ost of the fellows at the front," he
replied.

"No, it doesn't. Many of them are farmers, who have had their stock
plundered, perhaps their homes destroyed. Now, nothing of the kind
holds good of yourself. I call it wicked--yes, downright wicked, and
tempting Providence, to throw oneself into danger unnecessarily. Your
life is given you to take care of, not to throw away."

"I don't know that it's worth taking such a lot of care of," he murmured
queerly. But she overheard.

"Yes it is, and you've no right to say that. Putting it on the lowest
grounds, don't you come out here and help amuse us? That's being of
some use. Didn't you help me splendidly when we crossed that horrible
Fish River in flood? I believe you saved my life that night. Isn't
that being of some use?"

"Here, I say, Mrs Suffield, are you all in league to `spoil' a fellow?"
he said, in a strange, deep voice that resembled a growl. For more
forcibly than ever, her words seemed to bring back to the lonely cynic,
how, amid the whole-hearted friendship of these people, he had been
forced again to live his life--if indeed he could--if only he could!

"Don't know about `spoiling.' You seem to be catching it pretty hot
just now, Musgrave, in my opinion," laughed Suffield.

"And he deserves to," rejoined that worthy's wife, with a tartness which
all her hearers knew to be wholly counterfeit. "Doesn't he, Mona?"

"I don't know. As you're so savagely down upon him, I think I shall
have to take his part."

"Hear, hear!" cried Roden. "Well, Mrs Suffield, you have mistaken your
vocation. You ought to have been a preacher--a good, out-and-out,
whole-souled tub-thumper. However, you seem determined I am destined to
glut the assegai of John Kaffir, and as you are so savage on the
subject, it is to Mona I shall impart my last will and testament--
orally, of course. So, come along, Mona, and give it, and me, your most
careful attention."

Left alone on the _stoep_, the husband and wife laughed softly together,
as they watched Mona's white dress disappear in the darkness.

"All is coming right, as I told you it would, Grace. Musgrave is a
precious careful bird; but he's limed safe and sound at last. Mark my
words."

"You needn't be so awfully vulgar about it, Charlie. That's quite a
horrid way of putting things."

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Now in the silence and darkness those two wandered