ough life a sadly different thing to what you had expected?" I said.

"Not `sadly' different. On the contrary, it is full of interest. To
begin with, these same savages interest me immensely. I should like to
learn their language. Is it easy?"

"To tell the truth I don't know whether it is or not. I didn't _learn_
it, myself. I sort of absorbed it. But I can tell you it makes all the
difference in the world if you can talk with them and understand them or
not. If you can I can't imagine any people more easy to get on with."

"Then I will begin to learn it at once. You will help me, won't you,
Mr Glanton?"

Great Heavens! What was this? I began to see all over the world, as if
my head was screwed on all ways at once. Would I help her? Oh,
wouldn't I! Here was a bond of union set up between us--one that would
afford me ample pretext for riding over here very often: that would
bring us together often and constantly. It seemed as if a new and very
bright world had opened in front of me--and yet and yet--what an utter
fool I was--I, Godfrey Glanton, prosaic knockabout trader in the Zulu,
and not a particularly young one at that!

CHAPTER FOUR.

MY NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSEHOLD.

"Ha, Glanton! Glad to see you!" cried the Major, shaking me heartily by
the hand. "Why, I was beginning to wonder when we should see you again.
Was afraid you had started again on some up-country trip, and by Jove,
there are one or two things I want your opinion about. We'll talk of
them bye and bye."

"All right, Major. Only too glad to be of use."

He was a fine specimen of the best type of old soldier--tall, straight,
handsome, hearty and straightforward in manner--in short a gentleman
every inch of him. I had a great liking for him, and for his own sake
alone would have gone far towards smoothing his difficulties and
straightening things out for him no matter how crooked they might be,
thanks to his own wrongheadedness. His wife was a good counterpart of
him--without his wrongheadedness--and quite free from the fads and
fussiness apparently inseparable from most elderly ladies, which render
their presence and company a matter for resigned toleration rather than
any sort of pleasure or advantage. To such Mrs Sewin was a rare and
remarkable exception. The youngest daughter, Edith, was outwardly a
complete contrast to her stately sister, being shorter, and plump and
fair-haired, but very pretty--and sunny-natured to a d