and wished to marry her, and that we had plighted our troth during the
attack of the Kaffirs on the stead.

"Love and war indeed!" he said, looking at me gravely, but showing no
sign of surprise, for it appeared that he was already acquainted with
our secret. This was not wonderful, for he informed me afterwards that
during my delirium I had done nothing except rave of Marie in the most
endearing terms. Also Marie herself, when I was at my worst, had burst
into tears before him and told him straight out that she loved me.

"Love and war indeed!" he repeated, adding kindly, "My poor boy, I fear
that you have fallen into great trouble."

"Why, father?" I asked. "Is it wrong that we should love each other?"

"Not wrong, but, in the circumstances, quite natural--I should
have foreseen that it was sure to happen. No, not wrong, but most
unfortunate. To begin with, I do not wish to see you marry a foreigner
and become mixed up with these disloyal Boers. I hoped that one day, a
good many years hence, for you are only a boy, Allan, you would find an
English wife, and I still hope it."

"Never!" I ejaculated.

"Never is a long word, Allan, and I dare say that what you are so sure
is impossible will happen after all," words that made me angry enough at
the time, though in after years I often thought of them.

"But," he went on, "putting my own wishes, perhaps prejudices, aside,
I think your suit hopeless. Although Henri Marais likes you well enough
and is grateful to you just now because you have saved the daughter whom
he loves, you must remember that he hates us English bitterly. I believe
that he would almost as soon see his girl marry a half-caste as an
Englishman, and especially a poor Englishman, as you are, and unless you
can make money, must remain. I have little to leave you, Allan."

"I might make money, father, out of ivory, for instance. You know I am a
good shot."

"Allan, I do not think you will ever make much money, it is not in your
blood; or, if you do, you will not keep it. We are an old race, and I
know our record, up to the time of Henry VIII. at any rate. Not one of
us was ever commercially successful. Let us suppose, however, that you
should prove yourself the exception to the rule, it can't be done at
once, can it? Fortunes don't grow in a night, like mushrooms."

"No, I suppose not, father. Still, one might have some luck."

"Possibly. But meanwhile you have to fight against a man who has the