第13章

"Youmakemeafraid，"saidEm。"Come，letusgo，andIwillfillyourpail。"

"Iwantnomilk。Good—bye！YouwillnotseemeagaintillSaturday。"

Latethatnight，wheneveryoneelsehadgonetobed，theyellow—hairedlittlewomanstoodaloneinthekitchen。Shehadcometofillthekettleforthenextmorning’scoffee，andnowstoodbeforethefire。Thewarmreflectionlitthegraveold—womanishlittleface，thatwassounusuallythoughtfulthisevening。

"Betterthanalltheworld；betterthaneverything；helovesmebetterthaneverything！"Shesaidthewordsaloud，asiftheyweremoreeasytobelieveifshespokethemso。Shehadgivenoutsomuchloveinherlittlelife，andhadgotnoneofitbackwithinterest。Nowonesaid，"Iloveyoubetterthanalltheworld。"Onelovedherbetterthanshelovedhim。Howsuddenlyrichshewas。Shekeptclaspingandunclaspingherhands。Soabeggarfeelswhofallsasleeponthepavementwetandhungry，andwhowakesinapalace—hallwithservantsandlights，andafeastbeforehim。Ofcoursethebeggar’sisonlyadream，andhewakesfromit；andthiswasreal。

Gregoryhadsaidtoher，"IwillloveyouaslongasIlive。"Shesaidthewordsoverandovertoherselflikeasong。

"Iwillsendforhimtomorrow，andIwilltellhimhowIlovehimback，"

shesaid。

ButEmneedednottosendforhim。GregorydiscoveredonreachinghomethatJemima’sletterwasstillinhispocket。And，therefore，muchashedislikedtheappearanceofvacillationandweakness，hewasobligedtobeatthefarmhousebeforesunrisetopostit。

"IfIseeher，"Gregorysaid，"Ishallonlybowtoher。SheshallseethatIamaman，onewhokeepshisword。"

AstoJemima’sletter，hehadturneddownonecornerofthepage，andthenturneditback，leavingadeepcrease。Thatwouldshowthathewasneitheracceptednorrejected，butthatmatterswereinanintermediatecondition。

Itwasamorepoeticalwaythenputtingitinplainwords。

Gregorywasbarelyintimewithhisletter，forWaldowasstartingwhenhereachedthehomestead，andEmwasonthedoorsteptoseehimoff。Whenhehadgiventheletter，andWaldohadgone，Gregorybowedstifflyandpreparedtoremounthisownpony，butsomewhatslowly。Itwasstillearly；

noneoftheservantswereabout。Emcameupclosetohimandputherlittlehandsoftlyonhisarmashestoodbyhishorse。

"Idoloveyoubestofall，"shesaid。Shewasnotfrightenednow，howevermuchhekissedher。"IwishIwasbeautifulandnice，"sheadded，lookingupintohiseyesasheheldheragainsthisbreast。

"Mydarling，tomeyouaremorebeautifulthanallthewomenintheworld；

dearertomethaneverythingitholds。IfyouwereinhellIwouldgoafteryoutofindyouthere！Ifyouweredead，thoughmybodymoved，mysoulwouldbeunderthegroundwithyou。AlllifeasIpasswithyouinmyarmswillbeperfecttome。Itwillpass，passlikearayofsunshine。"

Emthoughthowbeautifulandgrandhisfacewasasshelookedupintoit。

Sheraisedherhandgentlyandputitonhisforehead。

"Youaresosilent，socold，myEm，"hecried。"Haveyounothingtosaytome？"

Alittleshadeofwonderfilledhereyes。

"Iwilldoeverythingyoutellme，"shesaid。

"Whatelsecouldshesay？Herideaoflovewasonlyservice。

"Then，myownpreciousone，promisenevertokissthatfellowagain。I

cannotbearthatyoushouldloveanyonebutme。Youmustnot！Iwillnothaveit！IfeveryrelationIhadintheworldweretodietomorrow，I

wouldbequitehappyifIstillonlyhadyou！Mydarling，mylove，whyareyousocold？Promisemenottolovehimanymore。Ifyouaskedmetodoanythingforyou，Iwoulddoit，thoughitcostmylife。"

Emputherhandverygravelyroundhisneck。

"Iwillneverkisshim，"shesaid，"andIwilltrynottoloveanyoneelse。ButIdonotknowifIwillbeable。"

"Oh，mydarling，Ithinkofyouallnight，allday。Ithinkofnothingelse，love，nothingelse，"hesaid，foldinghisarmsabouther。

Emwasalittleconsciencestricken；eventhatmorningshehadfoundtimetorememberthatinsixmonthshercousinwouldcomebackfromschool，andshehadthoughttoremindWaldoofthelozengesforhiscough，evenwhenshesawGregorycoming。

"Idonotknowhowitis，"shesaidhumbly，nestlingtohim，"butIcannotloveyousomuchasyouloveme。PerhapsitisbecauseIamonlyawoman；

butIdoloveyouasmuchasIcan。"

NowtheKaffermaidswerecomingfromthehuts。Hekissedheragain，eyesandmouthandhands，andlefther。

TantSanniewaswellsatisfiedwhentoldofthebetrothment。Sheherselfcontemplatedmarriagewithintheyearwithoneorotherofhernumerousvrijers，andshesuggestedthattheweddingsmighttakeplacetogether。

Emsettoworkbusilytoprepareherownhouseholdlinenandweddinggarments。Gregorywaswithherdaily，almosthourly，andthesixmonthswhichelapsedbeforeLyndall’sreturnpassed，ashefelicitouslyphrasedit，"likeasummernight，whenyouaredreamingofsomeoneyoulove。"

Lateoneevening，Gregorysatbyhislittlelove，turningthehandleofhermachineasshedrewherworkthroughit，andtheytalkedofthechangestheywouldmakewhentheBoer—womanwasgone，andthefarmbelongedtothemalone。Thereshouldbeanewroomhere，andakraalthere。Sotheychattedon。SuddenlyGregorydroppedthehandle，andimpressedaferventkissonthefathandthatguidedthelinen。

"Youaresobeautiful，Em，"saidthelover。"ItcomesovermeinafloodsuddenlyhowIloveyou。"

Emsmiled。

"TantSanniesayswhenIamheragenoonewilllookatme；anditistrue。

Myhandsareasshortandbroadasaduck’sfoot，andmyforeheadissolow，andIhaven’tanynose。Ican’tbepretty。"

Shelaughedsoftly。Itwassonicetothinkheshouldbesoblind。

"Whenmycousincomestomorrowyouwillseeabeautifulwoman，Gregory，"

sheaddedpresently。"Sheislikealittlequeen：hershouldersaresoupright，andherheadlooksasthoughitoughttohavealittlecrownuponit。Youmustcometoseehertomorrowassoonasshecomes。Iamsureyouwillloveher。"

"OfcourseIshallcometoseeher，sincesheisyourcousin；butdoyouthinkIcouldeverthinkanywomanaslovelyasIthinkyou？"

Hefixedhisseethingeyesuponher。

"Youcouldnothelpseeingthatsheisprettier，"saidEm，slippingherrighthandintohis；"butyouwillneverbeabletolikeanyonesomuchasyoulikeme。"

Afterward，whenshewishedherlovergoodnight，shestooduponthedoorsteptocallagreetingafterhim；andshewaited，asshealwaysdid，tillthebrownpony’shoofsbecameinaudiblebehindthekopje。

ThenshepassedthroughtheroomwhereTantSannielaysnoring，andthroughthelittleroomthatwasalldrapedinwhite，waitingforhercousin’sreturn，ontoherownroom。

Shewenttothechestofdrawerstoputawaytheworkshehadfinished，andsatdownonthefloorbeforethelowestdrawer。Initwerethethingsshewaspreparingforhermarriage。Pilesofwhitelinen，andsomeapronsandquilts；andinalittleboxinthecornerasprayoforange—blossomwhichshehadboughtfromasmouse。There，too，wasaringGregoryhadgivenher，andaveilhissisterhadsent，andtherewasalittlerolloffineembroideredworkwhichTranahadgivenher。ItwastoofineandgoodevenforGregory’swife——justrightforsomethingverysmallandsoft。Shewouldkeepit。Andshetoucheditgentlywithherforefinger，smiling；andthensheblushedandhiditfarbehindtheotherthings。Sheknewsowellallthatwasinthatdrawer，andyetsheturnedthemalloverasthoughshesawthemforthefirsttime，packedthemallout，andpackedthemallin，withoutonefoldorcrumple；andthensatdownandlookedatthem。

TomorroweveningwhenLyndallcameshewouldbringherhere，andshowitherall。Lyndallwouldsoliketoseeit——thelittlewreath，andthering，andthewhiteveil！Itwouldbesonice！ThenEmfelltoseeingpictures。

Lyndallshouldlivewiththemtillsheherselfgotmarriedsomeday。

EverydaywhenGregorycamehome，tiredfromhiswork，hewouldlookaboutandsay，"Whereismywife？Hasnooneseenmywife？Wife，somecoffee！"

andshewouldgivehimsome。

Em’slittlefacegrewverygraveatlast，andshekneltupandextendedherhandsoverthedraweroflinen。

"Oh，God！"shesaid，"Iamsoglad！IdonotknowwhatIhavedonethatI

shouldbesoglad。Thankyou！"

Chapter2。IV。Lyndall。

Shewasmorelikeaprincess，yes，farmorelikeaprincess，thantheladywhostillhungonthewallinTantSannie’sbedroom。SoEmthought。Sheleanedbackinthelittlearmchair；sheworeagreydressing—gown，andherlonghairwascombedoutandhungtotheground。Em，sittingbeforeher，lookedupwithmingledrespectandadmiration。

Lyndallwastiredafterherlongjourney，andhadcometoherroomearly。

Hereyesranoverthefamiliarobjects。Strangetogoawayforfouryears，andcomeback，andfindthatthecandlestandingonthedressing—tablestillcasttheshadowofanoldcrone’sheadinthecornerbeyondtheclothes—horse。Strangethatevenashadowshouldlastlongerthanaman！

Shelookedaboutamongtheoldfamiliarobjects；allwasthere，buttheoldselfwasgone。

"Whatareyounoticing？"askedEm。

"Nothingandeverything。Ithoughtthewindowswerehigher。IfIwereyou，whenIgetthisplaceIshouldraisethewalls。Thereisnotroomtobreathehere。Onesuffocates。"

"Gregoryisgoingtomakemanyalterations，"saidEm；anddrawingnearertothegreydressing—gownrespectfully。"Doyoulikehim，Lyndall？Ishenothandsome？"

"Hemusthavebeenafinebaby，"saidLyndall，lookingatthewhitedimitycurtainthathungabovethewindow。

Emwaspuzzled。

"Therearesomemen，"saidLyndall，"whomyounevercanbelievewerebabiesatall；andothersyouneverseewithoutthinkinghowverynicetheymusthavelookedwhentheyworesocksandpinksashes。"

Emremainedsilent；thenshesaidwithalittledignity，"WhenyouknowhimyouwilllovehimasIdo。WhenIcompareotherpeoplewithhim，theyseemsoweakandlittle。Ourheartsaresocold，ourlovesaremixedupwithsomanyotherthings。Buthe——nooneisworthyofhislove。Iamnot。Itissogreatandpure。"

"Youneednotmakeyourselfunhappyonthatpoint——yourpoorreturnforhislove，mydear，"saidLyndall。"Aman’sloveisafireofolive—wood。Itleapshighereverymoment；itroars，itblazes，itshootsoutredflames；

itthreatenstowrapyouroundanddevouryou——youwhostandbylikeanicicleintheglowofitsfiercewarmth。Youareself—reproachedatyourownchillinessandwantofreciprocity。Thenextday，whenyougotowarmyourhandsalittle，youfindafewashes！’Tisalongloveandcoolagainstashortloveandhot；men，atallevents，havenothingtocomplainof。"

"Youspeaksobecauseyoudonotknowmen，"saidEm，instantlyassumingthedignityofsuperiorknowledgesouniversallyaffectedbyaffiancedandmarriedwomenindiscussingman’snaturewiththeiruncontractedsisters。

"Youwillknowthemtoosomeday，andthenyouwillthinkdifferently，"

saidEm，withthecondescendingmagnanimitywhichsuperiorknowledgecanalwaysaffordtoshowtoignorance。

Lyndall’slittlelipquiveredinamannerindicativeofintenseamusement。

Shetwirledamassiveringuponherforefinger——aringmoresuitableforthehandofaman，andnoticeableindesign——adiamondcrossletintogold，withtheinitials"R。R。"belowit。

"Ah，Lyndall，"Emcried，"perhapsyouareengagedyourself——thatiswhyyousmile。Yes；Iamsureyouare。Lookatthisring！"

Lyndalldrewthehandquicklyfromher。

"Iamnotinsogreatahurrytoputmyneckbeneathanyman’sfoot；andI

donotsogreatlyadmirethecryingofbabies，"shesaid，assheclosedhereyeshalfwearilyandleanedbackinthechair。"Thereareotherwomengladofsuchwork。"

Emfeltrebukedandashamed。HowcouldshetakeLyndallandshowherthewhitelinenandthewreath，andtheembroidery？Shewasquietforalittlewhile，andthenbegantotalkaboutTranaandtheoldfarm—servants，tillshesawhercompanionwasweary；thensheroseandleftherforthenight。

ButafterEmwasgoneLyndallsaton，watchingtheoldcrone’sfaceinthecorner，andwithawearylook，asthoughthewholeworld’sweightrestedonthesefrailyoungshoulders。

Thenextmorning，Waldo，startingoffbeforebreakfastwithabagofmealiesslungoverhisshouldertofeedtheostriches，heardalightstepbehindhim。

"Waitforme；Iamcomingwithyou，"saidLyndall，addingasshecameuptohim，"ifIhadnotgonetolookforyouyesterdayyouwouldnothavecometogreetmetillnow。Doyounotlikemeanylonger，Waldo？"

"Yes——but——youarechanged。"

Itwastheoldclumsy，hesitatingmodeofspeech。

"Youlikethepinaforesbetter？"shesaidquickly。Sheworeadressofasimplecottonfabric，butveryfashionablymade，andonherheadwasabroadwhitehat。ToWaldosheseemedsuperblyattired。Shesawit。"Mydresshaschangedalittle，"shesaid，"andIalso；butnottoyou。Hangthebagoveryourothershoulder，thatImayseeyourface。Yousaysolittlethatifonedoesnotlookatyouyouareanuncomprehendedcipher。

Waldochangedthebag，andtheywalkedonsidebyside。"Youhaveimproved，"shesaid。"DoyouknowthatIhavesometimeswishedtoseeyouwhileIwasaway；notoften，butstillsometimes。"

Theywereatthegateofthefirstcampnow。Waldothrewoverabagofmealies，andtheywalkedonoverthedewyground。

"Haveyoulearntmuch？"heaskedhersimply，rememberinghowshehadoncesaid，"WhenIcomebackagainIshallknoweverythingthatahumanbeingcan。"

Shelaughed。

"Areyouthinkingofmyoldboast？Yes；Ihavelearntsomething，thoughhardlywhatIexpected，andnotquitesomuch。Inthefirstplace，Ihavelearntthatoneofmyancestorsmusthavebeenaverygreatfool；fortheysaynothingcomesoutinamanbutoneofhisforefatherspossesseditbeforehim。Inthesecondplace，Ihavediscoveredthatofallcursedplacesunderthesun，wherethehungriestsoulcanhardlypickupafewgrainsofknowledge，agirls’boarding—schoolistheworst。Theyarecalledfinishingschools，andthenametellsaccuratelywhattheyare。

Theyfinisheverythingbutimbecilityandweakness，andthattheycultivate。Theyarenicelyadaptedmachinesforexperimentingonthequestion，’Intohowlittlespaceahumansoulcanbecrushed？’Ihaveseensomesoulssocompressedthattheywouldhavefittedintoasmallthimble，andfoundroomtomovethere——wideroom。Awomanwhohasbeenformanyyearsinoneofthoseplacescarriesthemarkofthebeastonhertillshedies，thoughshemayexpandalittleafterward，whenshebreathesinthefreeworld。"

"Wereyoumiserable？"heasked，lookingatherwithquickanxiety。

"I？——no。Iamnevermiserableandneverhappy。IwishIwere。ButI

shouldhaverunawayfromtheplaceonthefourthday，andhiredmyselftothefirstBoer—womanwhosefarmIcameto，tomakefireunderhersoap—pot，ifIhadtoliveastherestofthedrovedid。Canyouformanidea，Waldo，ofwhatitmustbetobeshutupwithcacklingoldwomen，whoarewithoutknowledgeoflife，withoutloveofthebeautiful，withoutstrength，tohaveyoursoulculturedbythem？Itissuffocationonlytobreathetheairtheybreathe；butImadethemgivemeroom。ItoldthemIshouldleave，andtheyknewIcamethereonmyownaccount；sotheygavemeabedroomwithoutthecompanionshipofoneofthosethingsthatwerehavingtheirbrainsslowlydilutedandsqueezedoutofthem。Ididnotlearnmusic，becauseIhadnotalent；andwhenthedrovemadecushions，andhideousflowersthattheroseslaughat，andafootstoolinsixweeksthatamachinewouldhavemadebetterinfiveminutes，Iwenttomyroom。WiththemoneysavedfromsuchworkIboughtbooksandnewspapers，andatnightIsatup。Iread，andepitomizedwhatIread；andIfoundtimetowritesomeplays，andfindouthowharditistomakeyourthoughtslookanythingbutimbecilefoolswhenyoupaintthemwithinkandpaper。IntheholidaysIlearntagreatdealmore。Imadeacquaintances，sawafewplacesandmanypeople，andsomedifferentwaysofliving，whichismorethananybookscanshowone。Onthewhole，Iamnotdissatisfiedwithmyfouryears。IhavenotlearntwhatIexpected；butIhavelearntsomethingelse。Whathaveyoubeendoing？"

"Nothing。"

"Thatisnotpossible。Ishallfindoutbyandby。"

Theystillsteppedonsidebysideoverthedewybushes。Thensuddenlysheturnedonhim。

"Don’tyouwishyouwereawoman，Waldo？"

"No，"heansweredreadily。

Shelaughed。

"Ithoughtnot。Evenyouaretooworldly—wiseforthat。Inevermetamanwhodid。Thisisaprettyring，"shesaid，holdingoutherlittlehand，thatthemorningsunmightmakethediamondssparkle。"Worthfiftypoundsatleast。Iwillgiveittothefirstmanwhotellsmehewouldliketobeawoman。TheremightbeoneonRobbinIsland（lunaticsattheCapearesenttoRobbinIsland）whowouldwinitperhaps，butIdoubtiteventhere。

Itisdelightfultobeawoman；buteverymanthankstheLorddevoutlythatheisn’tone。"

Shedrewherhattoonesidetokeepthesunoutofhereyesasshewalked。

Waldolookedathersointentlythathestumbledoverthebushes。Yes，thiswashislittleLyndallwhohadwornthecheckpinafores；hesawitnow，andhewalkedcloserbesideher。Theyreachedthenextcamp。

"Letuswaitatthiscampandwatchthebirds，"shesaid，asanostrichhencameboundingtowardthemwithvelvetywingsoutstretched，whilefarawayoverthebushestheheadofthecockwasvisibleashesatbroodingontheeggs。

Lyndallfoldedherarmsonthegatebar，andWaldothrewhisemptybagonthewallandleanedbesideher。

"Ilikethesebirds，"shesaid；"theyshareeachother’swork，andarecompanions。Doyoutakeaninterestinthepositionofwomen，Waldo？"

"No。"

"Ithoughtnot。Noonedoes，unlesstheyareinneedofasubjectuponwhichtoshowtheirwit。Andasforyou，fromofoldyoucanseenothingthatisnotseparatedfromyoubyafewmillionsofmiles，andstrewedoverwithmystery。IfwomenweretheinhabitantsofJupiter，ofwhomyouhadhappenedtohearsomething，youwouldporeoverusandourconditionnightandday；butbecausewearebeforeyoureyesyouneverlookatus。Youcarenothingthatthisisraggedandugly，"shesaid，puttingherlittlefingeronhissleeve；"butyoustrivemightilytomakeanimaginaryleafonanoldstickbeautiful。I’msorryyoudon’tcareforthepositionofwomen；Ishouldhavelikedustobefriends；anditistheonlythingaboutwhichIthinkmuchorfeelmuch——if，indeed，Ihaveanyfeelingaboutanything，"sheadded，flippantly，readjustingherdaintylittlearms。

"WhenIwasababy，Ifancymyparentsleftmeoutinthefrostonenight，andIgotnippedinternally——itfeelsso！"

"Ihaveonlyafewoldthoughts，"hesaid，"andIthinkthemoverandoveragain；alwaysbeginningwhereIleftoff。Inevergetanyfurther。Iamwearyofthem。"

"Likeanoldhenthatsitsonitseggsmonthaftermonthandtheynevercomeout？"shesaidquickly。"Iamsopressedinuponbynewthingsthat，lesttheyshouldtriponeanotherup，Ihavetokeepforcingthemback。Myheadswingssometimes。Butthisonethoughtstands，nevergoes——ifImightbutbeoneoftheseborninthefuture；then，perhaps，tobebornawomanwillnotbetobebornbranded。"

Waldolookedather。Itwashardtosaywhethershewereinearnestormocking。

"Iknowitisfoolish。Wisdomneverkicksattheironwallsitcan’tbringdown，"shesaid。"Butwearecursed。Waldo，borncursedfromthetimeourmothersbringusintotheworldtilltheshroudsareputonus。DonotlookatmeasthoughIweretalkingnonsense。Everythinghastwosides——

theoutsidethatisridiculous，andtheinsidethatissolemn。"

"Iamnotlaughing，"saidtheboy，sedatelyenough；"butwhatcursesyou？"

Hethoughtshewouldnotreplytohim，shewaitedsolong。

"Itisnotwhatisdonetous，butwhatismadeofus，"shesaidatlast，"thatwrongsus。Nomancanbereallyinjuredbutbywhatmodifieshimself。Weallentertheworldlittleplasticbeings，withsomuchnaturalforce，perhaps，butfortherest——blank；andtheworldtellsuswhatwearetobe，andshapesusbytheendsitsetsbeforeus。Toyouitsays——"Work；"andtousitsays——"Seem！"Toyouitsays——Asyouapproximatetoman’shighestidealofGod，asyourarmisstrongandyourknowledgegreat，andthepowertolabouriswithyou，soyoushallgainallthathumanheartdesires。Tousitsays——Strengthshallnothelpyou，norknowledge，norlabour。Youshallgainwhatmengain，butbyothermeans。

Andsotheworldmakesmenandwomen。

"Lookatthislittlechinofmine，Waldo，withthedimpleinit。Itisbutasmallpartofmyperson；butthoughIhadaknowledgeofallthingsunderthesun，andthewisdomtouseit，andthedeeplovingheartofanangel，itwouldnotsteadmethroughlifelikethislittlechin。Icanwinmoneywithit，Icanwinlove；Icanwinpowerwithit，Icanwinfame。Whatwouldknowledgehelpme？Thelessawomanhasinherheadthelightersheisforclimbing。Ionceheardanoldmansay，thatheneversawintellecthelpawomansomuchasaprettyankle；anditwasthetruth。Theybegintoshapeustoourcursedend，"shesaid，withherlipsdrawnintolookasthoughtheysmiled，"whenwearetinythingsinshoesandsocks。Wesitwithourlittlefeetdrawnupunderusinthewindow，andlookoutattheboysintheirhappyplay。Wewanttogo。Thenalovinghandislaidonus：’Littleone，youcannotgo，’theysay，’yourlittlefacewillburn，andyournicewhitedressbespoiled。’Wefeelitmustbeforourgood，itissolovinglysaid：butwecannotunderstand；andwekneelstillwithonelittlecheekwistfullypressedagainstthepane。Afterwardswegoandthreadbluebeads，andmakeastringforourneck；andwegoandstandbeforetheglass。Weseethecomplexionwewerenottospoil，andthewhitefrock，andwelookintoourowngreateyes。Thenthecursebeginstoactonus。Itfinishesitsworkwhenwearegrownwomen，whonomorelookoutwistfullyatamorehealthylife；wearecontented。WefitoursphereasaChinesewoman’sfootfitshershoe，exactly，asthoughGodhadmadeboth——andyetheknowsnothingofeither。Insomeofustheshapingofourendhasbeenquitecompleted。Thepartswearenottousehavebeenquiteatrophied，andhaveevendroppedoff；butinothers，andwearenotlesstobepitied，theyhavebeenweakenedandleft。Wewearthebandages，butourlimbshavenotgrowntothem；weknowthatwearecompressed，andchafeagainstthem。

"Butwhatdoesithelp？Alittlebitterness，alittlelongingwhenweareyoung，alittlefutilesearchingforwork，alittlepassionatestrivingforroomfortheexerciseofourpowers，——andthenwegowiththedrove。A

womanmustmarchwithherregiment。Intheendshemustbetroddendownorgowithit；andifsheiswiseshegoes。

"Iseeinyourgreateyeswhatyouarethinking，"shesaid，glancingathim；"IalwaysknowwhatthepersonIamtalkingtoisthinkingof。HowisthiswomanwhomakessuchafussworseoffthanI？Iwillshowyoubyaverylittleexample。Westandhereatthisgatethismorning，bothpoor，bothyoung，bothfriendless；thereisnotmuchtochoosebetweenus。Letusturnawayjustasweare，tomakeourwayinlife。Thiseveningyouwillcometoafarmer’shouse。Thefarmer，albeityoucomealoneonfoot，willgiveyouapipeoftobaccoandacupofcoffeeandabed。Ifhehasnodamtobuildandnochildtoteach，tomorrowyoucangoonyourway，withafriendlygreetingofthehand。I，ifIcometothesameplacetonight，willhavestrangequestionsaskedme，strangeglancescastonme。

TheBoer—wifewillshakeherheadandgivemefoodtoeatwiththeKaffers，andarighttosleepwiththedogs。Thatwouldbethefirststepinourprogress——averylittleone，buteverysteptotheendwouldrepeatit。Wewereequalsoncewhenwelaynew—bornbabesonournurses’knees。Wewillbeequalsagainwhentheytieupourjawsforthelastsleep！"

Waldolookedinwonderatthelittlequiveringface；itwasaglimpseintoaworldofpassionandfeelingwhollynewtohim。

"Markyou，"shesaid，"wehavealwaysthisadvantageoveryou——wecanatanytimestepintoeaseandcompetence，whereyoumustlabourpatientlyforit。Alittleweeping，alittlewheedling，alittleself—degradation，alittlecarefuluseofouradvantages，andthensomemanwillsay："Come，bemywife！"Withgoodlooksandyouthmarriageiseasytoattain。Therearemenenough；butawomanwhohassoldherself，evenforaringandanewname，needholdherskirtasidefornocreatureinthestreet。Theybothearntheirbreadinoneway。Marriageforloveisthebeautifulestexternalsymboloftheunionofsouls；marriagewithoutitistheuncleanliesttrafficthatdefilestheworld。"Sheranherlittlefingersavagelyalongthetopmostbar，shakingoffthedozenlittledewdropsthatstillhungthere。"Andtheytelluswehavemen’schivalrousattention！"