e little
foot poised in the air. Should he stay with his master or go? He looked
at the figure with the wide straw hat moving toward the house, and he
looked up at his master; then he put down the little paw and went. Waldo
watched them both in at the door and then walked away alone. He was
satisfied that at least his dog was with her.

Chapter 2.V. Tant Sannie Holds An Upsitting, and Gregory Writes A
Letter.

It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her
first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the
corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the
road a strange horseman. Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he
approached. He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe
round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a
dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire. He rode
much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of
his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of
Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even
in the way in which he gently urged his steed. He was evidently in no
hurry to reach his destination, for the nearer he approached to it the
slacker did his bridle hang. The coloured woman having duly inspected
him, dashed into the dwelling.

"Here is another one!" she cried--"a widower; I see it by his hat."

"Good Lord!" said Tant Sannie; "it's the seventh I've had this month;
but the men know where sheep and good looks and money in the bank are to
be found," she added, winking knowingly. "How does he look?"

"Nineteen, weak eyes, white hair, little round nose," said the maid.

"Then it's he! then it's he!" said Tant Sannie triumphantly; "little
Piet Vander Walt, whose wife died last month--two farms, twelve thousand
sheep. I've not seen him, but my sister-in-law told me about him, and I
dreamed about him last night."

Here Piet's black hat appeared in the doorway, and the Boer-woman drew
herself up in dignified silence, extended the tips of her fingers, and
motioned solemnly to a chair. The young man seated himself, sticking his
feet as far under it as they would go, and said mildly:

"I am Little Piet Vander Walt, and my father is Big Piet Vander Walt."

Tant Sannie said solemnly: "Yes."

"Aunt," said the young man, starting up spasmodically; "can I
off-saddle?"

"Yes."

He seized his hat, and disappeare