son we love is seldom the
right one. You are very young; it's quite natural you should change."

She said nothing.

"Things often seem hard at the time, but Providence makes them turn out
for the best in the end," said Gregory. "You'll let me kiss you, Em,
just for old friendship's sake." He stooped down. "You must look upon me
as a dear brother, as a cousin at least; as long as I am on the farm I
shall always be glad to help you, Em."

Soon after the brown pony was cantering along the footpath to the
daub-and-wattle house, and his master as he rode whistled John Speriwig
and the Thorn Kloof Schottische.

The sun had not yet touched the outstretched arms of the prickly pear
upon the kopje, and the early cocks and hens still strutted about
stiffly after the night's roost, when Waldo stood before the wagon-house
saddling the grey mare. Every now and then he glanced up at the old
familiar objects: they had a new aspect that morning. Even the cocks,
seen in the light of parting, had a peculiar interest, and he listened
with conscious attention while one crowed clear and loud as it stood on
the pigsty wall. He wished good morning softly to the Kaffer woman who
was coming up from the huts to light the fire. He was leaving them all
to that old life, and from his height he looked down on them pityingly.
So they would keep on crowing, and coming to light fires, when for him
that old colourless existence was but a dream.

He went into the house to say good-bye to Em, and then he walked to the
door of Lyndall's room to wake her; but she was up, and standing in the
doorway.

"So you are ready," she said.

Waldo looked at her with sudden heaviness; the exhilaration died out of
his heart. Her grey dressing-gown hung close about her, and below its
edge the little bare feet were resting on the threshold.

"I wonder when we shall meet again, Waldo? What you will be, and what
I?"

"Will you write to me?" he asked of her.

"Yes; and if I should not, you can still remember, wherever you are,
that you are not alone."

"I have left Doss for you," he said.

"Will you not miss him?"

"No; I want you to have him. He loves you better than he loves me."

"Thank you." They stood quiet.

"Good-bye!" she said, putting her little hand in his, and he turned
away; but when he reached the door she called to him: "Come back, I
want to kiss you." She drew his face down to hers, and held it with both
hands, and kissed it on the forehead