the room, a kind of pervading presence, and Justin Spence, basking
in that presence, felt intoxicatingly happy. He could hardly keep his
eyes from her as she sat at the head of the modest table, and the
artificial light, somewhat shaded, toned down any defects of feature or
colouring, and enhanced twenty-fold the expression and animation which
with her physical contour, constituted the insidious and undefinable
attraction which was her greatest charm. Looking at these two it was
hard to believe they were the inmates of a rough pioneer hut in the far
wilds of Mashunaland, but for the attire of one of them; for a white
silk shirt, rather open at the throat, guiltless of coat or waistcoat, a
leathern belt and riding breeches hardly constitutes evening dress in
more civilised countries.

He was telling her about himself, his position and prospects, to all of
which she was listening keenly, especially as regards the latter, yet
without seeming to. She knew, none better, how to lead him on to talk,
always without seeming to, and now, to-night, she was simply turning him
inside out. He had prospects and good solid ones. He had only come out
here partly from love of adventure, partly because, after all, prospects
are only prospects; and he wanted to make a fortune--a quick and
dazzling fortune by gold-digging. So far, he had been no nearer making
it than most others out there on the same tack, in that, for all the
gold he had struck, he might as well have sunk a shaft on Hampstead
Heath. Still, there was no knowing, and all the exciting possibilities
were there to spur him on.

Afterwards they sat outside. The night, though warm and balmy, was not
oppressive. And it was very still. The screech of the tree frog, the
distant yelp of a jackal, the deeper howl of a hyena, broke in upon it
from time to time, and the rhythmic drone of voices from the servants'
quarters. This soon ceased and the world seemed given over to night--
and these two.

"How will you find your way back?" Hermia was saying. "You'll get
lost."

"That's quite likely. So I'm not going to try. You'll have to give me
a shakedown here."

"No. Justin, dear, believe me it would be much better not. You must
even risk the chance of getting lost."

"What if I'm afraid? Suppose one of those lions they've been talking
about got hold of me? It would be your doing."

Hermia smiled to herself. The excuse was too transparent. He afraid!
The gleam