d ever think any woman as lovely as I think you?"

He fixed his seething eyes upon her.

"You could not help seeing that she is prettier," said Em, slipping her
right hand into his; "but you will never be able to like any one so much
as you like me."

Afterward, when she wished her lover good night, she stood upon the
doorstep to call a greeting after him; and she waited, as she always
did, till the brown pony's hoofs became inaudible behind the kopje.

Then she passed through the room where Tant Sannie lay snoring, and
through the little room that was all draped in white, waiting for her
cousin's return, on to her own room.

She went to the chest of drawers to put away the work she had finished,
and sat down on the floor before the lowest drawer. In it were the
things she was preparing for her marriage. Piles of white linen, and
some aprons and quilts; and in a little box in the corner a spray of
orange-blossom which she had bought from a smouse. There, too, was a
ring Gregory had given her, and a veil his sister had sent, and there
was a little roll of fine embroidered work which Trana had given her. It
was too fine and good even for Gregory's wife--just right for something
very small and soft. She would keep it. And she touched it gently with
her forefinger, smiling; and then she blushed and hid it far behind the
other things. She knew so well all that was in that drawer, and yet she
turned them all over as though she saw them for the first time, packed
them all out, and packed them all in, without one fold or crumple; and
then sat down and looked at them.

Tomorrow evening when Lyndall came she would bring her here, and show
it her all. Lyndall would so like to see it--the little wreath, and the
ring, and the white veil! It would be so nice! Then Em fell to seeing
pictures. Lyndall should live with them till she herself got married
some day.

Every day when Gregory came home, tired from his work, he would look
about and say, "Where is my wife? Has no one seen my wife? Wife, some
coffee!" and she would give him some.

Em's little face grew very grave at last, and she knelt up and extended
her hands over the drawer of linen.

"Oh, God!" she said, "I am so glad! I do not know what I have done that
I should be so glad. Thank you!"

Chapter 2.IV. Lyndall.

She was more like a princess, yes, far more like a princess, than the
lady who still hung on the wall in Tant Sannie's bedroom. So Em thought.
She le