Major
Carew, and it is a thousand pities there are not more like him. And
Cecil Stanley is just the dearest boy in the world. Every one in
Salisbury was fond of him. He is so good at games and dancing, and
always so jolly and boyish and natural. We miss him badly, but I
believe he likes being down there better than in the town."

"I think he does; he seemed perfectly happy."

They went on to speak of the gaiety of Salisbury; its golf and tennis
and polo and dancing; and their visitor urged them to stay for a
fancy-dress ball, when four hundred guests all in costume were
expected. But neither of them were in the mood for balls, and the only
attraction they cared about was an early-morning gallop with the
hounds after jackal. Nothing could solace them for the careless, happy
days they had left, and as soon as Mr. Pym had transacted his
business, they persuaded him to take them out to Lomagundi with him,
rather than be left behind in the town.

"They seem to be rather touchy ladies here, and so superior," Diana
urged, when he demurred; "and you know I am never safe for two minutes
with that type. I should be driven into saying appalling things, and
our reputation might be ruined for ever."

In the end, as usual, they won him round, and departed one morning
gleefully in the little toy train that runs out across the Gwebi Flats
to the Eldorado Gold Mine. And to Diana's joy, they had a luggage-van
fitted up as an impromptu saloon for them, and were able to spin along
with both doors wide open, enjoying the air and the country. The
Eldorado is the show mine of Rhodesia, having a native compound equal
to any in South Africa, and charming bungalows for the staff, and an
airy, comfortable hospital. But mines were not likely to hold much
interest to lady travellers from Johannesburg, and all their eagerness
was to go out to Sinoia to see the limestone caves, where, like an
exquisite jewel in a massive setting, an underground lake, of
wonderful colouring, lies in lonely loveliness.

Or perhaps it were better likened to a butterfly, with its wings
closed, and only the more or less drab outside showing. The veldt,
somewhat uniform and colourless, with its surrounding hills, is the
butterfly with its wings closed. Enter the wide hole in the ground,
beside the hidden lake, and descend the rough natural staircase of
rocky boulders, to where the sun through an opening in the ground
above shines down on to the translucent water, an