lilly master ride
up to the gate one bright night, and look in, and Tim thought he was
going in: but he changed his mind, and galloped away that way; and the
monkey pointed south.

"And why couldn't you tell us this before?" questioned Dick.

"Me mind de sheep," said Tim apologetically. "Me not mind de lilly
master: jackals not eat him."

"You no more sense dan a sheep yourself," said Ucatella loftily.

"No, no: God bless you both," cried poor Phoebe: "now I know the worst:"
and a great burst of tears relieved her suffering heart.

Dick went out softly. When he got outside the door, he drew them all
apart, and said, "Yuke, you ARE a good-hearted girl. I'll never forget
this while I live; and, Tim, there's a shilling for thee; but don't you
go and spend it in Cape smoke; that is poison to whites, and destruction
to blacks."

"No, master," said Tim. "I shall buy much bread, and make my tomach
tiff;" then, with a glance of reproach at the domestic caterer,
Ucatella, "I almost never have my tomach tiff."

Dick left his sister alone an hour or two, to have her cry out.

When he went back to her there was a change: the brave woman no longer
lay prostrate. She went about her business; only she was always either
crying or drowning her tears.

He brought Dr. Staines in. Phoebe instantly turned her back on him with
a shudder there was no mistaking.

"I had better go," said Staines. "Mrs. Falcon will never forgive me."

"She will have to quarrel with me else," said Dick steadily. "Sit you
down, doctor. Honest folk like you and me and Phoebe wasn't made to
quarrel for want of looking a thing all round. My sister she hasn't
looked it all round, and I have. Come, Pheeb, 'tis no use your blinding
yourself. How was the poor doctor to know your husband is a blackguard?"

"He is not a blackguard. How dare you say that to my face?"

"He is a blackguard, and always was. And now he is a thief to boot. He
has stolen those diamonds; you know that very well."

"Gently, Mr. Dale; you forget: they are as much his as mine."

"Well, and if half a sheep is mine, and I take the whole and sell him,
and keep the money, what is that but stealing? Why, I wonder at you,
Pheeb. You was always honest yourself, and yet you see the doctor robbed
by your man, and that does not trouble you. What has he done to deserve
it? He has been a good friend to us. He has put us on the road. We did
little more than keep the pot boiling before he came--w