ued and methodical
labour. The entire population considers the lilies of the field to
obvious purpose.

Joseph presently organised a considerable portion of this population
into a procession, headed triumphantly by an old white-woolled negro
whose son cleaned Maurice Gordon's boots. This man Joseph selected--not
without one or two jokes of a somewhat personal nature--as a fitting
guide to the Gordons' house. As they neared the little settlement on
the outskirts of the black town where the mission and other European
residences are situated, the veteran guide sent on couriers to announce
the arrival of the great gentleman, who had for body-servant the father
of laughter.

On finally reaching the bungalow Meredith was pleasantly surprised. It
was pretty and homelike--surrounded by a garden wherein grew a strange
profusion of homely English vegetables and tropical flowers.

Joseph happened to be in front, and, as he neared the verandah, he
suddenly stopped at the salute; moreover, he began to wonder in which
trunk he had packed his master's dress-clothes.

An English lady was coming out of the drawing-room window to meet the
travellers--a lady whose presence diffused that sense of refinement and
peace into the atmosphere which has done as much towards the expansion
of our piecemeal empire as ever did the strong right arm of Thomas
Atkins. It is because--sooner or later--these ladies come with us that
we have learnt to mingle peace with war--to make friends of whilom
enemies.

She nodded in answer to the servant's salutation, and passed on to greet
the master.

"My brother has been called away suddenly," she said. "One of his
sub-agents has been getting into trouble with the natives. Of course you
are Mr. Meredith?"

"I am," replied Jack, taking the hand she held out; it was a small white
hand--small without being frail or diaphanous. "And you are Miss Gordon,
I suppose? I am sorry Gordon is away, but no doubt we shall be able to
find somewhere to put up."

"You need not do that," she said quietly. "This is Africa, you know. You
can quite well stay with us, although Maurice is away until to-morrow."

"Sure?" he asked.

"Quite!" she answered.

She was tall and fair, with a certain stateliness of carriage which
harmonised wonderfully with a thoughtful and pale face. She was not
exactly pretty, but gracious and womanly, with honest blue eyes that
looked on men and women alike. She was probably twenty-eight years