a purpose and a depth which she would not for a
moment have admitted, but which nevertheless was sincere and true.

"Of course, I don't really care either way," she would tell him
mockingly. "You may have a Dutch South Africa and welcome, if you
won't interfere with my personal schemes and general affairs. I've
nothing modern about me, in the sense of wanting to reconstruct the
world generally and be a Joan of Arc to my retrenched compatriots. But
when some of you talkers get up and express high-flown sentiments of
brotherhood and union for the benefit of the public Press one moment,
and swerve right down and wink at such sentiments as steamroller the
English or the finances or the language question the next, it is time
you had a little wholesome plain speaking. Anyhow, who _did_ vote the
money for the new Government buildings?..."

But whether Diana cared or not, one thing was certain: the utterances
of that well-known minister William van Hert were showing gradually a
higher and broader tone, and an atmosphere of conciliation was
beginning to spread over his hitherto rabid sectarianism.

And van Hert himself found it went well with his feelings to exchange
wordy battles with Diana and keep his dreams for Meryl. The younger
girl invigorated and enthused him, while the elder, curiously enough,
appealed more to his senses. He wanted her fairness, as a strong, dark
man often feels himself drawn to a woman who is frail and fair. And
yet even while he wanted her he was a little afraid of her, a little
baffled, a little uncertain of himself.

Thus the three weeks passed, and the moment of the inevitable decision
came near.

And all the time Meryl felt herself rather as one who stood upon a
difficult, stony place, with the forbidden land behind her and the
clear call of a great need before. She believed that she would never
see Carew again; that definitely and forever he had cut the threads of
deep sympathy both had known existed. It was his dictum and she could
only abide by it. What then should she do with her life? To what end
turn this existence, blessed by fortune with wealth and the power
wealth brings, though suddenly swept bare of joy?

And ever and again back to her mind came Carew's words that last
evening at Bulawayo: "Help to bridge over the gap. Help to make
division become union. That were a work that any man might be proud to
give his life to."

And every day, more and more fully, she recognised that wh