edge. Oh, God help me,
how I love him! God forgive me, how I mistrust him! Good Dick! kind
Dick! say we have suits of clothes, and we'll fit him like a prince,
as he ought to be, on board ship; but not a shilling of money: and, my
dear, don't put the weight on ME. You understand?"

"Ay, mistress, I understand."

"Good Dick!"

"Oh, all right! and then don't you snap this here good, kind Dick's nose
off at a word again."

"Never. I get wild if anybody threatens him. Then I'm not myself.
Forgive my hasty tongue. You know I love you, dear!"

"Oh, ay! you love me well enough. But seems to me your love is precious
like cold veal, and your love for that chap is hot roast beef."

"Ha, ha, ha, ha!"

"Oh, ye can laugh now, can ye?"

"Ha, ha, ha!"

"Well, the more of that music, the better for me."

"Yes, dear; but go and tell him."

Dick went down, and said, "I've got no money to spare, till I get to the
Cape; but Phoebe has got a box full of suits, and I made her promise to
keep it out. She will dress you like a prince, you may be sure."

"Oh, that is it, is it?" said Reginald dryly.

Dick made no reply.

At nine o'clock they were on board the vessel; at ten she weighed
anchor, and a steam-vessel drew her down the river about thirty miles,
then cast off, and left her to the south-easterly breeze. Up went sail
after sail; she nodded her lofty head, and glided away for Africa.

Phoebe shed a few natural tears at leaving the shores of Old England;
but they soon dried. She was demurely happy, watching her prize, and
asking herself had she really secured it, and all in a few hours?

They had a prosperous voyage: were married at Cape Town, and went up
the country, bag and baggage, looking out for a good bargain in land.
Reginald was mounted on an English horse, and allowed to zigzag about,
and shoot, and play, while his wife and brother-in-law marched slowly
with their cavalcade.

What with air, exercise, wholesome food, and smiles of welcome, and
delicious petting, this egotist enjoyed himself finely. He admitted as
much. Says he, one evening to his wife, who sat by him for the pleasure
of seeing him feed, "It sounds absurd; but I never was so happy in all
my life."

At that, the celestial expression of her pastoral face, and the maternal
gesture with which she drew her pet's head to her queenly bosom, was a
picture for celibacy to gnash the teeth at.

CHAPTER IX.

During this period, the most rema