d, speaking aloud, but to
herself. "Allemachter! his face is the face of that English lord who
visited us with the lawyer more than fifty years ago. Yes, his face is
the face of Ralph's cousin. Girl," she added, turning on me fiercely,
"tell me that man's name."

"His name is Lord Glenthirsk"

"Lord Glenthirsk! The same face and the same name and _you_ in his arms.
Is God then making a sequel to the story which I finished this day?
Come," and she hobbled back to the _stoep_. "Be seated," she said when
we had reached it. "Now, speak; no, Suzanne, give me that kaross."

I handed her the rug, wondering what she meant to do with it, and
disturbed as I was, nearly burst into hysterics when I saw her solemnly
place it upon Ralph's knees saying, "The man has lost his garments and
will catch a chill."

"Would you kindly explain," said Ralph blandly, "what the old lady is at
now? Really I do not feel cold."

"Your kilt surprises her," I stammered; whereat he began to laugh.

"Silence," she exclaimed in so vigorous a voice that he stopped at once.
"Now tell your story; no, I forgot, the man is not educated, do you
interpret for him, Suzanne."

"First I have something to say for myself, grandmother," I answered, and
in a few words I told that Ralph and I were affianced, though I had said
nothing of it, because I wished to give him opportunity to change his
mind if he should desire to do so.

"Change his mind!" said the old lady, with a glare of indignation, "I
should like to see him dare to change his mind, this Englishman whom
you seem to have honoured thus, _opsitting_ with him without my leave. A
lord indeed? What do I care for lords? The question is whether I should
not order the English creature off the place; yes, and I would do it
were not his face the face of Ralph's cousin, and his name the name
Glenthirsk."

When I had interpreted as much of this speech as I thought necessary,
there was a little silence, after which Ralph began to speak very
solemnly.

"Listen, Suzanne," he said, "and repeat my words to your
great-grandmother. She says that my name is Lord Glenthirsk, but within
the last few days I have come to believe that it is nothing of the sort,
but only plain Ralph Mackenzie."

"What do you mean?" I asked, astonished.

"I mean, Suzanne, that if your legitimate descent from that Ralph
Mackenzie who was cast away about sixty years ago on the coast of the
Transkei can be proved--as I believe it can, fo