ittee."

"I shall be very glad if you will," Captain Naude replied.

CHAPTER XXXIV

THE CAPTAIN'S VISIT

Needless to say, there was not much peace or rest for any one that
night.

Mrs. van Warmelo and Hansie kept guard all night in the dining-room.
Every time Carlo barked outside they sprang up in alarm, their hearts
throbbing, their breath held up in listening suspense, but nothing
happened; and when day broke and the glorious sunlight flooded the
garden, all their fears vanished, and they felt as if they had been
harbouring spies all their lives.

They were up early, and as soon as their guests heard sounds of life
about the house they cautiously emerged from their rooms, looking
about them anxiously and inquiringly.

"Come in and have some coffee," Mrs. van Warmelo said warmly. "Did you
have a good night? The servants are not in the house yet and you are
safe for the present, but we must make our plans immediately. Are you
going to be seen about the house or not?"

Captain Naude then informed her that his orderly Venter wished to go
home to his people in Arcadia towards evening, if she could lend him
civilian clothing to wear, for once in the town the khaki was more of
a danger than a safeguard to him, and Captain Naude was in the same
difficulty himself.

It would never do for him to be seen at Harmony in an English
officer's uniform--"unless," he added inquiringly, "you are in the
habit of entertaining the British military?"

"No, indeed we are not!" she exclaimed indignantly, and told him the
story of the officers who had tried to visit her.

"Only one dear old colonel comes now," Hansie said, "but he has not
been here for a long, long time. I would enjoy introducing you to
him."

"Not in these clothes," Naude replied. "An English colonel would know
at once to whom they belonged. No; if I am to remain at Harmony as an
ordinary visitor, you will have to provide me with ordinary clothes."

Mrs. van Warmelo promised to do that during the course of the day, and
in the meantime it was decided to keep the men in the unused spare
bedroom, out of sight of the prying eyes of servants and possible
callers.

There their meals were served to them, the women washing up their
dishes without a sound in the privacy of their own bedrooms, and at
the same time doing all in their power to look and act as usual,
showing themselves all over the house and garden, and busying
themselves with the usual househo