fool in England, I should
have asked his wife."

"What! he has a wife?"

"Ay, sir, the loveliest lady you ever clapped eyes on, and he is almost
as handsome; has eyes in his head like jewels; 'twas by them I knew him
on the quay, and I think he knew my voice again, said as good as he had
heard it in past times."

"Did he? Then we have got him," cried the doctor energetically.

"La, Sir."

"Yes; if he knows your voice, you will be able in time to lead his
memory back; at least, I think so. Do you live in Cape Town?"

"Dear heart, no. I live at my own farm, a hundred and eighty miles from
this."

"What a pity!"

"Why, sir?"

"Well--hum!"

"Oh, if you think I could do the poor doctor good by having him with
me, you have only to say the word, and out he goes with Dick and me
to-morrow morning. We should have started for home to-night, but for
this."

"Are you in earnest, madam?" said the doctor, opening his eyes. "Would
you really encumber yourself with a person whose reason is in suspense,
and may never return?"

"But that is not his fault, sir. Why, if a dog had saved my brother's
life, I'd take it home, and keep it all its days; and this is a man, and
a worthy man. Oh, sir, when I saw him brought down so, and his beautiful
eyes clouded like, my very bosom yearned over the poor soul; a kind act
done in dear old England, who can see the man in trouble here, and
not repay it--ay, if it cost one's blood. But indeed he is strong and
healthy, and hands are always scarce our way, and the odds are he will
earn his meat one way or t'other; and if he doesn't, why, all the better
for me; I shall have the pleasure of serving him for nought that once
served me for neither money nor reward."

"You are a good woman," said the doctor warmly.

"There's better, and there's worse," said Phoebe quietly, and even a
little coldly.

"More of the latter," said the doctor dryly. "Well, Mrs.--?"

"Falcon, sir."

"We shall hand him over to your care: but first--just for form--if
you are a married woman, we should like to see Dick here: he is your
husband, I presume."

Ploebe laughed merrily. "Dick is my brother; and he can't be spared to
come here. Dick! he'd say black was white if I told him to."

"Then let us see your husband about it--just for form."

"My husband is at the farm. I could not venture so far away, and not
leave him in charge." If she had said, "I will not bring him into
temptation," that would have be