good deal in that," she laughed. "I must say I have often
thought the poor one-talent man was rather hardly used. By the way,
when Brian was sent to England to school it was with the idea of making
a lawyer or a doctor of him, but he would come back to the farm. It was
rather a sore point with our father for quite a long time after, but now
he recognises that it is all for the best. My father is not what the
insurance people call a `good' life, Mr Holt."

"I'm very sorry to hear that. What is wrong? Heart?"

"Yes. But I am boring you with all these family details, but having
been Brian's school chum seems to make you almost as one of ourselves."

"Pray rid yourself of the impression that you are boring me, Miss
Matterson--on the contrary, I am flattered. But I must not obtain your
good opinion under false pretences. The fact is, Brian and I were not
exactly school chums. There was too much difference between our ages--
at that time, of course; which makes it all the more friendly and kind
of him to have brought me here now."

"Oh, that doesn't make any difference. If you weren't chums then you
will be now, so it's all the same."

Then we talked about other things, and to my inquiries relating to this
new land--new to me, that is--Beryl gave ready reply.

"You will have to return the favour, Mr Holt," she said with a smile.
"There are many things I shall ask you about by-and-by. After all, this
sort of life is a good deal outside the world, and I have never been to
England, you know. I am only a raw Colonial."

I forget what answer I made; probably it was an idiotic one. But the
idea of associating "rawness" with this well-bred, self-possessed,
attractive girl at my side, seemed so outrageous that in all probability
I overdid the thing in striving to demonstrate its absurdity.

On regaining the house we found Brian, who had just returned from
counting in the flocks. He was not alone. Two Kafirs--tall,
finely-built savages, their blankets and persons coloured terra-cotta
red with ochre--stood at the steps of the stoep conversing with him, the
mellow bass of their sonorous language and their far from ungraceful
appearance and attitude lending another picturesque element to the rich
unfamiliarity of the surroundings. They, however, were just taking
their leave, bestowing upon us a quick, inquisitive glance, and a
farewell salutation as they turned away.

"Two more of Kuliso's wandering lambs, Beryl