ake the lie
from her lips and make it your own? I say that I am mistress here and
that I will not allow it. If we are to be made fools of in this fashion
by the peepings and mutterings of Kaffir witch-doctors we had better
give up and die at once to go and live among the dead, whose business it
is to peep and mutter. Our business is to dwell in the world and to face
its troubles and dangers until such time as it pleases God to call us
out of the world, paying no heed to omens and magic and such like sin
and folly. Let that come which will come, and let us meet it like men
and women, giving glory to the Almighty for the ill as well as for the
good, since both ill and good come from His hands and are part of His
plan. For my part I trust to Him who made us and who watches us, and I
fear not Swart Piet, and therefore chance what may the marriage shall go
on."

"Good words," said Jan, "such as my heart approves of;" but he still
mopped his head with the coloured pocket-handkerchief and looked
troubled as he added, "I pray you, wife, say nothing of this to anybody,
and above all to the predicant, or he will put me out of the church as a
wizard."

"Yes, yes," said Sihamba, "good words, but the Sight is still the Sight
for those who have the power to see. Not that I wished you to see,
indeed I did not wish it, nor did I think that you would be turned from
your purpose by that which you have seen. Father and mother of Swallow,
you are right, and now I will tell you the truth. What you beheld in the
water was nothing but a trick, a clever trick of the little doctoress,
Sihamba, by the help of which and others like it, she earns her living,
and imposes on the foolish, though she cannot impose upon you, who are
wise, and have the Lord of the skies for a friend. So think no more of
it, and do not be angry with the little black monkey whose nature it
is to play tricks;" and with a motion of her foot she upset the bowl
of water, and collecting the pieces of mirror hid them away in her skin
pouch.

Then we went, but as I passed through the thorn trees I turned and
looked at Sihamba, and lo! she was standing in the moonlight, her face
lifted towards the sky, weeping softly and wringing her hands. Then for
the first time I felt a little afraid.

CHAPTER XIV

THE WEDDING

The marriage morning of Ralph and Suzanne broke brightly; never have I
seen a fairer. It was spring time, and the veldt was clothed with the
fresh green gr