g ways. And she seemed
very bright, Dick said, talking with the governor's lady, who is full of
fun and sparkle. The carriages were all together, and Major Beaumont,
a kind old gentleman who's always been a good friend to Master Horace,
would have them in his carriage for luncheon, or whatever it was. Dick
says he was thinking that she was the prettiest lady there, when his eye
was caught by two or three parties of Maoris setting themselves right
in front of the carriages. There were four or five in each lot, and they
were mostly old. They got out their sharks' flesh and that bad corn they
eat, and began to make their meal of them. Near Mrs. Denison there
was one old man with a better sort of face, and Dick heard her say to
master, 'Isn't he like my father?' What Master Horace answered he didn't
hear; he says he never saw anything like her face, so sad and wild, and
working for all the world as if something were fighting her within.
Then all in a minute she ran out and slipped down in her beautiful
dress close by the old Maori in his dirty rags, and was rubbing her
face against his, as them folks do when they meet. She had just taken
a mouthful of the raw fish when Master Horace missed her. He hadn't
noticed her slip away. But in a moment he seemed to understand what it
meant. He saw the Maori come out strong in her face, and he knew the
Maori had got the better of everything, husband and friends and all.
He gave a little cry, and in a minute he had her on her feet and was
bringing her back to the carriage. Some folks thought Dick Burdas
a rough hard man, and I know he was a shocker of a lad (he was fra
Whitby), but that night he cried like a baby when he tell 't me," and
Mrs. Bentley fell for a moment into the dialect of her youth.

"He said," she continued, "that she looked like a poor stricken thing
condemned, and let herself be led back as submissive as a child, and
Master Horace's face was like the dead. He didn't think any one but the
major and Dr. Danby saw her go, all was done in a minute. But it was
done, and some few had seen, and it got out, and things were said that
wasn't true. Not the doctor! No, miss, you needn't tell me that; he's
told none, that I'll warrant. He's faithful and he's close."

"O Mrs. Bentley, how dreadful for her, how dreadful!" and the girl went
down on her knees by the old woman, her tears flowing fast.

"That's it, miss, you understand. I feel like that. It was bad enough
for Master