, all these things happened
because they must happen. A poor conclusion to reach after so much
thought and striving, and not complimentary to man and his boasted
powers of free will; still, one to which many of us are often driven,
especially if we have lived among savages, where such dramas work
themselves out openly and swiftly, unhidden from our eyes by the veils
and subterfuges of civilisation. At least, there is this comfort
about it--that, if we are but feathers blown by the wind, how can the
individual feather be blamed because it did not travel against, turn or
keep back the wind?

Well, let me return from these speculations to the history of the facts
that caused them.

Just as--a little too late--I had made up my mind that I would go after
my own business, and leave Saduko to manage his, through the fence
gateway appeared the great, tall Umbelazi leading by the hand a woman.
As I saw in a moment, it did not need certain bangles of copper,
ornaments of ivory and of very rare pink beads, called infibinga, which
only those of the royal House were permitted to wear, to proclaim her
a person of rank, for dignity and high blood were apparent in her face,
her carriage, her gestures, and all that had to do with her.

Nandie the Sweet was not a great beauty, as was Mameena, although
her figure was fine, and her stature like that of all the race of
Senzangakona--considerably above the average. To begin with, she was
darker in hue, and her lips were rather thick, as was her nose; nor were
her eyes large and liquid like those of an antelope. Further, she lacked
the informing mystery of Mameena's face, that at times was broken and
lit up by flashes of alluring light and quick, sympathetic perception,
as a heavy evening sky, that seems to join the dim earth to the dimmer
heavens, is illuminated by pulsings of fire, soft and many-hued,
suggesting, but not revealing, the strength and splendour that it veils.
Nandie had none of these attractions, which, after all, anywhere upon
the earth belong only to a few women in each generation. She was a
simple, honest-natured, kindly, affectionate young woman of high birth,
no more; that is, as these qualities are understood and expressed among
her people.

Umbelazi led her forward into the presence of the King, to whom she
bowed gracefully enough. Then, after casting a swift, sidelong glance at
Saduko, which I found it difficult to interpret, and another of inquiry
at me, she fold