第8章

"Whoisitthathascome？"askedBonaparte，whenhestooddrinkinghiscoffeeinthefrontroom。

"Why，myniece，tobesure，"saidTantSannie，theHottentotmaidtranslating。"She’stheonlydaughterofmyonlybrotherPaul，andshe’scometovisitme。She’llbeanicemouthfultothemanthatcangether，"

addedTantSannie。"Herfather’sgottwothousandpoundsinthegreenwagonboxunderhisbed，andafarm，andfivethousandsheep，andGodAlmightyknowshowmanygoatsandhorses。Theymilktencowsinmid—

winter，andtheyoungmenareafterherlikefliesaboutabowlofmilk。

Shesaysshemeanstogetmarriedinfourmonths，butshedoesn’tyetknowtowhom。ItwassowithmewhenIwasyoung，"saidTantSannie。"I’vesatupwiththeyoungmenfourandfivenightsaweek。Andtheywillcomeridingagain，assoonasevertheyknowthatthetime’supthattheEnglishmanmademeagreenottomarryin。"

TheBoer—womansmirkedcomplacently。

"Whereareyougoingto？"askedTantSanniepresently，seeingthatBonaparterose。

"Ha！I’mjustgoingtothekraals；I’llbeintosupper，"saidBonaparte。

Nevertheless，whenhereachedhisowndoorhestoppedandturnedinthere。

Soonafterhestoodbeforethelittleglass，arrayedinhisbestwhiteshirtwiththelittletucks，andshavinghimself。Hehadonhisverybesttrousers，andhadheavilyoiledthelittlefringeatthebackofhishead，which，however，refusedtobecomedarker。Butwhatdistressedhimmostwashisnose——itwasveryred。Herubbedhisfingerandthumbonthewall，andputalittlewhitewashonit；but，findingitrathermademattersworse，herubbeditoffagain。Thenhelookedcarefullyintohisowneyes。Theycertainlywerealittlepulleddownattheoutercorners，whichgavethemtheappearanceoflookingcrosswise；butthentheywereaniceblue。Soheputonhisbestcoat，tookuphisstick，andwentouttosupper，feelingonthewholewellsatisfied。

"Aunt，"saidTranatoTantSanniewhenthatnighttheylaytogetherinthegreatwoodenbed，"whydoestheEnglishmansighsowhenhelooksatme？"

"Ha！"saidTantSannie，whowashalfasleep，butsuddenlystarted，wideawake。"It’sbecausehethinksyoulooklikeme。Itellyou，Trana，"saidTantSannie，"themanismadwithloveofme。ItoldhimtheothernightI

couldn’tmarrytillEmwassixteen，orI’dloseallthesheepherfatherleftme。AndhetalkedaboutJacobworkingsevenyearsandsevenyearsagainforhiswife。Andofcoursehemeantme，"saidTantSanniepompously。"Buthewon’tgetmesoeasilyashethinks；he’llhavetoaskmorethanonce。"

"Oh！"saidTrana，whowasalumpishgirlandnotmuchgiventotalking；butpresentlysheadded，"Aunt，whydoestheEnglishmanalwaysknockagainstapersonwhenhepassesthem？"

"That’sbecauseyouarealwaysintheway，"saidTantSannie。

"But，aunt，saidTrana，presently，"Ithinkheisveryugly。"

"Phugh！"saidTantSannie。It’sonlybecausewe’renotaccustomedtosuchnosesinthiscountry。Inhiscountryhesaysallthepeoplehavesuchnoses，andtheredderyournoseisthehigheryouare。He’softhefamilyoftheQueenVictoria，youknow，"saidTantSannie，wakeningupwithhersubject；"andhedoesn’tthinkanythingofgovernorsandchurcheldersandsuchpeople；theyarenothingtohim。Whenhisauntwiththedropsydieshe’llhavemoneyenoughtobuyallthefarmsinthisdistrict。"

"Oh！"saidTrana。Thatcertainlymadeadifference。

"Yes，"saidTantSannie；"andhe’sonlyforty—one，thoughyou’dtakehimtobesixty。Andhetoldmelastnighttherealreasonofhisbaldness。"

TantSanniethenproceededtorelatehow，ateighteenyearsofage，Bonapartehadcourtedafairyounglady。Howadeadlyrival，jealousofhisverdantlocks，hisgoldenflowinghair，had，withadamnableandinsinuatingdeception，madehimapresentofapotofpomatum。How，applyingitintheevening，onrisinginthemorninghefoundhispillowstrewnwiththegoldenlocks，and，lookingintotheglass，beheldtheshiningandsmoothexpansewhichhenceforthhemustbear。Thefewremaininghairswereturnedtoasilverywhiteness，andtheyoungladymarriedhisrival。

"And，"saidTantSanniesolemnly，"ifithadnotbeenforthegraceofGod，andreadingofthepsalms，hesayshewouldhavekilledhimself。Hesayshecouldkillhimselfquiteeasilyifhewantstomarryawomanandshewon’t。"

"Allewereld！"saidTrana：andthentheywenttosleep。

Everyonewaslostinsleepsoon；butfromthewindowofthecabinthelightstreamedforth。Itcamefromadungfire，overwhichWaldosatbrooding。Hourafterhourhesatthere，nowandagainthrowingafreshlumpoffuelontothefire，whichburntupbravely，andthensankintoagreatbedofredcoals，whichreflectedthemselvesintheboy’seyesashesattherebrooding，brooding，brooding。Atlast，whenthefirewasblazingatitsbrightest，herosesuddenlyandwalkedslowlytoabeamfromwhichanoxriemhung。Looseningit，herananooseinoneendandthendoubleditroundhisarm。

"Mine，mine！Ihavearight，"hemuttered；andthensomethinglouder，"ifIfallandamkilled，somuchthebetter！"

Heopenedthedoorandwentoutintothestarlight。

Hewalkedwithhiseyesbentupontheground，butoverheaditwasoneofthosebrilliantsouthernnightswheneveryspacesosmallthatyourhandmightcoveritshowsfiftycoldwhitepoints，andtheMilky—Wayisabeltofsharpfrostedsilver。HepassedthedoorwhereBonapartelaydreamingofTranaandherwealth，andhemountedtheladdersteps。Fromthoseheclamberedwithsomedifficultyontotheroofofthehouse。Itwasofoldrottenthatchwitharidgeofwhiteplaster，anditcrumbledawayunderhisfeetateverystep。Hetrodasheavilyashecould。Somuchthebetterifhefell。

Hekneltdownwhenhegottothefargable，andbegantofastenhisriemtothecrumblingbricks。Belowwasthelittlewindowoftheloft。Withoneendoftheriemtiedroundthegable，theotherendroundhiswaist，howeasytoslidedowntoit，andtoopenit，throughoneofthebrokenpanes，andtogoin，andtofillhisarmswithbooks，andtoclamberupagain！

Theyhadburntonebook——hewouldhavetwenty。Everyman’shandwasagainsthis——hisshouldbeagainsteveryman’s。Noonewouldhelphim——hewouldhelphimself。

Heliftedtheblackdamphairfromhisknitforehead，andlookedroundtocoolhishotface。Thenhesawwhataregalnightitwas。Hekneltsilentlyandlookedup。Athousandeyeswerelookingdownathim，brightandsocold。Therewasalaughingironyinthem。

"Sohot，sobitter，soangry？Poorlittlemortal？"

Hewasashamed。Hefoldedhisarms，andsatontheridgeoftherooflookingupatthem。

"Sohot，sobitter，soangry？"

Itwasasthoughacoldhandhadbeenlaiduponhisthrobbingforehead，andslowlytheybegantofadeandgrowdim。TantSannieandtheburntbook，Bonaparteandthebrokenmachine，theboxintheloft，hehimselfsittingthere——howsmalltheyallbecame！Eventhegraveoveryonder。Thosestarsthatshoneonupabovesoquietly，theyhadseenathousandsuchlittleexistencesfightjustsofiercely，flareupjustsobrightlyandgoout；

andthey，theold，oldstars，shoneonforever。

"Sohot，soangry，poorlittlesoul？"theysaid。

Theriemslippedfromhisfingers；hesatwithhisarmsfolded，lookingup。

"We，"saidthestars，haveseentheearthwhenitwasyoung。Wehaveseensmallthingscreepoutuponitssurface——smallthingsthatprayedandlovedandcriedveryloudly，andthencreptunderitagain。Butwe，"saidthestars，"areasoldastheUnknown。"

Heleanedhischinagainstthepalmofhishandandlookedupatthem。Solonghesattherethatbrightstarssetandnewonesrose，andyethesaton。

Thenatlasthestoodup，andbegantoloosentheriemfromthegable。

Whatdiditmatteraboutthebooks？Thelustandthedesireforthemhaddiedout。Iftheypleasedtokeepthemfromhimtheymight。Whatmatter？

itwasaverylittlething。Whyhate，andstruggle，andfight？Letitbeasitwould。

Hetwistedtheriemroundhisarmandwalkedbackalongtheridgeofthehouse。

BythistimeBonaparteBlenkinshadfinishedhisdreamofTrana，andasheturnedhimselfroundforafreshdozeheheardthestepsdescendingtheladder。Hisfirstimpulsewastodrawtheblanketoverhisheadandhislegsunderhim，andtoshout；butrecollectingthatthedoorwaslockedandthewindowcarefullybolted，heallowedhisheadslowlytocropoutamongtheblankets，andlistenedintently。Whosoeveritmightbe，therewasnodangeroftheirgettingathim；soheclamberedoutofbed，andgoingontiptoetothedoor，appliedhiseyetothekeyhole。Therewasnothingtobeseen；sowalkingtothewindow，hebroughthisfaceasclosetotheglassashisnosewouldallow。Therewasafigurejustdiscernible。Theladwasnottryingtowalksoftly，andtheheavyshufflingofthewell—

knownvelschoenscouldbeclearlyheardthroughtheclosedwindowastheycrossedthestonesintheyard。Bonapartelistenedtilltheyhaddiedawayroundthecornerofthewagon—house；and，feelingthathisbarelegsweregettingcold，hejumpedbackintobedagain……

"Whatdoyoukeepupinyourloft？"inquiredBonaparteoftheBoer—womanthenextevening，pointingupwardsandelucidatinghismeaningbytheadditionofsuchDutchwordsasheknew，fortheleanHottentotwasgonehome。

"Driedskins，"saidtheBoer—woman，"andemptybottles，andboxes，andsacks，andsoap。"

"Youdon’tkeepanyofyourprovisionsthere——sugar，now？"saidBonaparte，pointingtothesugar—basinandthenupattheloft。

TantSannieshookherhead。

"Onlysalt，anddriedpeaches。"

"Driedpeaches！Eh？"saidBonaparte。"Shutthedoor，mydearchild，shutittight，"hecalledouttoEm，whostoodinthediningroom。ThenheleanedovertheelbowofthesofaandbroughthisfaceascloseaspossibletotheBoer—woman’s，andmadesignsofeating。Thenhesaidsomethingshedidnotcomprehend；thensaid，"Waldo，Waldo，Waldo，"pointeduptotheloft，andmadesignsofeatingagain。

NowaninklingofhismeaningdawnedontheBoer—woman’smind。Tomakeitclearer，hemovedhislegsafterthemannerofonegoingupaladder，appearedtobeopeningadoor，masticatedvigorously，said，"Peaches，peaches，peaches，"andappearedtobecomingdowntheladder。

ItwasnowevidenttoTantSanniethatWaldohadbeeninherloftandeatenherpeaches。

Toexemplifyhisownshareintheproceedings，Bonapartelaydownonthesofa，andshuttinghiseyestightly，said，"Night，night，night！"Thenhesatupwildly，appearingtobeintentlylistening，mimickedwithhisfeetthecomingdownaladder，andlookedatTantSannie。Thisclearlyshowedhow，rousedinthenight，hehaddiscoveredthetheft。

"Hemusthavebeenagreatfooltoeatmypeaches，"saidTantSannie。

"Theyarefullofmitesasasheepskin，andashardasstones。"

Bonaparte，fumblinginhispocket，didnotevenhearherremark，andtookoutfromhiscoat—tailalittlehorsewhip，nicelyrolledup。Bonapartewinkedatthelittlerhinoceroshorsewhip，attheBoer—woman，andthenatthedoor。

"Shallwecallhim——Waldo，Waldo？"hesaid。

TantSannienodded，andgiggled。Therewassomethingsoexceedinglyhumorousintheideathathewasgoingtobeattheboy，thoughforherownpartshedidnotseethatthepeacheswereworthit。WhentheKaffermaidcamewiththewash—tubshewassenttosummonWaldo；andBonapartedoubledupthelittlewhipandputitinhispocket。Thenhedrewhimselfup，andpreparedtoacthisimportantpartwithbecominggravity。SoonWaldostoodinthedoor，andtookoffhishat。

"Comein，comein，mylad，"saidBonaparte，"andshutthedoorbehind。"

Theboycameinandstoodbeforethem。

"Youneednotbesoafraid，child，"saidTantSannie。"Iwasachildmyselfonce。It’snogreatharmifyouhavetakenafew。"

Bonaparteperceivedthatherremarkwasnotinkeepingwiththenatureoftheproceedings，andofthelittledramaheintendedtoact。Pursingouthislips，andwavinghishand，hesolemnlyaddressedtheboy。

"Waldo，itgrievesmebeyondexpressiontohavetosummonyouforsopainfulapurpose；butitisattheimperativecallofduty，whichIdarenotevade。Idonotstatethatfrankandunreservedconfessionwillobviatethenecessityofchastisement，whichifrequisiteshallbefullyadministered；butthenatureofthatchastisementmaybemitigatedbyfreeandhumbleconfession。Waldo，answermeasyouwouldyourownfather，inwhoseplaceInowstandtoyou；haveyou，orhaveyounot，didyou，ordidyounot，eatofthepeachesintheloft？"

"Sayyoutookthem，boy，sayyoutookthem，thenhewon’tbeatyoumuch，"

saidtheDutchwoman，good—naturedly，gettingalittlesorryforhim。

Theboyraisedhiseyesslowlyandfixedthemvacantlyuponher，thensuddenlyhisfacegrewdarkwithblood。

"So，youhaven’tgotanythingtosaytous，mylad？"saidBonaparte，momentarilyforgettinghisdignity，andbendingforwardwithalittlesnarl。"ButwhatImeanisjustthis，mylad——whenittakesaboythree—

quartersofanhourtofillasalt—pot，andwhenatthreeo’clockinthemorninghegoesknockingaboutthedoorsofaloft，it’snaturaltosupposethere’smischiefinit。It’scertainthereismischiefinit；andwherethere’smischiefin，itmustbetakenout，"saidBonaparte，grinningintotheboy’sface。Then，feelingthathehadfallenfromthathighgravitywhichwasasspicetothepudding，andtheflavourofthewholelittletragedy，hedrewhimselfup。"Waldo，"hesaid，"confesstomeinstantly，andwithoutreserve，thatyouatethepeaches。"

Theboy’sfacewaswhitenow。Hiseyeswereontheground，hishandsdoggedlyclaspedbeforehim。

"What，doyounotintendtoanswer？"

Theboylookedupatthemoncefromunderhisbenteyebrows，andthenlookeddownagain。

"Thecreaturelooksasifallthedevilsinhellwereinit，"criedTantSannie。"Sayyoutookthem，boy。Youngthingswillbeyoungthings；IwasolderthanyouwhenIusedtoeatbultonginmymother’sloft，andgetthelittleniggerswhippedforit。Sayyoutookthem。"

Buttheboysaidnothing。

"Ithinkalittlesolitaryconfinementmightperhapsbebeneficial，"saidBonaparte。"Itwillenableyou，Waldo，toreflectontheenormityofthesinyouhavecommittedagainstourFatherinheaven。Andyoumayalsothinkofthesubmissionyouowetothosewhoareolderandwiserthanyouare，andwhosedutyitistocheckandcorrectyou。"

Sayingthis，Bonapartestoodupandtookdownthekeyofthefuel—house，whichhungonanailagainstthewall。

"Walkon，myboy，"saidBonaparte，pointingtothedoor；andashefollowedhimouthedrewhismouthexpressivelyononeside，andmadethelashofthelittlehorsewhipstickoutofhispocketandshakeupanddown。

TantSanniefelthalfsorryforthelad；butshecouldnothelplaughing，itwasalwayssofunnywhenonewasgoingtohaveawhipping，anditwoulddohimgood。Anyhow，hewouldforgetallaboutitwhentheplaceswerehealed。Hadnotshebeenbeatenmanytimesandbeenallthebetterforit？

Bonapartetookupalightedcandlethathadbeenleftburningonthekitchentable，andtoldtheboytowalkbeforehim。Theywenttothefuel—

house。Itwasalittlestoneerectionthatjuttedoutfromthesideofthewagon—house。Itwaslowandwithoutawindow，andthedrieddungwaspiledinonecorner，andthecoffee—millstoodinanother，fastenedonthetopofashortpostaboutthreefeethigh。Bonapartetookthepadlockofftheroughdoor。

"Walkin，mylad，"hesaid。

Waldoobeyedsullenly；oneplacetohimwasmuchthesameasanother。Hehadnoobjectiontobeinglockedup。

Bonapartefollowedhimin，andclosedthedoorcarefully。Heputthelightdownontheheapofdunginthecorner，andquietlyintroducedhishandunderhiscoat—tails，anddrewslowlyfromhispockettheendofarope，whichheconcealedbehindhim。

"I’mverysorry，exceedinglysorry，Waldo，mylad，thatyoushouldhaveactedinthismanner。Itgrievesme，"saidBonaparte。

Hemovedroundtowardtheboy’sback。Hehardlylikedthelookinthefellow’seyes，thoughhestoodtheremotionless。Ifheshouldspringonhim！

Sohedrewtheropeoutverycarefully，andshiftedroundtothewoodenpost。Therewasaslipknotinoneendoftherope，andasuddenmovementdrewtheboy’shandstohisbackandpasseditroundthem。Itwasaninstant’sworktodragittwiceroundthewoodenpost：thenBonapartewassafe。

Foramomenttheboystruggledtofreehimself；thenheknewthathewaspowerless，andstoodstill。

"Horsesthatkickmusthavetheirlegstied，"saidBonaparte，ashepassedtheotherendoftheroperoundtheboy’sknees。"Andnow，mydearWaldo，"

takingthewhipoutofhispocket，"Iamgoingtobeatyou。"

Hepausedforamoment。Itwasperfectlyquiet；theycouldheareachother’sbreath。

"’Chastenthysonwhilethereishope，’"saidBonaparte，"’andletnotthysoulspareforhiscrying。’ThoseareGod’swords。Ishallactasafathertoyou，Waldo。Ithinkwehadbetterhaveyournakedback。"

Hetookouthispenknife，andslittheshirtdownfromtheshouldertothewaist。

"Now，"saidBonaparte，"IhopetheLordwillblessandsanctifytoyouwhatIamgoingtodotoyou。"

Thefirstcutranfromtheshoulderacrossthemiddleoftheback；thesecondfellexactlyinthesameplace。Ashudderpassedthroughtheboy’sframe。

"Nice，eh？"saidBonaparte，peepingroundintohisface，speakingwithalisp，asthoughtoaverylittlechild。"Nith，eh？"

Buttheeyeswereblackandlustreless，andseemednottoseehim。WhenhehadgivensixteenBonapartepausedinhisworktowipealittledropofbloodfromhiswhip。

"Cold，eh？Whatmakesyoushiverso？Perhapsyouwouldliketopullupyourshirt？ButI’venotquitedoneyet。"

Whenhehadfinishedhewipedthewhipagain，andputitbackinhispocket。Hecuttheropethroughwithhispenknife，andthentookupthelight。

"Youdon’tseemtohavefoundyourtongueyet。Forgottenhowtocry？"saidBonaparte，pattinghimonthecheek。

Theboylookedupathim——notsullenly，notangrily。Therewasawild，fitfulterrorintheeyes。Bonapartemadehastetogooutandshutthedoor，andleavehimaloneinthedarkness。Hehimselfwasafraidofthatlook……

Itwasalmostmorning。Waldolaywithhisfaceuponthegroundatthefootofthefuel—heap。Therewasaroundholenearthetopofthedoor，whereaknotofwoodhadfallenout，andastreamofgreylightcameinthroughit。

Ah，itwasgoingtoendatlast。Nothinglastsforever，noteventhenight。Howwasithehadneverthoughtofthatbefore？Forinallthatlongdarknighthehadbeenverystrong，hadneverbeentired，neverfeltpain，hadrunonandon，upanddown，upanddown；hehadnotdaredtostandstill，andhehadnotknownitwouldend。Hehadbeensostrong，thatwhenhestruckhisheadwithallhisforceuponthestonewallitdidnotstunhimnorpainhim——onlymadehimlaugh。Thatwasadreadfulnight。

Whenheclaspedhishandsfranticallyandprayed——"OGod，mybeautifulGod，mysweetGod，once，onlyonce，letmefeelyounearmetonight！"hecouldnotfeelhim。Heprayedaloud，veryloud，andhegotnoanswer；whenhelisteneditwasallquitequiet——likewhenthepriestsofBaalcriedaloudtotheirgod——"Oh，Baal，hearus！Oh，Baal，hearus！ButBaalwasgonea—

hunting。

Thatwasalongwildnight，andwildthoughtscameandwentinit；buttheylefttheirmarksbehindthemforever：for，asyearscannotpasswithoutleavingtheirtracesbehindthem，neithercannightsintowhichareforcedthethoughtsandsufferingsofyears。Andnowthedawnwascoming，andatlasthewasverytired。Heshiveredandtriedtodrawtheshirtupoverhisshoulders。Theyweregettingstiff。Hehadneverknowntheywerecutinthenight。Helookedupatthewhitelightthatcameinthroughtheholeatthetopofthedoorandshuddered。Thenheturnedhisfacebacktothegroundandsleptagain。

SomehourslaterBonapartecametowardthefuel—housewithalumpofbreadinhishand。Heopenedthedoorandpeeredin；thenentered，andtouchedthefellowwithhisboot。Seeingthathebreathedheavily，thoughhedidnotrouse，Bonapartethrewthebreaddownontheground。Hewasalive，thatwasonething。Hebentoverhim，andcarefullyscratchedopenoneofthecutswiththenailofhisforefinger，examiningwithmuchinteresthislastnight’swork。Hewouldhavetocounthissheephimselfthatday；theboywasliterallycutup。Helockedthedoorandwentawayagain。

"Oh，Lyndall，"saidEm，enteringthediningroom，andbathedintears，thatafternoon，"IhavebeenbeggingBonapartetolethimout，andhewon’t。"

"Themoreyoubegthemorehewillnot，"saidLyndall。

Shewascuttingoutapronsonthetable。

"Oh，butit’slate，andIthinktheywanttokillhim，"saidEm，weepingbitterly；andfindingthatnomoreconsolationwastobegainedfromhercousin，shewentoffblubbering——"IwonderyoucancutoutapronswhenWaldoisshutuplikethat。"

FortenminutesaftershewasgoneLyndallworkedonquietly；thenshefoldedupherstuff，rolledittightlytogether，andstoodbeforethecloseddoorofthesittingroomwithherhandscloselyclasped。Aflushrosetoherface：sheopenedthedoorquickly，andwalkedin，wenttothenailonwhichthekeyofthefuel—roomhung。BonaparteandTantSanniesatthereandsawher。

"Whatdoyouwant？"theyaskedtogether。

"Thiskey，"shesaid，holdingitup，andlookingatthem。

"Doyoumeanhertohaveit？"saidTantSannieinDutch。

"Whydon’tyoustopher？"askedBonaparteinEnglish。

"Whydon’tyoutakeitfromher？"saidTantSannie。

Sotheylookedateachother，talking，whileLyndallwalkedtothefuel—

housewiththekey，herunderlipbittenin。

"Waldo，"shesaid，asshehelpedhimtostandup，andtwistedhisarmaboutherwaisttosupporthim，"wewillnotbechildrenalways；weshallhavethepower，too，someday。"Shekissedhisnakedshoulderwithhersoftlittlemouth。Itwasallthecomfortheryoungsoulcouldgivehim。

Chapter1。XIII。HeMakesLove。

"Here，"saidTantSannietoherHottentotmaid，"Ihavebeeninthishousefouryears，andneverbeenupintheloft。FatterwomenthanIgoupladders；Iwillgouptodayandseewhatitislike，andputittorightsupthere。Youbringthelittleladderandstandatthebottom。"

"There’sonewouldbesorryifyouweretofall，"saidtheHottentotmaid，leeringatBonaparte’spipe，thatlayonthetable。

"Holdyourtongue，jade，"saidhermistress，tryingtoconcealapleasedsmile，"andgoandfetchtheladder。"

Therewasanever—usedtrap—dooratoneendofthesittingroom：thistheHottentotmaidpushedopen，andsettingtheladderagainstit，theBoer—

womanwithsomedangeranddifficultyclimbedintotheloft。ThentheHottentotmaidtooktheladderaway，asherhusbandwasmendingthewagon—

house，andneededit；butthetrap—doorwasleftopen。

ForalittlewhileTantSanniepokedaboutamongtheemptybottlesandskins，andlookedatthebagofpeachesthatWaldowassupposedtohavelikedso；thenshesatdownnearthetrap—doorbesideabarrelofsaltmutton。Shefoundthatthepiecesofmeatweremuchtoolarge，andtookoutherclasp—knifetodividethem。

Thatwasalwaysthewaywhenoneleftthingstoservants，shegrumbledtoherself：butwhenonceshewasmarriedtoherhusbandBonaparteitwouldnotmatterwhetherasheepspoiledorno——whenoncehisrichauntwiththedropsywasdead。Shesmiledasshedivedherhandintothepickle—water。

Atthatinstanthernieceenteredtheroombelow，closelyfollowedbyBonaparte，withhisheadononeside，smilingmawkishly。HadTantSanniespokenatthatmomentthelifeofBonaparteBlenkinswouldhaverunawhollydifferentcourse；asitwas，sheremainedsilent，andneithernoticedtheopentrap—doorabovetheirheads。

"Sitthere，mylove，"saidBonaparte，motioningTranaintoheraunt’selbow—chair，anddrawinganothercloseupinfrontofit，inwhichheseatedhimself。"There，putyourfeetuponthestovetoo。Youraunthasgoneoutsomewhere。LonghaveIwaitedforthisauspiciousevent！"

Trana，whounderstoodnotonewordofEnglish，satdowninthechairandwonderedifthiswasoneofthestrangecustomsofotherlands，thatanoldgentlemanmaybringhischairuptoyours，andsitwithhiskneestouchingyou。ShehadbeenfivedaysinBonaparte’scompany，andfearedtheoldman，anddislikedhisnose。

"HowlonghaveIdesiredthismoment！"saidBonaparte。"Butthatagedrelativeofthineisalwayscastingherunhallowedshadowuponus。Lookintomyeyes，Trana。"