Chapter1。II。PlansandBushmanPaintings。
Atlastcametheyearofthegreatdrought，theyearofeighteen—sixty—two。
Fromendtoendofthelandtheearthcriedforwater。Manandbeastturnedtheireyestothepitilesssky，thatliketheroofofsomebrazenovenarchedoverhead。Onthefarm，dayafterday，monthaftermonth，thewaterinthedamsfelllowerandlower；thesheepdiedinthefields；thecattle，scarcelyabletocrawl，totteredastheymovedfromspottospotinsearchoffood。Weekafterweek，monthaftermonth，thesunlookeddownfromthecloudlesssky，tillthekaroo—busheswereleaflesssticks，brokenintotheearth，andtheearthitselfwasnakedandbare；andonlythemilk—
bushes，likeoldhags，pointedtheirshrivelledfingersheavenward，prayingfortherainthatnevercame……
Itwasonanafternoonofalongdayinthatthirstysummer，thatonthesideofthekopjefurthestfromthehomesteadthetwogirlssat。Theyweresomewhatgrownsincethedayswhentheyplayedhide—and—seekthere，buttheyweremerechildrenstill。
Theirdresswasofdark，coarsestuff；theircommonbluepinaforesreachedtotheirankles，andontheirfeettheyworehome—madevelschoen。
Theysatunderashelvingrock，onthesurfaceofwhichwerestillvisiblesomeoldBushmanpaintings，theirredandblackpigmentshavingbeenpreservedthroughlongyearsfromwindandrainbytheoverhangingledge；
grotesqueoxen，elephants，rhinoceroses，andaone—hornedbeast，suchasnomaneverhasseenorevershall。
Thegirlssatwiththeirbackstothepaintings。Intheirlapswereafewfernandice—plantleaves，whichbydintofmuchsearchingtheyhadgatheredundertherocks。
Emtookoffherbigbrownkapjeandbeganvigorouslytofanherredfacewithit；buthercompanionbentlowovertheleavesinherlap，andatlasttookupanice—plantleafandfasteneditontothefrontofherbluepinaforewithapin。
\"Diamondsmustlookasthesedropsdo，\"shesaid，carefullybendingovertheleaf，andcrushingonecrystaldropwithherdelicatelittlenail。
\"WhenI，\"shesaid，\"amgrownup，Ishallwearrealdiamonds，exactlyliketheseinmyhair。\"
Hercompanionopenedhereyesandwrinkledherlowforehead。
\"Wherewillyoufindthem，Lyndall？Thestonesareonlycrystalsthatwepickedupyesterday。OldOttosaysso。\"
\"AndyouthinkthatIamgoingtostayherealways？\"
Theliptrembledscornfully。
\"Ah，no，\"saidhercompanion。\"Isupposesomedayweshallgosomewhere；
butnowweareonlytwelve，andwecannotmarrytillweareseventeen。
Fouryears，five——thatisalongtimetowait。Andwemightnothavediamondsifwedidmarry。\"
\"AndyouthinkthatIamgoingtostayheretillthen？\"
\"Well，whereareyougoing？\"askedhercompanion。
Thegirlcrushedanice—plantleafbetweenherfingers。
\"TantSannieisamiserableoldwoman，\"shesaid。\"Yourfathermarriedherwhenhewasdying，becausehethoughtshewouldtakebettercareofthefarm，andofus，thananEnglishwoman。Hesaidweshouldbetaughtandsenttoschool。Nowshesaveseveryfarthingforherself，buysusnotevenoneoldbook。Shedoesnotill—useus——why？Becausesheisafraidofyourfather’sghost。OnlythismorningshetoldherHottentotthatshewouldhavebeatenyouforbreakingtheplate，butthatthreenightsagosheheardarustlingandagruntingbehindthepantrydoor，andknewitwasyourfathercomingtospookher。Sheisamiserableoldwoman，\"saidthegirl，throwingtheleaffromher；\"butIintendtogotoschool。\"
\"Andifshewon’tletyou？\"
\"Ishallmakeher。\"
\"How？\"
Thechildtooknottheslightestnoticeofthelastquestion，andfoldedhersmallarmsacrossherknees。
\"Butwhydoyouwanttogo，Lyndall？\"
\"Thereisnothinghelpsinthisworld，\"saidthechildslowly，\"buttobeverywise，andtoknoweverything——tobeclever。\"
\"ButIshouldnotliketogotoschool！\"persistedthesmallfreckledface。
\"Andyoudonotneedto。WhenyouareseventeenthisBoer—womanwillgo；
youwillhavethisfarmandeverythingthatisuponitforyourown；butI，\"saidLyndall，\"willhavenothing。Imustlearn。\"
\"Oh，Lyndall！Iwillgiveyousomeofmysheep，\"saidEm，withasuddenburstofpityinggenerosity。
\"Idonotwantyoursheep，\"saidthegirlslowly；\"Iwantthingsofmyown。
WhenIamgrownup，\"sheadded，theflushonherdelicatefeaturesdeepeningateveryword，\"therewillbenothingthatIdonotknow。I
shallberich，veryrich；andIshallwearnotonlyforbest，buteveryday，apurewhitesilk，andlittlerose—buds，liketheladyinTantSannie’sbedroom，andmypetticoatswillbeembroidered，notonlyatthebottom，butallthrough。\"
TheladyinTantSannie’sbedroomwasagorgeouscreaturefromafashion—
sheet，whichtheBoer—woman，somewhereobtaining，hadpastedupatthefootofherbed，tobeprofoundlyadmiredbythechildren。
\"Itwouldbeverynice，\"saidEm；butitseemedadreamofquitetootranscendentagloryevertoberealized。
Atthisinstantthereappearedatthefootofthekopjetwofigures——theone，adog，whiteandsleek，oneyellowearhangingdownoverhislefteye；
theother，hismaster，aladoffourteen，andnootherthantheboyWaldo，grownintoaheavy，slouchingyouthoffourteen。Thedogmountedthekopjequickly，hismasterfollowedslowly。Heworeanagedjacketmuchtoolargeforhim，androlledupatthewrists，and，asofold，apairofdilapidatedvelschoensandafelthat。Hestoodbeforethetwogirlsatlast。
\"Whathaveyoubeendoingtoday？\"askedLyndall，liftinghereyestohisface。
\"Lookingafterewesandlambsbelowthedam。Here！\"hesaid，holdingouthishandawkwardly，\"Ibroughtthemforyou。\"
Therewereafewgreenbladesoftendergrass。
\"Wheredidyoufindthem？\"
\"Onthedamwall。\"
Shefastenedthembesidetheleafonherbluepinafore。
\"Theylooknicethere，\"saidtheboy，awkwardlyrubbinghisgreathandsandwatchingher。
\"Yes；butthepinaforespoilsitall；itisnotpretty。\"
Helookedatitclosely。
\"Yes，thesquaresareugly；butitlooksniceuponyou——beautiful。\"
Henowstoodsilentbeforethem，hisgreathandshanginglooselyateitherside。
\"Someonehascometoday，\"hemumbledoutsuddenly，whentheideastruckhim。
\"Who？\"askedbothgirls。
\"AnEnglishmanonfoot。\"
\"Whatdoeshelooklike？\"askedEm。
\"Ididnotnotice；buthehasaverylargenose，\"saidtheboyslowly。\"Heaskedthewaytothehouse。\"
\"Didn’thetellyouhisname？\"
\"Yes——BonaparteBlenkins。\"
\"Bonaparte！\"saidEm，\"whythatislikethereelHottentotHansplaysontheviolin——
’Bonaparte，Bonaparte，mywifeissick；
Inthemiddleoftheweek，butSundaysnot，Igiveherriceandbeansforsoup’——
Itisafunnyname。\"
\"TherewasalivingmancalledBonaparteonce，\"saidsheofthegreateyes。
\"Ahyes，Iknow，\"saidEm——\"thepoorprophetwhomthelionsate。Iamalwayssosorryforhim。\"
Hercompanioncastaquietglanceuponher。
\"Hewasthegreatestmanwhoeverlived，\"shesaid，\"themanIlikebest。\"
\"Andwhatdidhedo？\"askedEm，consciousthatshehadmadeamistake，andthatherprophetwasnottheman。
\"Hewasoneman，onlyone，\"saidherlittlecompanionslowly，\"yetallthepeopleintheworldfearedhim。Hewasnotborngreat，hewascommonasweare；yethewasmasteroftheworldatlast。Oncehewasonlyalittlechild，thenhewasalieutenant，thenhewasageneral，thenhewasanemperor。Whenhesaidathingtohimselfheneverforgotit。Hewaited，andwaitedandwaited，anditcameatlast。\"
\"Hemusthavebeenveryhappy，\"saidEm。
\"Idonotknow，\"saidLyndall；\"buthehadwhathesaidhewouldhave，andthatisbetterthanbeinghappy。Hewastheirmaster，andallthepeoplewerewhitewithfearofhim。Theyjoinedtogethertofighthim。Hewasoneandtheyweremany，andtheygothimdownatlast。Theywerelikethewildcatswhentheirteetharefastinagreatdog，likecowardlywildcats，\"saidthechild，\"theywouldnotlethimgo。Thereweremany；hewasonlyone。Theysenthimtoanislandonthesea，alonelyisland，andkepthimtherefast。Hewasoneman，andtheyweremany，andtheywereterrifiedathim。Itwasglorious！\"saidthechild。
\"Andwhatthen？\"saidEm。
\"Thenhewasalonethereinthatislandwithmentowatchhimalways，\"saidhercompanion，slowlyandquietly。\"Andinthelonglonelynightsheusedtolieawakeandthinkofthethingshehaddoneintheolddays，andthethingshewoulddoiftheylethimgoagain。Inthedaywhenhewalkedneartheshoreitseemedtohimthattheseaallaroundhimwasacoldchainabouthisbodypressinghimtodeath。\"
\"Andthen？\"saidEm，muchinterested。
\"Hediedthereinthatisland；henevergotaway。\"
\"Itisratheranicestory，\"saidEm；\"buttheendissad。\"
\"Itisaterrible，hatefulending，\"saidthelittletellerofthestory，leaningforwardonherfoldedarms；\"andtheworstis，itistrue。Ihavenoticed，\"addedthechildverydeliberately，\"thatitisonlythemade—upstoriesthatendnicely；thetrueonesallendso。\"
Asshespoketheboy’sdark，heavyeyesrestedonherface。
\"Youhavereadit，haveyounot？\"
Henodded。\"Yes；buttheBrownhistorytellsonlywhathedid，notwhathethought。\"
\"ItwasintheBrownhistorythatIreadofhim，\"saidthegirl；\"butI
knowwhathethought。Booksdonottelleverything。\"
\"No，\"saidtheboy，slowlydrawingnearertoherandsittingdownatherfeet。\"Whatyouwanttoknowtheynevertell。\"
Thenthechildrenfellintosilence，tillDoss，thedog，growinguneasyatitslongcontinuance，sniffedatoneandtheother，andhismasterbrokeforthsuddenly：
\"Iftheycouldtalk，iftheycouldtellusnow！\"hesaid，movinghishandoutoverthesurroundingobjects——\"thenwewouldknowsomething。Thiskopje，ifitcouldtellushowitcamehere！The’PhysicalGeography’
says，\"hewentonmostrapidlyandconfusedly，\"thatwhatweredrylandsnowwereoncelakes；andwhatIthinkisthis——theselowhillswereoncetheshoresofalake；thiskopjeissomeofthestonesthatwereatthebottom，rolledtogetherbythewater。Butthereisthis——Howdidthewatercometomakeoneheapherealone，inthecentreoftheplain？\"Itwasaponderousquestion；noonevolunteeredananswer。\"WhenIwaslittle，\"
saidtheboy，\"Ialwayslookedatitandwondered，andIthoughtagreatgiantwasburiedunderit。NowIknowthewatermusthavedoneit；buthow？Itisverywonderful。Didonelittlestonecomefirst，andstoptheothersastheyrolled？\"saidtheboywithearnestness，inalowvoice，moreasspeakingtohimselfthantothem。
\"Oh，Waldo，Godputthelittlekopjehere，\"saidEmwithsolemnity。
\"Buthowdidheputithere？\"
\"Bywanting。\"
\"Buthowdidthewantingbringithere？\"
\"Becauseitdid。\"
Thelastwordswereutteredwiththeairofonewhoproducesaclinchingargument。Whateffectithadonthequestionerwasnotevident，forhemadenoreply，andturnedawayfromher。
DrawingclosertoLyndall’sfeet，hesaidafterawhileinalowvoice：
\"Lyndall，hasitneverseemedtoyouthatthestonesweretalkingwithyou？
Sometimes，\"headdedinayetlowertone，\"Ilieundertherewithmysheep，anditseemsthatthestonesarereallyspeaking——speakingoftheoldthings，ofthetimewhenthestrangefishesandanimalslivedthatareturnedintostonenow，andthelakeswerehere；andthenofthetimewhenthelittleBushmenlivedhere，sosmallandsougly，andusedtosleepinthewilddogholes，andinthesloots，andeatsnakes，andshotthebuckswiththeirpoisonedarrows。Itwasoneofthem，oneoftheseoldwildBushmen，thatpaintedthose，\"saidtheboy，noddingtowardthepictures——
\"onewhowasdifferentfromtherest。Hedidnotknowwhy，buthewantedtomakesomethingbeautiful——hewantedtomakesomething，sohemadethese。
Heworkedhard，veryhard，tofindthejuicetomakethepaint；andthenhefoundthisplacewheretherockshangover，andhepaintedthem。Toustheyareonlystrangethings，thatmakeuslaugh；buttohimtheywereverybeautiful。\"
Thechildrenhadturnedroundandlookedatthepictures。
\"Heusedtokneelherenaked，painting，painting，painting；andhewonderedatthethingshemadehimself，\"saidtheboy，risingandmovinghishandindeepexcitement。\"NowtheBoershaveshotthemall，sothatweneverseealittleyellowfacepeepingoutamongthestones。\"Hepaused，adreamylookcomingoverhisface。\"Andthewildbuckshavegone，andthosedays，andwearehere。Butwewillbegonesoon，andonlythestoneswilllieonhere，lookingateverythingliketheylooknow。IknowthatitisIwhoamthinking，\"thefellowaddedslowly，\"butitseemsasthoughitweretheywhoaretalking。Hasitneverseemedsotoyou，Lyndall？\"
\"No，itneverseemssotome，\"sheanswered。
Thesunhaddippednowbelowthehills，andtheboy，suddenlyrememberingtheewesandlambs，startedtohisfeet。
\"Letusalsogotothehouseandseewhohascome，\"saidEm，astheboyshuffledawaytorejoinhisflock，whileDossranathisheels，snappingattheendsofthetorntrousersastheyflutteredinthewind。
Chapter1。III。IWasAStranger，andYeTookMeIn。
Asthetwogirlsroundedthesideofthekopje，anunusualscenepresenteditself。Alargegroupwasgatheredatthebackdoorofthehomestead。
OnthedoorstepstoodtheBoer—woman，ahandoneachhip，herfaceredandfiery，herheadnoddingfiercely。AtherfeetsattheyellowHottentotmaid，hersatellite，andaroundstoodtheblackKaffermaids，withblanketstwistedroundtheirhalf—nakedfigures。Two，whostampedmealiesinawoodenblock，heldthegreatstampersintheirhands，andstaredstupidlyattheobjectofattraction。ItcertainlywasnottolookattheoldGermanoverseer，whostoodinthecentreofthegroup，thattheyhadallgatheredtogether。Hissalt—and—peppersuit，grizzlyblackbeard，andgreyeyeswereasfamiliartoeveryoneonthefarmastheredgablesofthehomesteaditself；butbesidehimstoodthestranger，andonhimalleyeswerefixed。EverandanonthenewcomercastaglanceoverhispendulousrednosetothespotwheretheBoer—womanstood，andsmiledfaintly。
\"I’mnotachild，\"criedtheBoer—woman，inlowCapeDutch，\"andIwasn’tbornyesterday。No，bytheLord，no！Youcan’ttakemein！Mymotherdidn’tweanmeonMonday。OnewinkofmyeyeandIseethewholething。
I’llhavenotrampssleepingonmyfarm，\"criedTantSannieblowing。\"No，bythedevil，no！notthoughhehadsixty—times—sixrednoses。\"
TheretheGermanoverseermildlyinterposedthatthemanwasnotatramp，butahighlyrespectableindividual，whosehorsehaddiedbyanaccidentthreedaysbefore。
\"Don’ttellme，\"criedtheBoer—woman；\"themanisn’tbornthatcantakemein。Ifhe’dhadmoney，wouldn’thehaveboughtahorse？Menwhowalkarethieves，liars，murderers，Rome’spriests，seducers！Iseethedevilinhisnose！\"criedTantSannieshakingherfistathim；\"andtocomewalkingintothehouseofthisBoer’schildandshakinghandsasthoughhecameonhorseback！Oh，no，no！\"
Thestrangertookoffhishat，atall，batteredchimneypot，anddisclosedabaldhead，atthebackofwhichwasalittlefringeofcurledwhitehair，andhebowedtoTantSannie。
\"Whatdoessheremark，myfriend？\"heinquired，turninghiscrosswise—
lookingeyesontheoldGerman。
TheGermanrubbedhisoldhandsandhesitated。
\"Ah——well——ah——the——Dutch——youknow——donotlikepeoplewhowalk——inthiscountry——ah！\"
\"Mydearfriend，\"saidthestranger，layinghishandontheGerman’sarm，\"Ishouldhaveboughtmyselfanotherhorse，butcrossing，fivedaysago，afullriver，Ilostmypurse——apursewithfivehundredpoundsinit。I
spentfivedaysonthebankoftherivertryingtofindit——couldn’t。PaidaKafferninepoundstogoinandlookforitattheriskofhislife——
couldn’tfindit。\"
TheGermanwouldhavetranslatedthisinformation，buttheBoer—womangavenoear。
\"No，no；hegoestonight。Seehowhelooksatme——apoorunprotectedfemale！Ifhewrongsme，whoistodomeright？\"criedTantSannie。
\"Ithink，\"saidtheGermaninanundertone，ifyoudidn’tlookatherquitesomuchitmightbeadvisable。She——ah——she——might——imaginethatyoulikedhertoowell，——infact——ah——\"
\"Certainly，mydearfriend，certainly，\"saidthestranger。\"Ishallnotlookather。\"
Sayingthis，heturnedhisnosefulluponasmallKafferoftwoyearsold。
ThatsmallnakedsonofHambecameinstantlysoterrifiedthathefledtohismother’sblanketforprotection，howlinghorribly。
Uponthisthenewcomerfixedhiseyespensivelyonthestamp—block，foldinghishandsontheheadofhiscane。Hisbootswerebroken，buthestillhadthecaneofagentleman。
\"YouvagabondsseEngelschman！\"saidTantSannie，lookingstraightathim。
ThiswasanearapproachtoplainEnglish；butthemancontemplatedtheblockabstractedly，whollyunconsciousthatanyantagonismwasbeingdisplayedtowardhim。
\"YoumightnotbeaScotchmanoranythingofthatkind，mightyou？\"
suggestedtheGerman。\"ItistheEnglishthatshehates。\"
\"Mydearfriend，\"saidthestranger，\"IamIrisheveryinchofme——fatherIrish，motherIrish。I’venotadropofEnglishbloodinmyveins。\"
\"Andyoumightnotbemarried，mightyou？\"persistedtheGerman。\"Ifyouhadawifeandchildren，now？Dutchpeopledonotlikethosewhoarenotmarried。\"
\"Ah，\"saidthestranger，lookingtenderlyattheblock，\"Ihaveadearwifeandthreesweetlittlechildren——twolovelygirlsandanobleboy。\"
ThisinformationhavingbeenconveyedtotheBoer—woman，she，aftersomefurtherconversation，appearedslightlymollified；butremainedfirmtoherconvictionthattheman’sdesignswereevil。
\"For，dearLord！\"shecried；\"allEnglishmenareugly；butwasthereeversuchared—rag—nosedthingwithbrokenbootsandcrookedeyesbefore？Takehimtoyourroom，\"shecriedtotheGerman；\"butallthesinhedoesIlayatyourdoor。\"
TheGermanhavingtoldhimhowmatterswerearranged，thestrangermadeaprofoundbowtoTantSannieandfollowedhishost，wholedthewaytohisownlittleroom。
\"Ithoughtshewouldcometoherbetterselfsoon，\"theGermansaidjoyously。\"TantSannieisnotwhollybad，farfromit，far。\"Thenseeinghiscompanioncastafurtiveglanceathim，whichhemistookforoneofsurprise，headdedquickly，\"Ah，yes，yes；weareallaprimitivepeoplehere——notverylofty。Wedealnotintitles。EveryoneisTanteandOom——
auntanduncle。Thismaybemyroom，\"hesaid，openingthedoor。\"Itisrough，theroomisrough；notapalace——notquite。Butitmaybebetterthanthefields，alittlebetter！\"hesaid，glancingroundathiscompanion。\"Comein，comein。Thereissomethingtoeat——amouthful：notthefareofemperorsorkings；butwedonotstarve，notyet，\"hesaid，rubbinghishandstogetherandlookingroundwithapleased，half—nervoussmileonhisoldface。
\"Myfriend，mydearfriend，\"saidthestranger，seizinghimbythehand，\"maytheLordblessyou，theLordblessandrewardyou——theGodofthefatherlessandthestranger。ButforyouIwouldthisnighthavesleptinthefields，withthedewsofheavenuponmyhead。\"
LatethateveningLyndallcamedowntothecabinwiththeGerman’srations。
Throughthetinysquarewindowthelightstreamedforth，andwithoutknockingsheraisedthelatchandentered。Therewasafireburningonthehearth，anditcastitsruddyglowoverthelittledingyroom，withitsworm—eatenraftersandmudfloor，andbrokenwhitewashedwalls。Acuriouslittleplace，filledwithallmannerofarticles。Nexttothefirewasagreattoolbox；beyondthatthelittlebookshelfwithitswell—wornbooks；
beyondthat，inthecorner，aheapoffilledandemptygrain—bags。Fromtheraftershungdownstraps，riems，oldboots，bitsofharness，andastringofonions。Thebedwasinanothercorner，coveredbyapatchworkquiltoffadedredlions，anddividedfromtherestoftheroombyabluecurtain，nowdrawnback。Onthemantelshelfwasanendlessassortmentoflittlebagsandstones；andonthewallhungamapofSouthGermany，witharedlinedrawnthroughittoshowwheretheGermanhadwandered。Thisplacewastheonehomethegirlshadknownformanyayear。ThehousewhereTantSannielivedandruledwasaplacetosleepin，toeatin，nottobehappyin。Itwasinvainshetoldthemtheyweregrowntoooldtogothere；everymorningandeveningfoundthemthere。Weretherenottoomanygoldenmemorieshangingabouttheoldplaceforthemtoleaveit？
Longwinternights，whentheyhadsatroundthefireandroastedpotatoes，andaskedriddles，andtheoldmanhadtoldofthelittleGermanvillage，where，fiftyyearsbefore，alittleGermanboyhadplayedatsnowballs，andhadcarriedhometheknittedstockingsofalittlegirlwhoafterwardbecameWaldo’smother；didtheynotseemtoseetheGermanpeasantgirlswalkingaboutwiththeirwoodenshoesandyellow，braidedhair，andthelittlechildreneatingtheirsuppersoutoflittlewoodenbowlswhenthegoodmotherscalledthemintohavetheirmilkandpotatoes？
Andweretherenotyetbettertimesthanthese？Moonlightnights，whentheyrompedaboutthedoor，withtheoldman，yetmoreachildthananyofthem，andlaughed，tilltheoldroofofthewagon—houserang？
Or，bestofall，weretherenotwarm，dark，starlightnights，whentheysattogetheronthedoorstep，holdingeachother’shands，singingGermanhymns，theirvoicesrisingclearinthestillnightair——tilltheGermanwoulddrawawayhishandsuddenlytowipequicklyatearthechildrenmustnotsee？Wouldtheynotsitlookingupatthestarsandtalkingofthem——ofthedearSouthernCross，red，fieryMars，Orion，withhisbelt，andtheSevenMysteriousSisters——andfalltospeculatingoverthem？Howoldarethey？Whodweltinthem？AndtheoldGermanwouldsaythatperhapsthesoulswelovedlivedinthem；there，inthatlittletwinklingpointwasperhapsthelittlegirlwhosestockingshehadcarriedhome；andthechildrenwouldlookupatitlovingly，andcallit\"UncleOtto’sstar。\"
Thentheywouldfalltodeeperspeculations——ofthetimesandseasonswhereintheheavensshallberolledtogetherasascroll，andthestarsshallfallasafig—treecastethheruntimelyfigs，andthereshallbetimenolonger：\"WhentheSonofmanshallcomeinHisglory，andallHisholyangelswithHim。\"Inlowerandlowertonestheywouldtalk，tillatlasttheyfellintowhispers；thentheywouldwishgoodnightsoftly，andwalkhomehushedandquiet。
Tonight，whenLyndalllookedin，Waldosatbeforethefirewatchingapotwhichsimmeredthere，withhisslateandpencilinhishand；hisfathersatatthetableburiedinthecolumnsofathree—weeks—oldnewspaper；andthestrangerlaystretchedonthebedinthecorner，fastasleep，hismouthopen，hisgreatlimbsstretchedoutloosely，betokeningmuchweariness。
Thegirlputtherationsdownuponthetable，snuffedthecandle，andstoodlookingatthefigureonthebed。
\"UncleOtto，\"shesaidpresently，layingherhanddownonthenewspaper，andcausingtheoldGermantolookupoverhisglasses，\"howlongdidthatmansayhehadbeenwalking？\"
\"Sincethismorning，poorfellow！Agentleman——notaccustomedtowalking——
horsedied——poorfellow！\"saidtheGerman，pushingouthislipandglancingcommiseratinglyoverhisspectaclesinthedirectionofthebedwherethestrangerlay，withhisflabbydoublechin，andbrokenbootsthroughwhichthefleshshone。
\"Anddoyoubelievehim，UncleOtto？\"
\"Believehim？whyofcourseIdo。Hehimselftoldmethestorythreetimesdistinctly。\"
