ss, I take
it. His `quietness,' though, seemed to me to cover a suspicion of
`side.' Sort of `know everything' manner."

"Yes. Perhaps I am wrong, but there seemed a sort of conscious
superiority about him. What did you think, Nidia?"

"Just what you do. But we may be wrong. The other is all rights
though, so jolly and good-natured always. We came out on the same
ship."

"Moseley. Yes; he's a good chap, but he's got a detestable wife," said
Hollingworth.

"It's astonishing what a number of `good chaps' have," laughed Nidia.
"But where is she?"

"In England now. Moseley drives his trade here, and she has a good time
on the lion's share of the proceeds there. She won't stay in this
country. Yes? What is it?"

This to his son and heir, _aetat_ ten, who was trying to get in a chance
of asking to be allowed to go out and shoot a buck.

"Don't know. You're too much of a kiddie, Jim. Your mother fidgeted
herself--and me--to death last time you went."

"I got the buck, though," was the reply, half defiant, half triumphant.

"So you did, sonny. Well, you can go. Be careful with the gun, and
don't be late. It's a good thing for them to learn to shoot straight in
a country like this," he added, as the boy skipped away without waiting
for the possibility of any recall of this edict: and a moment later they
saw him disappearing in the bush, away beyond the mealie-lands.

"Fancy you and Ames being old pals, Miss Commerell," said Hollingworth.
"Where did you know each other?"

"Down at the Cape. We were in the same hotel at Wynberg. I saw a good
deal of him, and liked him very much. Is he getting on well up here,
Mr Hollingworth?"

"Yes, I think so. He's thought a good deal of in his own line.
Shouldn't wonder if he gets into something better before long. And now,
if you'll excuse me, Miss Commerell, I'll go and take my usual forty
winks, if those `kinders' will let me."

This was a figure of speech on Hollingworth's part. Had his progeny
been ten times more riotous and restive than it was he would have slept
tranquilly through all the racket they could make. There are persons
who can sleep through anything--from a fox-terrier in a backyard to a
big gun practice--and Hollingworth was one of them.

Nidia, left alone, did not feel in the least inclined to follow his
example. A strange restlessness was upon her, a desire for solitude;
and where could she obtain this better than amid the wild bus