第19章

"Whenyouhavethreewagonstolookafterallnight，youaresometimessotiredyoucanhardlystand。AtfirstwhenIwalkedalongdrivingmywagonsinthenightitwasglorious；thestarshadneverlookedsobeautifultome；andonthedarknightswhenwerodethroughthebushtherewerewill—

o’—the—wispsdancingoneachsideoftheroad。Ifoundoutthateventhedampanddarkarebeautiful。ButIsoonchanged，andsawnothingbuttheroadandmyoxen。Ionlywishedforasmoothpieceofroad，sothatI

mightsitatthefrontanddoze。Attheplaceswhereweoutspannedthereweresometimesrareplantsandflowers，thefestoonshangingfromthebush—

trees，andnutsandinsects，suchasweneverseehere；butafteralittlewhileIneverlookedatthem——Iwastootired。

"IateasmuchasIcould，andthenlaydownonmyfaceunderthewagontilltheboycametowakemetoinspan，andthenwedroveonagainallnight；soitwent，soitwent。IthinksometimeswhenIwalkedbymyoxenIcalledtotheminmysleep，forIknowIthoughtofnothing；Iwaslikeananimal。Mybodywasstrongandwelltowork，butmybrainwasdead。Ifyouhavenotfeltit，Lyndall，youcannotunderstandit。Youmaywork，andwork，andwork，tillyouareonlyabody，notasoul。Now，whenIseeoneofthoseevil—lookingmenthatcomefromEurope——navvies，withthebeast—

like，sunkenface，differentfromanyKaffer’s——Iknowwhatbroughtthatlookintotheireyes；andifIhaveonlyoneinchoftobaccoIgivethemhalf。Itiswork，grinding，mechanicalwork，thattheyortheirancestorshavedone，thathasmadethemintobeasts。Youmayworkaman’sbodysothathissouldies。Workisgood。Ihaveworkedattheoldfarmfromthesun’srisingtillitssetting，butIhavehadtimetothink，andtimetofeel。Youmayworkamansothatallbuttheanimalinhimisgone；andthatgrowsstrongerwithphysicallabour。

"Youmayworkamantillheisadevil。Iknowit，becauseIhavefeltit。

Youwillneverunderstandthechangethatcameoverme。NoonebutIwilleverknowhowgreatitwas。ButIwasnevermiserable；whenIcouldkeepmyoxenfromstickingfast，andwhenIcouldfindaplacetoliedownin，I

hadallIwanted。AfterIhaddriveneightmonthsarainyseasoncame。

Foreighteenhoursoutofthetwenty—fourweworkedinthewet。Themudwentuptotheaxlessometimes，andwehadtodigthewheelsout，andweneverwentfarinaday。Mymastersworeatmemorethanever，butwhenhehaddonehealwaysofferedmehisbrandy—flask。WhenIfirstcamehehadoffereditme，andIhadalwaysrefused；butnowIdrankasmyoxendidwhenIgavethemwater——withoutthinking。AtlastIboughtbrandyformyselfwheneverwepassedanhotel。

"OneSundayweoutspannedonthebanksofaswollenrivertowaitforitsgoingdown。Itwasdrizzlingstill，soIlayunderthewagononthemud。

Therewasnodryplaceanywhere；andallthedungwaswet，sotherewasnofiretocookfood。Mylittleflaskwasfilledwithbrandy，andIdranksomeandwenttosleep。WhenIwokeitwasdrizzlingstill，soIdranksomemore。Iwasstiffandcold；andmymaster，wholaybyme，offeredmehisflask，becauseminewasempty。Idranksome，andthenIthoughtI

wouldgoandseeiftheriverwasgoingdown。IrememberthatIwalkedtotheroad，anditseemedtobegoingawayfromme。WhenIwokeupIwaslyingbyalittlebushonthebankoftheriver。Itwasafternoon；allthecloudshadgone，andtheskywasdeepblue。TheBushmanboywasgrillingribsatthefire。Helookedatmeandgrinnedfromeartoear。’Masterwasalittlenice，’hesaid，’andlaydownintheroad。Somethingmightrideovermaster，soIcarriedhimthere。’Hegrinnedatmeagain。Itwasasthoughhesaid，’YouandIarecomrades。Ihavelaininaroad，too。I

knowallaboutit。’

"WhenIturnedmyheadfromhimIsawtheearth，sopureaftertherain，sogreen，sofresh，soblue；andIwasadrunkencarrier，whomhisleaderhadpickedupinthemud，andlaidattheroadsidetosleepouthisdrink。I

remembermyoldlife，andIrememberyou。Isawhow，oneday，youwouldreadinthepapers：’AGermancarrier，namedWaldoFarber，waskilledthroughfallingfromhiswagon，beinginstantlycrushedunderthewheel。

Deceasedwassupposedtohavebeendrunkatthetimeoftheaccident。’

Therearethosenoticesinthepapereverymonth。Isatup，andItookthebrandy—flaskoutofmypocket，andIflungitasfarasIcouldintothedarkwater。TheHottentotboyrandowntoseeifhecouldcatchit；ithadsunktothebottom。Ineverdrankagain。But，Lyndall，sinlooksmuchmoreterribletothosewholookatitthantothosewhodoit。Aconvict，oramanwhodrinks，seemssomethingsofaroffandhorriblewhenweseehim；buttohimselfheseemsquiteneartous，andlikeus。Wewonderwhatkindofacreatureheis；butheisjustwe，ourselves。Weareonlythewood，theknifethatcarvesonusisthecircumstance。

"IdonotknowwhyIkeptonworkingsohardforthatmaster。Ithinkitwasastheoxencomeeverydayandstandbytheyokes；theydonotknowwhy。PerhapsIwouldhavebeenwithhimstill；butonedaywestartedwithloadsfortheDiamondFields。Theoxenwereverythinnow，andtheyhadbeenstandingaboutintheyokealldaywithoutfood，whilethewagonswerebeingloaded。Notfarfromthetownwasahill。Whenwecametothefootthefirstwagonstuckfast。Itriedforalittlewhiletourgetheoxen，butIsoonsawtheonespancouldneverpullitup。Iwenttotheotherwagontoloosenthatspantojointhemoninfront，butthetransport—

rider，whowaslyingatthebackofthewagon，jumpedout。

"’Theyshallbringitupthehill；andifhalfofthemdieforittheyshalldoitalone，’hesaid。

"Hewasnotdrunk，butinbadtemper，forhehadbeendrunkthenightbefore。Hesworeatme，andtoldmetotakethewhipandhelphim。Wetriedforalittletime，thenItoldhimitwasnouse，theycouldneverdoit。Hesworelouderandcalledtotheleaderstocomeonwiththeirwhips，andtogethertheylashed。Therewasoneox，ablackox，sothinthattheridgeofhisbackbonealmostcutthroughhisflesh。

"’Itisyou，devil，isit，thatwillnotpull？’thetransport—ridersaid。

’Iwillshowyousomething。’Helookedlikeadevil。

"Hetoldtheboystoleaveoffflogging，andheheldtheoxbythehorn，andtookuparoundstoneandknockeditsnosewithittillthebloodcame。

Whenhehaddonetheycalledtotheoxenandtookuptheirwhipsagain，andtheoxenstrainedwiththeirbacksbent，butthewagondidnotmoveaninch。

"’Soyouwon’t，won’tyou？’hesaid。I’llhelpyou。’

"Hetookouthisclasp—knife，andranitintothelegofthetremblingoxthreetimes，uptothehilt。Thenheputtheknifeinhispocket，andtheytooktheirwhips。Theoxen’sflanksquivered，andtheyfoamedatthemouth。Straining，theymovedthewagonafewfeetforward，thenstoodwithbentbackstokeepitfromslidingback。Fromtheblackox’snostrilsfoamandbloodwerestreamingontotheground。Itturneditsheadinitsanguishandlookedatmewithitsgreatstartingeyes。Itwasprayingforhelpinitsagonyandweakness，andtheytooktheirwhipsagain。Thecreaturebellowedaloud。IfthereisaGod，itwascallingtoitsMakerforhelp。Thenastreamofclearbloodburstfrombothnostrils；itfellontotheground，andthewagonslippedback。Themanwalkeduptoit。

"’Youaregoingtoliedown，devil，areyou？We’llseeyoudon’ttakeittooeasy。’

"Thethingwasjustdying。Heopenedhisclasp—knifeandstoopeddownoverit。IdonotknowwhatIdidthen。ButafterwardIknowIhadhimonthestones，andIwaskneelingonhim。Theboysdraggedmeoff。Iwishtheyhadnot。Ilefthimstandinginthesandintheroad，shakinghimself，andIwalkedbacktothetown。Itooknothingfromthataccursedwagon，soI

hadonlytwoshillings。Butitdidnotmatter。ThenextdayIgotworkatawholesalestore。Myworkwastopackandunpackgoods，andtocarryboxes，andIhadtoworkfromsixinthemorningtosixintheevening；soIhadplentyoftime。

"Ihiredalittleroom，andsubscribedtoalibrary，soIhadeverythingI

needed；andintheweekofChristmasholidaysIwenttoseethesea。I

walkedallnight，Lyndall，toescapetheheat，andalittleaftersunriseI

gottothetopofahighhill。Beforemewasalong，low，blue，monotonousmountain。Iwalkedlookingatit，butIwasthinkingoftheseaIwantedtosee。AtlastIwonderedwhatthatcuriousbluethingmightbe；thenitstruckmeitwasthesea！Iwouldhaveturnedbackagain，onlyIwastootired。Iwonderifallthethingswelongtosee——thechurches，thepictures，themeninEurope——willdisappointusso！YouseeIhaddreamedofitsolong。WhenIwasalittleboy，mindingsheepbehindthekopje，I

usedtoseethewavesstretchingoutasfarastheeyecouldreachinthesunlight。Mysea！Istheideaalwaysmorebeautifulthanthereal？

"Igottothebeachthatafternoon，andIsawthewaterrunupanddownonthesand，andIsawthewhitefoambreakers；theywerepretty，butI

thoughtIwouldgobackthenextday。Itwasnotmysea。

"ButIbegantolikeitwhenIsatbyitthatnightinthemoonlight；andthenextdayIlikeditbetter；andbeforeIleftIlovedit。Itwasnotliketheskyandstars，thattalkofwhathasnobeginningandnoend；butitissohuman。OfallthethingsIhaveeverseen，onlytheseaislikeahumanbeing；theskyisnot，northeearth。Buttheseaisalwaysmoving，alwayssomethingdeepinitselfisstirringit。Itneverrests。Itisalwayswanting，wanting，wanting。Ithurrieson；andthenitcreepsbackslowlywithouthavingreached，moaning。Itisalwaysaskingaquestion，anditnevergetstheanswer。Icanhearitinthedayandinthenight；

thewhitefoambreakersaresayingthatwhichIthink。Iwalkalonewiththemwhenthereisnoonetoseeme，andIsingwiththem。Iliedownonthesandandwatchthemwithmyeyeshalfshut。Theskyisbetter，butitissohighaboveourheads。Ilovethesea。Sometimeswemustlookdowntoo。AfterfivedaysIwentbacktoGrahamstown。

"Ihadgloriousbooks，andinthenightIcouldsitinmylittleroomandreadthem；butIwaslonely。Booksarenotthesamethingswhenyouarelivingamongpeople。Icannottellwhy，buttheyaredead。Onthefarmtheywouldhavebeenlivingbeingstome；buthere，wherethereweresomanypeopleaboutme，Iwantedsomeonetobelongtome。Iwaslonely。I

wantedsomethingthatwasfleshandblood。Onceonthisfarmtherecameastranger；Ididnotaskhisname，buthesatamongthekarooandtalkedwithme。Now，whereverIhavetravelledIhavelookedforhim——inhotels，instreets，inpassengerwagonsastheyrushedin，throughtheopenwindowsofhousesIhavelookedforhim，butIhavenotfoundhim——neverheardavoicelikehis。OnedayIwenttotheBotanicGardens。Itwasahalf—

holiday，andthebandwastoplay。Istoodinthelongraisedavenueandlookeddown。Thereweremanyflowers，andladiesandchildrenwerewalkingaboutbeautifullydressed。Atlastthemusicbegan。Ihadnotheardsuchmusicbefore。

"Atfirstitwasslowandeven，liketheeverydaylife，whenwewalkthroughitwithoutthoughtorfeeling；thenitgrewfaster，thenitpaused，hesitated，thenitwasquitestillforaninstant，andthenitburstout。

Lyndall，theymadeheavenrightwhentheymadeitallmusic。Ittakesyouupandcarriesyouaway，away，tillyouhavethethingsyoulongedfor，youareupclosetothem。Youhavegotoutintoalarge，free，openplace。I

couldnotseeanythingwhileitwasplaying；Istoodwithmyheadagainstmytree；but，whenitwasdone，Isawthattherewereladiessittingclosetomeonawoodenbench，andthestrangerwhohadtalkedtomethatdayinthekaroowassittingbetweenthem。Theladieswereverypretty，andtheirdressesbeautiful。Idonotthinktheyhadbeenlisteningtothemusic，fortheyweretalkingandlaughingverysoftly。Iheardalltheysaid，andcouldevensmelltheroseonthebreastofone。Iwasafraidhewouldseeme；soIwenttotheothersideofthetree，andsoontheygotupandbegantopaceupanddownintheavenue。

"Allthetimethemusicplayedtheychatted，andhecarriedonhisarmthescarfoftheprettiestlady。Ididnothearthemusic；Itriedtocatchthesoundofhisvoiceeachtimehewentby。WhenIwaslisteningtothemusicIdidnotknowIwasbadlydressed；nowIfeltsoashamedofmyself。

Ineverknewbeforewhatalow，horriblethingIwas，dressedintancord。

Thatdayonthefarm，whenwesatonthegroundunderthethorn—trees，I

thoughthequitebelongedtome；now，Isawhewasnotmine。Buthewasstillasbeautiful。Hisbrowneyesaremorebeautifulthananyone’seyes，exceptyours。

"Atlasttheyturnedtogo，andIwalkedafterthem。Whentheygotoutofthegatehehelpedtheladiesintoaphaeton，andstoodforamomentwithhisfootonthesteptalkingtothem。Hehadalittlecaneinhishand，andanItaliangreyhoundranafterhim。Justwhentheydroveawayoneoftheladiesdroppedherwhip。

"’Pickitup，fellow，’shesaid；andwhenIbroughtithershethrewsixpenceontheground。Imighthavegonebacktothegardenthen；butI

didnotwantmusic；Iwantedclothes，andtobefashionableandfine。I

feltthatmyhandswerecoarse，andthatIwasvulgar。Inevertriedtoseehimagain。

"Istayedinmysituationfourmonthsafterthat，butIwasnothappy。I

hadnorest。Thepeopleaboutmepressedonme，andmademedissatisfied。

Icouldnotforgetthem。EvenwhenIdidnotseethemtheypressedonme，andmadememiserable。Ididnotlovebooks；Iwantedpeople。WhenI

walkedhomeundertheshadytreesinthestreetIcouldnotbehappy，forwhenIpassedthehousesIheardmusic，andsawfacesbetweenthecurtains。

Ididnotwantanyofthem，butIwantedsomeoneformine，forme。I

couldnothelpit。Iwantedafinerlife。

"Onlyonedaysomethingmademehappy。Anursecametothestorewithalittlegirlbelongingtooneofourclerks。Whilethemaidwentintotheofficetogiveamessagetoitsfather，thelittlechildstoodlookingatme。Presentlyshecameclosetomeandpeepedupintomyface。

"’Nicecurls，prettycurls，’shesaid；’Ilikecurls。’

"Shefeltmyhairallover，withherlittlehands。WhenIputoutmyarmsheletmetakeherandsitheronmyknee。Shekissedmewithhersoftmouth。Wewerehappytillthenurse—girlcameandshookher，andaskedherifshewasnotashamedtositonthekneeofthatstrangeman。ButIdonotthinkmylittleoneminded。Shelaughedatmeasshewentout。

"IftheworldwasallchildrenIcouldlikeit；butmenandwomendrawmesostrangely，andthenpressmeaway，tillIaminagony。Iwasnotmeanttoliveamongpeople。Perhapssomeday，whenIamgrownolder，IwillbeabletogoandliveamongthemandlookatthemasIlookattherocks，andbushes，withoutlettingthemdisturbme，andtakemyselffromme；butnotnow。SoIgrewmiserable；akindoffeverseemedtoeatme；Icouldnotrest，orread，orthink；soIcamebackhere。IknewyouwerenotherebutitseemedasthoughIshouldbeneareryou；anditisyouIwant——youthattheotherpeoplesuggesttome，butcannotgive。"

Hehadfilledallthesheetshehadtaken，andnowlifteddownthelastfromthemantelpiece。Emhaddroppedasleep，andlayslumberingpeacefullyontheskinbeforethefire。Outofdoorsthestormstillraged；butinafitfulmanner，asthoughgrowinghalfwearyofitself。Hebentoverhispaperagain，witheagerflushedcheek，andwroteon。

"Ithasbeenadelightfuljourney，thisjourneyhome。Ihavewalkedonfoot。Theeveningbeforelast，whenitwasjustsunset，Iwasalittlefootsoreandthirsty，andwentoutoftheroadtolookforwater。Iwentdownintoadeeplittlekloof。Sometreesranalongthebottom，andI

thoughtIshouldfindwaterthere。ThesunhadquitesetwhenIgottothebottomofit。Itwasverystill——notaleafwasstirringanywhere。InthebedofthemountaintorrentIthoughtImightfindwater。Icametothebank，andleapeddownintothedrybed。TheflooronwhichIstoodwasoffinewhitesand，andthebanksroseoneverysidelikethewallsofaroom。

"Abovetherewasaprecipiceofrocks，andatinystreamofwateroozedfromthemandfellslowlyontotheflatstonebelow。Eachdropyoucouldhearfalllikealittlesilverbell。Therewasoneamongthetreesonthebankthatstoodcutoutagainstthewhitesky。Alltheothertreesweresilent；butthisoneshookandtrembledagainstthesky。Everythingelsewasstill；butthoseleaveswerequivering，quivering。Istoodonthesand；Icouldnotgoaway。Whenitwasquitedark，andthestarshadcome，Icreptout。Doesitseemstrangetoyouthatitshouldhavemademesohappy？ItisbecauseIcannottellyouhownearIfelttothingsthatwecannotseebutwealwaysfeel。Tonighthasbeenawild，stormynight。I

havebeenwalkingacrosstheplainforhoursinthedark。Ihavelikedthewind，becauseIhaveseemedforcingmywaythroughtoyou。Iknewyouwerenothere，butIwouldhearofyou。WhenIusedtositonthetransportwagonhalf—sleeping，Iusedtostartawakebecauseyourhandswereonme。

Inmylodgings，manynightsIhaveblownthelightout，andsatinthedark，thatImightseeyourfacestartoutmoredistinctly。Sometimesitwasthelittlegirl’sfacewhousedtocometomebehindthekopjewhenI

mindedsheep，andsitbymeinherbluepinafore；sometimesitwasolder。

Iloveboth。Iamveryhelpless；Ishallneverdoanything；butyouwillwork，andIwilltakeyourworkformine。SometimessuchasuddengladnessseizesmewhenIrememberthatsomewhereintheworldyouarelivingandworking。Youaremyveryown；nothingelseismyownso。WhenIhavefinishedIamgoingtolookatyourroomdoor——"

Hewrote；andthewind，whichhadspentitsfury，moanedroundandroundthehouse，mostlikeatiredchildwearywithcrying。

Emwokeup，andsatbeforethefire，rubbinghereyes，andlistening，asitsobbedaboutthegables，andwanderedawayoverthelongstonewalls。

"Howquietithasgrownnow，"shesaid，andsighedherself，partlyfromwearinessandpartlyfromsympathywiththetiredwind。Hedidnotanswerher；hewaslostinhisletter。

Sheroseslowlyafteratime，andrestedherhandonhisshoulder。

"Youhavemanyletterstowrite，"shesaid。

"No，"heanswered；"itisonlyonetoLyndall。"

Sheturnedaway，andstoodlongbeforethefirelookingintoit。Ifyouhaveadeadlyfruittogive，itwillnotgrowsweeterbykeeping。

"Waldo，dear，"shesaid，puttingherhandonhis，"leaveoffwriting。"

Hethrewbackthedarkhairfromhisforeheadandlookedather。

"Itisnousewritinganymore，"shesaid。

"Whynot？"heasked。

Sheputherhandoverthepapershehadwritten。

"Waldo，"shesaid，"Lyndallisdead。"

Chapter2。XII。Gregory’sWomanhood。

Slowlyovertheflatcameacart。OnthebackseatsatGregory，hisarmsfolded，hishatdrawnoverhiseyes。AKafferboysatonthefrontseatdriving，andathisfeetsatDoss，who，nowandagain，liftedhisnoseandeyesabovethelevelofthesplashboard，tolookatthesurroundingcountry；andthen，withanexceedinglyknowingwinkofhislefteye，turnedtohiscompanions，therebyintimatingthatheclearlyperceivedhiswhereabouts。Noonenoticedthecartcoming。Waldo，whowasatworkathiscarpenter’stableinthewagon—house，sawnothing，tillchancingtolookdownheperceivedDossstandingbeforehim，thelegstrembling，thelittlenosewrinkled，andaseriesofshortsuffocatingbarksgivingutterancetohisjoyatreunion。

Em，whoseeyeshadachedwithlookingoutacrosstheplain，wasnowatworkinabackroom，andknewnothingtill，lookingup，shesawGregory，withhisstrawhatandblueeyes，standinginthedoorway。Hegreetedherquietly，hunghishatupinitsoldplacebehindthedoor，andforanychangeinhismannerorappearancehemighthavebeengoneonlythedaybeforetofetchlettersfromthetown。Onlyhisbeardwasgone，andhisfacewasgrownthinner。Hetookoffhisleathergaiters，saidtheafternoonwashotandtheroadsdusty，andaskedforsometea。Theytalkedofwool，andthecattle，andthesheep，andEmgavehimthepileoflettersthathadcomeforhimduringthemonthsofabsence，butofthethingthatlayattheirheartsneithersaidanything。Thenhewentouttolookatthekraals，andatsupperEmgavehimhotcakesandcoffee。Theytalkedabouttheservants，andthenatetheirmealinquiet。Sheaskednoquestions。

WhenitwasendedGregorywentintothefrontroom，andlayinthedarkonthesofa。

"Doyounotwantalight？"Emasked，venturingtolookin。

"No，"heanswered；thenpresentlycalledtoher，"Comeandsithere；Iwanttotalktoyou。"

Shecameandsatonafootstoolnearhim。

"Doyouwishtohearanything？"heasked。

Shewhispered：

"Yes，ifitdoesnothurtyou。"

"Whatdifferencedoesitmaketome？"hesaid。"IfItalkoramsilent，isthereanychange？"

Yethelayquietforalongtime。Thelightthroughtheopendoorshowedhimtoher，wherehelay，withhisarmthrownacrosshiseyes。Atlasthespoke。Perhapsitwasarelieftohimtospeak。

ToBloemfonteinintheFreeState，towhichthroughanagenthehadtracedthem，Gregoryhadgone。AtthehotelwhereLyndallandherstrangerhadstayedheputup；hewasshowntheveryroominwhichtheyhadslept。Thecolouredboywhohaddriventhemtothenexttowntoldhiminwhichhousetheyhadboarded，andGregorywenton。Inthattownhefoundtheyhadleftthecart，andboughtaspiderandfourgreys，andGregory’sheartrejoiced。

Nowindeeditwouldbeeasytotracetheircourse。Andheturnedhisstepsnorthward。

Atthefarmhouseswherehestoppedtheoomsandtantesrememberedclearlythespiderwithitsfourgreyhorses。AtoneplacetheBoer—wifetoldhowthetall，blue—eyedEnglishmanhadboughtmilk，andaskedthewaytothenextfarm。AtthenextfarmtheEnglishmanhadboughtabunchofflowers，andgivenhalfacrownforthemtothelittlegirl。Itwasquitetrue；theBoer—mothermadehergetitoutoftheboxandshowit。Atthenextplacetheyhadslept。Heretheytoldhimthatthegreatbulldog，whohatedallstrangers，hadwalkedinintheeveningandlaiditsheadinthelady’slap。Soateveryplaceheheardsomething，andtracedthemstepbystep。

AtonedesolatefarmtheBoerhadagooddealtotell。Theladyhadsaidshelikedawagonthatstoodbeforethedoor。WithoutaskingthepricetheEnglishmanhadofferedahundredandfiftypoundsfortheoldthing，andboughtoxenworthtenpoundsforsixteen。TheDutchmanchuckled，forhehadtheSalt—riem’smoneyintheboxunderhisbed。Gregorylaughedtoo，insilence；hecouldnotlosesightofthemnow，soslowlytheywouldhavetomovewiththatcumbrousox—wagon。Yet，whenthateveningcame，andhereachedalittlewaysideinn，noonecouldtellhimanythingofthetravellers。

Themaster，asurlycreature，halfstupidwithBoer—brandy，satonthebenchbeforethedoorsmoking。Gregorysatbesidehim，questioning，buthesmokedon。Herememberednothingofsuchstrangers。Howshouldheknowwhohadbeentheremonthsandmonthsbefore？Hesmokedon。Gregory，veryweary，triedtowakehismemory，saidthattheladyhewasseekingforwasverybeautiful，hadalittlemouth，andtiny，verytiny，feet。Themanonlysmokedonassullenlyasatfirst。Whatwerelittle，verylittle，mouthsandfeettohim。Buthisdaughterleanedoutinthewindowabove。