第12章

"’Mysalvationisinwork，ifIshouldstopbutforonemomentyouwouldcreepdownuponme，’hereplied。Andtheyputouttheirlongnecksfurther。

"’Lookdownintothecreviceatyourfeet，’theysaid。’Seewhatliethere——whitebones！Asbraveandstrongamanasyouclimbedtotheserocks。’Andhelookedup。Hesawtherewasnouseinstriving；hewouldneverholdTruth，neverseeher，neverfindher。Sohelaydownhere，forhewasverytired。Hewenttosleepforever。Heputhimselftosleep。

Sleepisverytranquil。Youarenotlonelywhenyouareasleep，neitherdoyourhandsache，noryourheart。Andthehunterlaughedbetweenhisteeth。

"’HaveItornfrommyheartallthatwasdearest；haveIwanderedaloneinthelandofnight；haveIresistedtemptation；haveIdweltwherethevoiceofmykindisneverheard，andlabouredalone，toliedownandbefoodforyou，yeharpies？’

"Helaughedfiercely；andtheEchoesofDespairslunkaway，forthelaughofabrave，strongheartisasadeathblowtothem。

"Neverthelesstheycreptoutagainandlookedathim。

"’Doyouknowthatyourhairiswhite？’theysaid，’thatyourhandsbegintotremblelikeachild’s？Doyouseethatthepointofyourshuttleisgone？——itiscrackedalready。Ifyoushouldeverclimbthisstair，’theysaid，’itwillbeyourlast。Youwillneverclimbanother。’

"Andheanswered，’Iknowit！’andworkedon。

"Theold，thinhandscutthestonesillandjaggedly，forthefingerswerestiffandbent。Thebeautyandthestrengthofthemanwasgone。

"Atlast，anold，wizened，shrunkenfacelookedoutabovetherocks。Itsawtheeternalmountainsrisewithwallstothewhiteclouds；butitsworkwasdone。

"Theoldhunterfoldedhistiredhandsandlaydownbytheprecipicewherehehadworkedawayhislife。Itwasthesleepingtimeatlast。Belowhimoverthevalleysrolledthethickwhitemist。Onceitbroke；andthroughthegapthedyingeyeslookeddownonthetreesandfieldsoftheirchildhood。Fromafarseemedbornetohimthecryofhisownwildbirds，andheheardthenoiseofpeoplesingingastheydanced。Andhethoughtheheardamongthemthevoicesofhisoldcomrades；andhesawfaroffthesunlightshineonhisearlyhome。Andgreattearsgatheredinthehunter’seyes。

"’Ah！Theywhodietheredonotdiealone，’hecried。

"Thenthemistsrolledtogetheragain；andheturnedhiseyesaway。

"’Ihavesought，’hesaid，’forlongyearsIhavelaboured；butIhavenotfoundher。Ihavenotrested，Ihavenotrepined，andIhavenotseenher；

nowmystrengthisgone。WhereIliedownwornoutothermenwillstand，youngandfresh。BythestepsthatIhavecuttheywillclimb；bythestairsthatIhavebuilttheywillmount。Theywillneverknowthenameofthemanwhomadethem。Attheclumsyworktheywilllaugh；whenthestonesrolltheywillcurseme。Buttheywillmount，andonmywork；theywillclimb，andbymystair！Theywillfindher，andthroughme！Andnomanlivethtohimselfandnomandiethtohimself。’

"Thetearsrolledfrombeneaththeshrivelledeyelids。IfTruthhadappearedabovehiminthecloudsnowhecouldnothaveseenher，themistofdeathwasinhiseyes。

"’Mysoulhearstheirgladstepcoming，’hesaid；’andtheyshallmount！

theyshallmount！’Heraisedhisshrivelledhandtohiseyes。

"Thenslowlyfromthewhiteskyabove，throughthestillair，camesomethingfalling，falling，falling。Softlyitfluttereddown，anddroppedontothebreastofthedyingman。Hefeltitwithhishands。Itwasafeather。Hediedholdingit。"

Theboyhadshadedhiseyeswithhishand。Onthewoodofthecarvinggreatdropsfell。Thestrangermusthavelaughedathim，orremainedsilent。Hedidso。

"Howdidyouknowit？"theboywhisperedatlast。"Itisnotwrittenthere——notonthatwood。Howdidyouknowit？"

"Certainly，"saidthestranger，"thewholeofthestoryisnotwrittenhere，butitissuggested。Andtheattributeofalltrueart，thehighestandthelowest，isthis——thatitraysmorethanitsays，andtakesyouawayfromitself。Itisalittledoorthatopensintoaninfinitehallwhereyoumayfindwhatyouplease。Men，thinkingtodetract，say：’Peoplereadmoreinthisorthatworkofgeniusthanwaseverwritteninit，’notperceivingthattheypaythehighestcompliment。Ifwepickupthefingerandnailofarealman，wecandecipherawholestory——couldalmostreconstructthecreatureagain，fromheadtofoot。ButhalfthebodyofaMumboo—jumbowidolleavesusutterlyinthedarkastowhattherestwaslike。Weseewhatwesee，butnothingmore。Thereisnothingsouniversallyintelligibleastruth。Ithasathousandmeanings，andsuggestsathousandmore。"

Heturnedoverthewoodenthing。

"Thoughamanshouldcarveitintomatterwiththeleastpossiblemanipulativeskill，itwillyetfindinterpreters。Itisthesoulthatlooksoutwithburningeyesthroughthemostgrossfleshlyfilament。

Whosoevershouldportraytrulythelifeanddeathofalittleflower——itsbirth，suckinginofnourishment，reproductionofitskind，witheringandvanishing——wouldhaveshapedasymbolofallexistence。Alltruefactsofnatureorthemindarerelated。Yourlittlecarvingrepresentssomementalfactsastheyreallyare，thereforefiftydifferenttruestoriesmightbereadfromit。Whatyourworkwantsisnottruth，butbeautyofexternalform，theotherhalfofart。"Heleanedalmostgentlytowardtheboy。

"Skillmaycomeintime，butyouwillhavetoworkhard。Theloveofbeautyandthedesireforitmustbeborninaman；theskilltoreproduceithemustmake。Hemustworkhard。"

"AllmylifeIhavelongedtoseeyou，"theboysaid。

Thestrangerbrokeofftheendofhiscigar，andlitit。Theboyliftedtheheavywoodfromthestranger’skneeanddrewyetnearerhim。Inthedog—likemannerofhisdrawingneartherewassomethingsuperblyridiculous，unlessonechancedtoviewitinanotherlight。Presentlythestrangersaid，whiffing，"Dosomethingforme。"

Theboystartedup。

"No；staywhereyouare。Idon’twantyoutogoanyowhere；Iwantyoutotalktome。Tellmewhatyouhavebeendoingallyourlife。"

Theboyslunkdownagain。Wouldthatthemanhadaskedhimtorootupbusheswithhishandsforhishorsetofeedon；ortoruntothefarendoftheplainforthefossilsthatlaythere，ortogathertheflowersthatgrewonthehillsattheedgeoftheplain；hewouldhaverunandbeenbackquickly——butnow！

"Ihaveneverdoneanything，"hesaid。

"Thentellmeofthatnothing。IliketoknowwhatotherfolkshavebeendoingwhosewordIcanbelieve。Itisinteresting。Whatwasthefirstthingyoueverwantedverymuch？"

Theboywaitedtoremember，thenbeganhesitatingly，butsoonthewordsflowed。Inthesmallestpastwefindaninexhaustibleminewhenoncewebegintodigatit。

Aconfused，disorderedstory——thelittlemadelargeandthelargesmall，andnothingshowingitsinwardmeaning。Itisnottillthepasthasrecededmanystepsthatbeforetheclearesteyesitfallsintoco—ordinatepictures。ItisnottilltheIwetellofhasceasedtoexistthatittakesitsplaceamongotherobjectiverealities，andfindsitstruenicheinthepicture。Thepresentandthenearpastisaconfusion，whosemeaningflashesonusasitslinksawayintothedistance。

Thestrangerlitonecigarfromtheendofanother，andpuffedandlistenedwithhalf—closedeyes。

"Iwillremembermoretotellyouifyoulike，"saidtheboy。

Hespokewiththatextremegravitycommontoallveryyoungthingswhofeeldeeply。Itisnottilltwentythatwelearntobeindeadlyearnestandtolaugh。Thestrangernodded，whilethefellowsoughtforsomethingmoretorelate。Hewouldtellalltothismanofhis——allthatheknew，allthathehadfelt，hisinmostsorestthought。Suddenlythestrangerturneduponhim。

"Boy，"hesaid，"youarehappytobehere。"

Waldolookedathim。Washisdelightfuloneridiculinghim？Here，withthisbrownearthandtheselowhills，whiletherarewonderfulworldlayallbeyond。Fortunatetobehere？

Thestrangerreadhisglance。

"Yes，"hesaid；"herewiththekaroo—bushesandredsand。DoyouwonderwhatImean？Toallwhohavebeenbornintheoldfaiththerecomesatimeofdanger，whentheoldslipsfromus，andwehavenotyetplantedourfeetonthenew。WehearthevoicefromSinaithunderingnomore，andthestillsmallvoiceofreasonisnotyetheard。Wehaveprovedthereligionourmothersfedusontobeadelusion；inourbewildermentweseenorulebywhichtoguideourstepsdaybyday；andyeteverydaywemuststepsomewhere。"

Thestrangerleanedforwardandspokemorequickly。"Wehaveneveroncebeentaughtbywordoracttodistinguishbetweenreligionandthemorallawsonwhichithasartfullyfasteneditself，andfromwhichithassuckeditsvitality。Whenwehavedraggeddowntheweedsandcreepersthatcoveredthesolidwallandhavefoundthemtoberottenwood，weimaginethewallitselftoberottenwoodtoo。Wefinditissolidandstandingonlywhenwefallheadlongagainstit。Wehavebeentaughtthatallrightandwrongoriginateinthewillofanirresponsiblebeing。Itissometimebeforeweseehowtheinexorable’Thoushaltandshaltnot，’arecarvedintothenatureofthings。Thisisthetimeofdanger。"

Hisdark，mistyeyeslookedintotheboy’s。

"Intheendexperiencewillinevitablyteachusthatthelawsforawiseandnoblelifehaveafoundationinfinitelydeeperthanthefiatofanybeing，Godorman，eveninthegroundworkofhumannature。

"Shewillteachusthatwhososheddethman’sblood，thoughbymanhisbloodbenotshed，thoughnomanavengeandnohellawait，yeteverydropshallblisteronhissoulandeatinthenameofthedead。Shewillteachthatwhosotakesalovenotlawfullyhisown，gathersaflowerwithapoisononitspetals；thatwhosorevenges，strikeswithaswordthathastwoedges——

oneforhisadversary，oneforhimself；thatwholivestohimselfisdead，thoughthegroundisnotyetonhim；thatwhowrongsanothercloudshisownsun；andthatwhosinsinsecretstandsaccursedandcondemnedbeforetheoneJudgewhodealseternaljustice——hisownall—knowingself。

"Experiencewillteachusthis，andreasonwillshowuswhyitmustbeso；

butatfirsttheworldswingsbeforeoureyes，andnovoicecriesout，’Thisistheway，walkyeinit！’Youarehappytobehere，boy！Whenthesuspensefillsyouwithpainyoubuildstonewallsanddigearthforrelief。Othershavestoodwhereyoustandtoday，andhavefeltasyoufeel；andanotherreliefhasbeenofferedthem，andtheyhavetakenit。

"Whenthedayhascomewhentheyhaveseenthepathinwhichtheymightwalk，theyhavenotthestrengthtofollowit。Habitshavefastenedonthemfromwhichnothingbutdeathcanfreethem；whichclingcloserthanhissacerdotalsanctimonytoapriest；whichfeedontheintellectlikeaworm，sappingenergy，hope，creativepower，allthatmakesamanhigherthanabeast——leavingonlythepowertoyearn，toregret，andtosinklowerintheabyss。

"Boy，"hesaid，andthelistenerwasnotmoreunsmilingnowthanthespeaker，"youarehappytobehere！Staywhereyouare。Ifyoueverpray，letitbeonlytheoneoldprayer——’Leadusnotintotemptation。’Liveonherequietly。Thetimemayyetcomewhenyouwillbethatwhichothermenhavehopedtobeandneverwillbenow。"

Thestrangerrose，shookthedustfromhissleeve，andashamedathisownearnestness，lookedacrossthebushesforhishorse。

"Weshouldhavebeenonourwayalready，"hesaid。"Weshallhavealongrideinthedarktonight。"

Waldohastenedtofetchtheanimal；buthereturnedleadingitslowly。Thesooneritcamethesoonerwoulditsriderbegone。

Thestrangerwasopeninghissaddlebag，inwhichwereabrightFrenchnovelandanoldbrownvolume。Hetookthelastandhelditouttotheboy。

"Itmaybeofsomehelptoyou，"hesaid，carelessly。"ItwasagospeltomewhenIfirstfellonit。Youmustnotexpecttoomuch；butitmaygiveyouacentreroundwhichtohangyourideas，insteadoflettingthemlieaboutinaconfusionthatmakestheheadache。Weofthisgenerationarenotdestinedtoeatandbesatisfiedasourfatherswere；wemustbecontenttogohungry。"

Hesmiledhisautomatonsmile，andrebuttonedthebag。Waldothrustthebookintohisbreast，andwhilehesaddledthehorsethestrangermadeinquiriesastothenatureoftheroadandthedistancetothenextfarm。

Whenthebagswerefixed，Waldotookuphiswoodenpostandbegantofastenitontothesaddle，tyingitwiththelittlebluecottonhandkerchieffromhisneck。Thestrangerlookedoninsilence。Whenitwasdonetheboyheldthestirrupforhimtomount。

"Whatisyourname？"heinquired，unglovinghisrighthandwhenhewasinthesaddle。

Theboyreplied：

"Well，Itrustweshallmeetagainsomeday，soonerorlater。"

Heshookhandswiththeunglovedhand；thendrewontheglove，andtouchedhishorse，androdeslowlyaway。Theboystoodtowatchhim。

Oncewhenthestrangerhadgonehalfacrosstheplainhelookedback。

"Poordevil，"hesaid，smilingandstrokinghismoustache。Thenhelookedtoseeifthelittlebluehandkerchiefwerestillsafelyknotted。"Poordevil！"

Hesmiled，andthenhesighedwearily，verywearily。

AndWaldowaitedtillthemovingspeckhaddisappearedonthehorizon；thenhestoopedandkissedpassionatelyahoof—markinthesand。Thenhecalledhisyoungbirdstogether，andputhisbookunderhisarm，andwalkedhomealongthestonewall。Therewasararebeautytohiminthesunshinethatevening。

Chapter2。III。GregoryRoseFindsHisAffinity。

Thenewman，GregoryRose，satatthedoorofhisdwelling，hisarmsfolded，hislegscrossed，andaprofoundmelancholyseemingtorestoverhissoul。Hishousewasalittlesquaredaub—and—wattlebuilding，faroutinthekaroo，twomilesfromthehomestead。Itwascoveredoutsidewithasombrecoatingofbrownmud，twolittlepanesbeingletintothewallsforwindows。Behinditwerethesheep—kraals，andtotherightalargedam，nowprincipallycontainingbakedmud。Faroffthelittlekopjeconcealedthehomestead，andwasnotitselfanobjectconspicuousenoughtorelievethedrearymonotonyofthelandscape。

BeforethedoorsatGregoryRoseinhisshirt—sleeves，onacamp—stool，andeverandanonhesigheddeeply。Therewasthatinhiscountenanceforwhichevenhisdepressingcircumstancesfailedtoaccount。Againandagainhelookedatthelittlekopje，atthemilk—pailathisside，andatthebrownpony，whoashortwayoffcroppedthedrybushes——andsighed。

Presentlyheroseandwentintohishouse。Itwasonetinyroom，thewhitewashedwallsprofuselycoveredwithprintscutfromthe"IllustratedLondonNews"，andinwhichtherewasanoticeablepreponderanceoffemalefacesandfigures。Astretcherfilledoneendofthehut，andarackforagunandalittlehanginglooking—glassdiversifiedthegableopposite，whileinthecentrestoodachairandtable。Allwasscrupulouslyneatandclean，forGregorykeptalittledusterfoldedinthecornerofhistable—

drawer，justashehadseenhismotherdo，andeverymorningbeforehewentouthesaidhisprayers，andmadehisbed，anddustedthetableandthelegsofthechairs，andeventhepicturesonthewallandthegun—rack。

Onthishotafternoonhetookfrombeneathhispillowawatch—bagmadebyhissisterJemima，andtookoutthewatch。Onlyhalfpastfour！Withasuppressedgroanhedroppeditbackandsatdownbesidethetable。Half—

pastfour！Presentlyherousedhimself。HewouldwritetohissisterJemima。Healwayswrotetoherwhenhewasmiserable。Shewashissafety—

valve。Heforgotherwhenhewashappy；butheusedherwhenhewaswretched。

Hetookoutinkandpaper。Therewasafamilycrestandmottoonthelatter，fortheRosessincecomingtothecolonyhaddiscoveredthattheywereofdistinguishedlineage。OldRosehimself，anhonestEnglishfarmer，knewnothingofhisnobledescent；buthiswifeanddaughterknew——

especiallyhisdaughter。TherewereRosesinEnglandwhokeptaparkanddatedfromtheConquest。Sothecolonial"RoseFarm"became"RoseManor"

inremembranceoftheancestraldomain，andtheclaimoftheRosestonoblebloodwasestablished——intheirownmindsatleast。

Gregorytookuponeofthewhite，crestedsheets；butondeeperreflectionhedeterminedtotakeapinkone，asmoresuitabletothestateofhisfeelings。Hebegan：

"KopjeAlone，"Mondayafternoon。

"MyDearJemima——"

Thenhelookedupintothelittleglassopposite。Itwasayouthfulfacereflectedthere，withcurlingbrownbeardandhair；butinthedarkblueeyestherewasalookoflanguidlongingthattouchedhim。Here—dippedhispenandwrote：

"WhenIlookupintothelittleglassthathangsoppositeme，Iwonderifthatchangedandsadface——"

Herehesatstillandreflected。Itsoundedalmostasifhemightbeconceitedorunmanlytobelookingathisownfaceintheglass。No，thatwouldnotdo。Sohelookedforanotherpinksheetandbeganagain。

"KopjeAlone，"Mondayafternoon。

"DearSister，——ItishardlysixmonthssinceIleftyoutocometothisspot，yetcouldyounowseemeIknowwhatyouwouldsay，Iknowwhatmotherwouldsay——’CanthatbeourGreg——thatthingwiththestrangelookinhiseyes？’

"Yes，Jemima，itisyourGreg，andthechangehasbeencomingovermeeversinceIcamehere；butitisgreatestsinceyesterday。YouknowwhatsorrowsIhavepassedthrough，Jemima；howunjustlyIwasalwaystreatedatschool，themasterskeepingmebackandcallingmeablockhead，though，astheythemselvesallowed，Ihadthebestmemoryofanyboyintheschool，andcouldrepeatwholebooksfrombeginningtoend。Youknowhowcruellyfatheralwaysusedme，callingmeanoodleandamilksop，justbecausehecouldn’tunderstandmyfinenature。Youknowhowhehasmadeafarmerofmeinsteadofaminister，asIoughttohavebeen；youknowitall，Jemima；

andhowIhaveborneitall，notasawoman，whowhinesforeverytouch，butasamanshould——insilence。

"Buttherearethings，thereisathing，whichthesoullongstopourforthintoakindredear。

"Dearsister，haveyoueverknownwhatitistokeepwantingandwantingandwantingtokisssomeone’smouth，andyoumaynot；totouchsomeone’shand，andyoucannot？Iaminlove，Jemima。

"TheoldDutchwomanfromwhomIhirethisplacehasalittlestepdaughter，andhernamebeginswith’E’。

"SheisEnglish。IdonotknowhowherfathercametomarryaBoer—woman。

Itmakesmefeelsostrangetoputdownthatletter，thatIcanhardlygoonwriting’E’。I’velovedhereversinceIcamehere。ForweeksIhavenotbeenabletoeatordrink；myverytobaccowhenIsmokehasnotaste；

andIcanremainfornomorethanfiveminutesinoneplace，andsometimesfeelasthoughIwerereallygoingmad。

"EveryeveningIgotheretofetchmymilk。Yesterdayshegavemesomecoffee。Thespoonfellontheground。Shepickeditup；whenshegaveitmeherfingertouchedmine。Jemima，IdonotknowifIfanciedit——I

shiveredhot，andsheshiveredtoo！Ithought，’Itisallright；shewillbemine；shelovesme！’Justthen，Jemima，incameafellow，agreat，coarsefellow，aGerman——aridiculousfellow，withcurlsrightdowntohisshoulders；itmakesonesicktolookathim。He’sonlyaservantoftheBoer—woman’s，andalow，vulgar，uneducatedthing；that’sneverbeentoboarding—schoolinhislife。Hehadbeentothenextfarmseekingsheep。

Whenhecameinshesaid，’Goodevening，Waldo。Havesomecoffee！’ANDSHE

KISSEDHIM。

"AlllastnightIheardnothingelsebut’Havesomecoffee；havesomecoffee。’IfIwenttosleepforamomentIdreamedthatherfingerwaspressingmine；butwhenIwokewithastartIheardhersay，’Goodevening，Waldo。Havesomecoffee！’

"Isthismadness？

"Ihavenoteatenamouthfultoday。ThiseveningIgoandproposetoher。

IfsherefusesmeIshallgoandkillmyselftomorrow。Thereisadamofwatercloseby。Thesheephavedrunkmostofitup，butthereisstillenoughifItieastonetomyneck。

"Itisachoicebetweendeathandmadness。Icanendurenomore。Ifthisshouldbethelastletteryouevergetfromme，thinkofmetenderly，andforgiveme。Withouther，lifewouldbeahowlingwilderness，alongtribulation。Sheismyaffinity；theoneloveofmylife，ofmyyouth，ofmymanhood；mysunshine；myGod—givenblossom。

"’Theyneverlovedwhodreamedthattheylovedonce，Andwhosaith，’Ilovedonce’？——

Notangels，whosedeepeyeslookdownthroughrealmsoflight！’

"Yourdisconsolatebrother，onwhatis，inallprobability，thelastanddistractednightofhislife。

"GregoryNazianzenRose。

"P。S。——Tellmothertotakecareofmypearlstuds。Ilefttheminthewash—hand—standdrawer。Don’tletthechildrengetholdofthem。

"P。P。S。——Ishalltakethisletterwithmetothefarm。IfIturndownonecorneryoumayknowIhavebeenaccepted；ifnot，youmayknowitisallupwithyourheartbrokenbrother，G。N。R。"

Gregoryhavingfinishedthisletter，readitoverwithmuchapproval，putitinanenvelope，addressedit，andsatcontemplatingtheinkpot，somewhatrelievedinmind。

Theeveningturnedoutchillyandverywindyaftertheday’sheat。Fromafaroff，asGregorynearedthehomesteadonthebrownpony，hecoulddistinguishalittlefigureinalittleredcloakatthedoorofthecow—

kraal。Emleanedoverthepolesthatbarredthegate，andwatchedthefrothingmilkrunthroughtheblackfingersoftheherdsman，whiletheunwillingcowsstoodwithtetheredheadsbythemilkingpoles。Shehadthrowntheredcloakoverherownhead，andhelditunderherchinwithalittlehand，tokeepfromherearsthewind，thatplayfullyshookit，andtossedthelittlefringeofyellowhairintohereyes。

"Isitnottoocoldforyoutobestandinghere？"saidGregory，comingsoftlyclosetoher。

"Oh，no；itissonice。Ialwayscometowatchthemilking。Thatredcowwiththeshorthornsisbringingupthecalfofthewhitecowthatdied。

Shelovesitso——justasifitwereherown。Itissonicetoseeherlickitslittleears。Justlook！"

"Thecloudsareblack。Ithinkitisgoingtoraintonight，"saidGregory。

"Yes，"answeredEm，lookingupaswellasshecouldforthelittleyellowfringe。

"ButI’msureyoumustbecold，"saidGregory，andputhishandunderthecloak，andfoundthereasmallfistdoubledup，soft，andverywarm。Hehelditfastinhishand。

"Oh，Em，Iloveyoubetterthanalltheworldbesides！Tellme，doyoulovemealittle？"

"Yes，Ido，"saidEm，hesitating，andtryingsoftlytofreeherhand。

"Betterthaneverything；betterthanalltheworld，darling？"heasked，bendingdownsolowthattheyellowhairwasblownintohiseyes。

"Idon’tknow，"saidEm，gravely。"Idoloveyouverymuch；butIlovemycousinwhoisatschool，andWaldo，verymuch。YouseeIhaveknownthemsolong！"

"Oh，Em，donottalktomesocoldly！"Gregorycried，seizingthelittlearmthatrestedonthegate，andpressingittillshewashalfafraid。Theherdsmanhadmovedawaytotheotherendofthekraalnow，andthecows，busywiththeircalves，tooknonoticeofthelittlehumanfarce。"Em，ifyoutalksotomeIwillgomad！Youmustloveme，lovemebetterthanall！Youmustgiveyourselftome。IhavelovedyousincethatfirstmomentwhenIsawyouwalkingbythestonewallwiththejuginyourhands。

Youweremadeforme，createdforme！IwillloveyoutillIdie！Oh，Em，donotbesocold，socrueltome！"

Heheldherarmsotightlythatherfingersrelaxedtheirhold，andthecloakfluttereddownontotheground，andthewindplayedmoreroughlythaneverwiththelittleyellowhead。

"Idoloveyouverymuch，"shesaid；"butIdonotknowifIwanttomarryyou。IloveyoubetterthanWaldo，butIcan’ttellifIloveyoubetterthanLyndall。IfyouwouldletmewaitforaweekIthinkperhapsIcouldtellyou。"

Gregorypickedupthecloakandwrappeditroundher。

"IfyoucouldbutlovemeasIloveyou，"hesaid；"butnowomancanloveasamancan。IwillwaittillSaturday。Iwillnotoncecomenearyoutillthen。Good—bye！Oh，Em，"hesaid，turningagain，andtwininghisarmabouther，andkissinghersurprisedlittlemouth，"ifyouarenotmywifeIcannotlive。Ihaveneverlovedanotherwoman，andInevershall！——

never，never！"