Theytalkedabouttheservants，andthenatetheirmealinquiet。Sheaskednoquestions。
　　WhenitwasendedGregorywentintothefrontroom，andlayinthedarkonthesofa。
　　"Doyounotwantalight？"Emasked，venturingtolookin。
　　"No，"heanswered；thenpresentlycalledtoher，"Comeandsithere；Iwanttotalktoyou。"
　　Shecameandsatonafootstoolnearhim。
　　"Doyouwishtohearanything？"heasked。
　　Shewhispered：
　　"Yes，ifitdoesnothurtyou。"
　　"Whatdifferencedoesitmaketome？"hesaid。"IfItalkoramsilent，isthereanychange？"
　　Yethelayquietforalongtime。Thelightthroughtheopendoorshowedhimtoher，wherehelay，withhisarmthrownacrosshiseyes。Atlasthespoke。Perhapsitwasarelieftohimtospeak。
　　ToBloemfonteinintheFreeState，towhichthroughanagenthehadtracedthem，Gregoryhadgone。AtthehotelwhereLyndallandherstrangerhadstayedheputup；hewasshowntheveryroominwhichtheyhadslept。Thecolouredboywhohaddriventhemtothenexttowntoldhiminwhichhousetheyhadboarded，andGregorywenton。Inthattownhefoundtheyhadleftthecart，andboughtaspiderandfourgreys，andGregory’sheartrejoiced。
　　Nowindeeditwouldbeeasytotracetheircourse。Andheturnedhisstepsnorthward。
　　Atthefarmhouseswherehestoppedtheoomsandtantesrememberedclearlythespiderwithitsfourgreyhorses。AtoneplacetheBoer—wifetoldhowthetall，blue—eyedEnglishmanhadboughtmilk，andaskedthewaytothenextfarm。AtthenextfarmtheEnglishmanhadboughtabunchofflowers，andgivenhalfacrownforthemtothelittlegirl。Itwasquitetrue；theBoer—mothermadehergetitoutoftheboxandshowit。Atthenextplacetheyhadslept。Heretheytoldhimthatthegreatbulldog，whohatedallstrangers，hadwalkedinintheeveningandlaiditsheadinthelady’slap。Soateveryplaceheheardsomething，andtracedthemstepbystep。
　　AtonedesolatefarmtheBoerhadagooddealtotell。Theladyhadsaidshelikedawagonthatstoodbeforethedoor。WithoutaskingthepricetheEnglishmanhadofferedahundredandfiftypoundsfortheoldthing，andboughtoxenworthtenpoundsforsixteen。TheDutchmanchuckled，forhehadtheSalt—riem’smoneyintheboxunderhisbed。Gregorylaughedtoo，insilence；hecouldnotlosesightofthemnow，soslowlytheywouldhavetomovewiththatcumbrousox—wagon。Yet，whenthateveningcame，andhereachedalittlewaysideinn，noonecouldtellhimanythingofthetravellers。
　　Themaster，asurlycreature，halfstupidwithBoer—brandy，satonthebenchbeforethedoorsmoking。Gregorysatbesidehim，questioning，buthesmokedon。Herememberednothingofsuchstrangers。Howshouldheknowwhohadbeentheremonthsandmonthsbefore？Hesmokedon。Gregory，veryweary，triedtowakehismemory，saidthattheladyhewasseekingforwasverybeautiful，hadalittlemouth，andtiny，verytiny，feet。Themanonlysmokedonassullenlyasatfirst。Whatwerelittle，verylittle，mouthsandfeettohim。Buthisdaughterleanedoutinthewindowabove。