\"Yes，beupearly，myboy，\"interruptedBonaparte，smiling。\"Iamtobemasterofthisfarmnow；andweshallbegoodfriends，Itrust，verygoodfriends，ifyoutrytodoyourduty，mydearboy。\"
Waldoturnedtogo，andBonaparte，lookingbenignlyatthecandle，stretchedoutoneunstockingedfoot，overwhichWaldo，lookingatnothinginparticular，fellwithaheavythuduponthefloor。
\"Dearme！Ihopeyouarenothurt，myboy，\"saidBonaparte。\"You’llhavemanyaharderthingthanthatthough，beforeyou’vegonethroughlife，\"headdedconsolingly，asWaldopickedhimselfup。
TheleanHottentotlaughedtilltheroomrangagain；andTantSannietitteredtillhersidesached。
WhenhehadgonethelittlemaidbegantowashBonaparte’sfeet。
\"Oh，Lord，belovedLord，howhedidfall！Ican’tthinkofit，\"criedTantSannie，andshelaughedagain。\"Ialwaysdidknowhewasnotright；butthiseveninganyonecouldseeit，\"sheadded，wipingthetearsofmirthfromherface。\"Hiseyesareaswildasifthedevilwasinthem。Heneverwaslikeotherchildren。ThedearLordknows，ifhedoesn’twalkaloneforhourstalkingtohimself。Ifyousitintheroomwithhimyoucanseehislipsmovingthewholetime；andifyoutalktohimtwentytimeshedoesn’thearyou。Daft—eyes；he’sasmadasmadcanbe。\"
ThisrepetitionofthewordmadconveyedmeaningtoBonaparte’smind。Heleftoffpaddlinghistoesinthewater。
\"Mad，mad？Iknowthatkindofmad，\"saidBonaparte，\"andIknowthethingtogiveforit。Thefrontendofalittlehorsewhip，thetip！Nicething；
takesitout，\"saidBonaparte。
TheHottentotlaughed，andtranslated。
\"Nomorewalkingaboutandtalkingtothemselvesonthisfarmnow，\"saidBonaparte；\"nomoremindingofsheepandreadingofbooksatthesametime。
Thepointofahorsewhipisalittlething，butIthinkhe’llhaveatasteofitbeforelong。\"Bonaparterubbedhishandsandlookedpleasantlyacrosshisnose；andthenthethreelaughedtogethergrimly。
AndWaldoinhiscabincrouchedinthedarkinacorner，withhiskneesdrawnuptohischin。
Chapter1。X。HeShowsHisTeeth。
Dosssatamongthekaroobushes，oneyelloweardrawnoverhiswickedlittleeye，readytoflapawayanyadventurousflythatmightsettleonhisnose。Aroundhiminthemorningsunlightfedthesheep；behindhimlayhismasterpolishinghismachine。Hefoundmuchcomfortinhandlingitthatmorning。Adozenphilosophicalessays，orangelicallyatunedsongsfortheconsolationofthebereaved，couldneverhavebeentohimwhatthatlittlesheep—shearingmachinewasthatday。
Afterstrugglingtoseetheunseeable，growingdrunkwiththeendeavourtospantheinfinite，andwrithingbeforetheinscrutablemystery，itisarenovatingrelieftoturntosomesimple，feelable，weighablesubstance；tosomethingwhichhasasmellandacolour，whichmaybehandledandturnedoverthiswayandthat。Whethertherebeorbenotahereafter，whethertherebeanyuseincallingaloudtotheUnseenpower，whethertherebeanUnseenpowertocallto，whateverbethetruenatureofthe\"I\"whocallandoftheobjectsaroundme，whateverbeourmeaning，ourinternalessence，ourcause（andinacertainorderofmindsdeathandtheagonyoflossinevitablyawakenthewilddesire，atothertimessmothered，tolookintothesethings），whateverbethenatureofthatwhichliesbeyondtheunbrokenwallwhichthelimitsofthehumanintellectbuilduponeveryhand，thisthingiscertain——aknifewillcutwood，andonecoggedwheelwillturnanother。Thisissure。
Waldofoundanimmeasurablesatisfactioninthehandlingofhismachine；
butDosswinkedandblinked，andthoughtitallfrightfullymonotonousoutthereontheflat，andpresentlydroppedasleep，sittingboltupright。
Suddenlyhiseyesopenedwide；somethingwascomingfromthedirectionofthehomestead。Winkinghiseyesandlookingintently，heperceiveditwasthegreymare。NowDosshadwonderedmuchoflatewhathadbecomeofhermaster。Seeingshecarriedsomeoneonherback，henowcametohisownconclusion，andbegantomovehistailviolentlyupanddown。Presentlyheprickeduponeearandlettheotherhang；histailbecamemotionless，andtheexpressionofhismouthwasoneofdecideddisapprovalborderingonscorn。Hewrinkledhislipsuponeachsideintolittlelines。
Thesandwassoft，andthegreymarecameonsonoiselesslythattheboyheardnothingtillBonapartedismounted。ThenDossgotupandmovedbackastep。HedidnotapproveofBonaparte’sappearance。Hiscostume，intruth，wasofauniquekind。Itwasacombinationofthetownandcountry。
Thetailsofhisblackclothcoatwerepinnedupbehindtokeepthemfromrubbing；hehadonapairofmoleskintrousersandleathergaiters，andinhishandhecarriedalittlewhipofrhinoceroshide。
Waldostartedandlookedup。Hadtherebeenamoment’stimehewouldhavedugaholeinthesandwithhishandsandburiedhistreasure。Itwasonlyatoyofwood，buthelovedit，asoneofnecessityloveswhathasbeenbornofhim，whetherofthefleshorspirit。Whencoldeyeshavelookedatit，thefeathersarerubbedoffourbutterfly’swingforever。
\"Whathaveyouhere，mylad？\"saidBonaparte，standingbyhim，andpointingwiththeendofhiswhiptothemedleyofwheelsandhinges。
Theboymutteredsomethinginaudible，andhalfspreadoverthething。
\"Butthisseemstobeaveryingeniouslittlemachine，\"saidBonaparte，seatinghimselfontheantheap，andbendingdownoveritwithdeepinterest。\"Whatisitfor，mylad？\"
\"Shearingsheep。\"
\"Itisaverynicelittlemachine，\"saidBonaparte。\"Howdoesitwork，now？Ihaveneverseenanythingsoingenious！\"
Therewasneveraparentwhohearddeceptioninthevoicethatpraisedhischild——hisfirst—born。Herewasonewholikedthethingthathadbeencreatedinhim。Heforgoteverything。Heshowedhowtheshearswouldworkwithalittleguidance，howthesheepwouldbeheld，andthewoolfallintothetrough。Aflushburstoverhisfaceashespoke。
\"Itellyouwhat，mylad，\"saidBonaparteemphatically，whentheexplanationwasfinished，\"wemustgetyouapatent。Yourfortuneismade。
Inthreeyears’timethere’llnotbeafarminthiscolonywhereitisn’tworking。You’reagenius，that’swhatyouare！\"saidBonaparte，rising。
\"Ifitweremadelarger，\"saidtheboy，raisinghiseyes，\"itwouldworkmoresmoothly。Doyouthinktherewouldbeanyoneinthiscolonywouldbeabletomakeit？\"
\"I’msuretheycould，\"saidBonaparte；\"andifnot，whyI’lldomybestforyou。I’llsendittoEngland。Itmustbedonesomehow。Howlonghaveyouworkedatit？\"
\"Ninemonths，\"saidtheboy。
\"Oh，itissuchanicelittlemachine，\"saidBonaparte，\"onecan’thelpfeelinganinterestinit。Thereisonlyonelittleimprovement，oneverylittleimprovement，Ishouldliketomake。\"
Bonaparteputhisfootonthemachineandcrusheditintothesand。Theboylookedupintohisface。
\"Looksbetternow，\"saidBonaparte，\"doesn’tit？Ifwecan’thaveitmadeinEnglandwe’llsendittoAmerica。Good—bye；ta—ta，\"headded。\"You’reagreatgenius，aborngenius，mydearboy，there’snodoubtaboutit。\"
Hemountedthegreymareandrodeoff。Thedogwatchedhisretreatwithcynicalsatisfaction；buthismasterlayonthegroundwithhisheadonhisarmsinthesand，andthelittlewheelsandchipsofwoodlayonthegroundaroundhim。Thedogjumpedontohisbackandsnappedattheblackcurls，till，findingthatnonoticewastaken，hewalkedofftoplaywithablackbeetle。Thebeetlewashardatworktryingtorollhomeagreatballofdungithadbeencollectingallthemorning：butDossbroketheball，andatethebeetle’shindlegs，andthenbitoffitshead。Anditwasallplay，andnoonecouldtellwhatithadlivedandworkedfor。Astriving，andastriving，andanendinginnothing。
Chapter1。XI。HeSnaps。
\"Ihavefoundsomethingintheloft，\"saidEmtoWaldo，whowaslistlesslypilingcakesoffuelonthekraalwall，aweekafter。\"Itisaboxofbooksthatbelongedtomyfather。WethoughtTantSanniehadburntthem。\"
Theboyputdownthecakehewasraisingandlookedather。
\"Idon’tthinktheyareverynice，notstories，\"sheadded，\"butyoucangoandtakeanyyoulike。\"
Sosaying，shetookuptheplateinwhichshehadbroughthisbreakfast，andwalkedofftothehouse。
Afterthattheboyworkedquickly。ThepileoffuelBonapartehadorderedhimtopackwasonthewallinhalfanhour。Hethenwenttothrowsaltontheskinslaidouttodry。Findingthepotempty，hewenttothelofttorefillit。
BonaparteBlenkins，whosedooropenedatthefootoftheladder，sawtheboygoup，andstoodinthedoorwaywaitingforhisreturn。Hewantedhisbootsblacked。Doss，findinghecouldnotfollowhismasteruptheroundbars，satpatientlyatthefootoftheladder。Presentlyhelookeduplongingly，butnooneappeared。ThenBonapartelookedupalso，andbegantocall；buttherewasnoanswer。Whatcouldtheboybedoing？TheloftwasanunknownlandtoBonaparte。Hehadoftenwonderedwhatwasupthere；
helikedtoknowwhatwasinalllocked—upplacesandout—of—the—waycorners，buthewasafraidtoclimbtheladder。SoBonapartelookedup，andinthenameofallthatwastantalizing，questionedwhattheboydidupthere。Theloftwasusedonlyasalumber—room。Whatcouldthefellowfinduptheretokeephimsolong？
CouldtheBoer—womanhavebeheldWaldoatthatinstant，anylingeringdoubtwhichmighthaveremainedinhermindastotheboy’sinsanitywouldinstantlyhavevanished。For，havingfilledthesalt—pot，heproceededtolookfortheboxofbooksamongtherubbishthatfilledtheloft。Underapileofsackshefoundit——aroughpacking—case，nailedup，butwithonelooseplank。Heliftedthat，andsawtheevenbacksofarowofbooks。Hekneltdownbeforethebox，andranhishandalongitsroughedges，asiftoassurehimselfofitsexistence。Hestuckhishandinamongthebooks，andpulledouttwo。Hefeltthem，thrusthisfingersinamongtheleaves，andcrumpledthemalittle，asaloverfeelsthehairofhismistress。Thefellowgloatedoverhistreasure。Hehadhadadozenbooksinthecourseofhislife；nowherewasamineofthemopenedathisfeet。Afterawhilehebegantoreadthetitles，andnowandagainopenedabookandreadasentence；buthewastooexcitedtocatchthemeaningsdistinctly。Atlasthecametoadull，brownvolume。Hereadthename，openeditinthecentre，andwhereheopenedbegantoread。Itwasachapteronpropertythathefellupon——Communism，Fourierism，St。Simonism，inaworkonPoliticalEconomy。Hereaddownonepageandturnedovertothenext；hereaddownthatwithoutchanginghisposturebyaninch；hereadthenext，andthenext，kneelingupallthewhilewiththebookinhishand，andhislipsparted。
Allhereadhedidnotfullyunderstand；thethoughtswerenewtohim；butthiswasthefellow’sstartledjoyinthebook——thethoughtswerehis，theybelongedtohim。Hehadneverthoughtthembefore，buttheywerehis。
Helaughedsilentlyandinternally，withthestillintensityoftriumphantjoy。
So，then，allthinkingcreaturesdidnotsenduptheonecry——\"Asthou，dearLord，hascreatedthingsinthebeginning，soaretheynow，sooughttheytobe，sowilltheybe，worldwithoutend；anditdoesn’tconcernuswhattheyare。Amen。\"Therewerementowhomnotonlykopjesandstoneswerecallingoutimperatively，\"Whatarewe，andhowcamewehere？
Understandus，andknowus；\"buttowhomeventheold，oldrelationsbetweenmanandman，andthecustomsoftheagescalled，andcouldnotbemadestillandforgotten。
Theboy’sheavybodyquiveredwithexcitement。Sohewasnotalone，notalone。Hecouldnotquitehavetoldanyonewhyhewassoglad，andthiswarmthhadcometohim。Hischeekswereburning。NowonderthatBonapartecalledinvain，andDossputhispawsontheladder，andwhinedtillthree—
quartersofanhourhadpassed。Atlasttheboyputthebookinhisbreastandbuttonedittightlytohim。Hetookupthesaltpot，andwenttothetopoftheladder。Bonaparte，withhishandsfoldedunderhiscoat—tails，lookedupwhenheappeared，andaccostedhim。
\"You’vebeenratheralongtimeupthere，mylad，\"hesaid，astheboydescendedwithatremuloushaste，mostunlikehisordinaryslowmovements。
\"Youdidn’thearmecalling，Isuppose？\"
Bonapartewhiskedthetailsofhiscoatupanddownashelookedathim。
He，BonaparteBlenkins，hadeyeswhichwereveryfar—seeing。Helookedatthepot。Itwasratherasmallpottohavetakenthree—quartersofanhourinthefilling。Helookedattheface。Itwasflushed。Andyet，TantSanniekeptnowine——hehadnotbeendrinking；hiseyeswerewideopenandbright——hehadnotbeensleeping；therewasnogirlupthere——hehadnotbeenmakinglove。Bonapartelookedathimsagaciously。Whatwouldaccountforthemarvellouschangeintheboycomingdowntheladderfromtheboygoinguptheladder？Onethingtherewas。DidnotTantSanniekeepintheloftbultongs，andnicesmokedsausages？Theremustbesomethingnicetoeatupthere！Aha！thatwasit！
Bonapartewassointerestedincarryingoutthischainofinductivereasoningthathequiteforgottohavehisbootsblacked。
Hewatchedtheboyshuffleoffwiththesalt—potunderhisarm；thenhestoodinhisdoorwayandraisedhiseyestothequietbluesky，andaudiblypropoundedthisriddletohimself：
\"Whatistheconnectionbetweenthenakedbackofacertainboywithagreatcoatonandasalt—potunderhisarm，andthetipofahorsewhip？
Answer：Noconnectionatpresent，buttherewillbesoon。\"
Bonapartewassopleasedwiththissallyofhiswitthathechuckledalittleandwenttoliedownonhisbed。
Therewasbread—bakingthatafternoon，andtherewasafirelightedinthebrickovenbehindthehouse，andTantSanniehadleftthegreatwooden—
elbowedchairinwhichshepassedherlife，andwaddledouttolookatit。
NotfaroffwasWaldo，who，havingthrownapailoffoodintothepigsty，nowleanedoverthesodwalllookingatthepigs。Halfofthestywasdry，butthelowerhalfwasapoolofmud，ontheedgeofwhichthemothersowlaywithclosedeyes，hertenlittleonessucking；thefatherpig，knee—
deepinthemud，stoodrunninghissnoutintoarottenpumpkinandwrigglinghiscurledtail。
Waldowondereddreamilyashestaredwhytheywerepleasanttolookat。
Takensinglytheywerenotbeautiful；takentogethertheywere。Wasitnotbecausetherewasacertainharmonyaboutthem？Theoldsowwassuitedtothelittlepigs，andthelittlepigstotheirmother，theoldboartotherottenpumpkin，andalltothemud。Theysuggestedthethoughtofnothingthatshouldbeadded，ofnothingthatshouldbetakenaway。And，hewonderedonvaguely，wasnotthatthesecretofallbeauty，thatyouwholookon——Sohestooddreaming，andleanedfurtherandfurtheroverthesodwall，andlookedatthepigs。
AllthistimeBonaparteBlenkinswasslopingdownfromthehouseinanaimlesssortofway；buthekeptoneeyefixedonthepigsty，andeachgyrationbroughthimnearertoit。WaldostoodlikeathingasleepwhenBonapartecamecloseuptohim。
Inolddays，whenasmallboy，playinginanIrishstreet—gutter，he，Bonaparte，hadbeenfamiliarlyknownamonghiscomradesunderthetitleofTrippingBen；this，fromtherareeaseanddexteritywithwhich，bymerelyprojectinghisfoot，hecouldprecipitateanyunfortunatecompanionontothecrownofhishead。Yearshadelapsed，andTrippingBenhadbecomeBonaparte；buttheoldgiftwasinhimstill。Hecameclosetothepigsty。
Allthedefunctmemoriesofhisboyhoodreturnedonhiminaflood，as，withanadroitmovement，heinsertedhislegbetweenWaldoandthewallandsenthimoverintothepigsty。
Thelittlepigswerestartledatthestrangeintruder，andranbehindtheirmother，whosniffedathim。TantSanniesmoteherhandstogetherandlaughed；butBonapartewasfarfromjoiningher。Lostinreverie，hegazedatthedistanthorizon。
ThesuddenreversalofheadandfeethadthrownoutthevolumethatWaldocarriedinhisbreast。Bonapartepickeditupandbegantoinspectit，astheboyclimbedslowlyoverthewall。Hewouldhavewalkedoffsullenly，buthewantedhisbook，andhewaiteduntilitshouldbegivenhim。
\"Ha！\"saidBonaparte，raisinghiseyesfromtheleavesofthebookwhichhewasexamining，\"Ihopeyourcoathasnotbeeninjured；itisofanelegantcut。Anheirloom，Ipresume，fromyourpaternalgrandfather？Itlooksnicenow。\"
\"Oh，Lord！oh！Lord！\"criedTantSannie，laughingandholdinghersides；
howthechildlooks——asthoughhethoughtthemudwouldneverwashoff。
Oh，Lord，Ishalldie！You，Bonaparte，arethefunniestmanIeversaw。\"
BonaparteBlenkinswasnowcarefullyinspectingthevolumehehadpickedup。Amongthesubjectsonwhichthedarknessofhisunderstandinghadbeenenlightenedduringhisyouth，PoliticalEconomyhadnotbeenone。Hewasnot，therefore，veryclearastowhatthenatureofthebookmightbe；andasthenameofthewriter，J。S。Mill，might，foranythingheknewtothecontrary，havebelongedtoavenerablememberoftheBritishandForeignBibleSociety，itbynomeansthrewlightuponthequestion。HewasnotinanywaysurethatPoliticalEconomyhadnothingtodowiththecheapestwayofprocuringclothingforthearmyandnavy，whichwouldbecertainlybothapoliticalandeconomicalsubject。
ButBonapartesooncametoaconclusionastothenatureofthebookanditscontents，bytheapplicationofasimplerulenowlargelyactedupon，butwhich，becominguniversal，wouldsavemuchthoughtandvaluabletime。
Itisofmarvelloussimplicity，ofinfiniteutility，ofuniversalapplicability。Itmayeasilybecommittedtomemoryandrunsthus：
Wheneveryoucomeintocontactwithanybook，person，oropinionofwhichyouabsolutelycomprehendnothing，declarethatbook，personoropiniontobeimmoral。Bespatterit，vituperateagainstit，stronglyinsistthatanymanorwomanharbouringitisafooloraknave，orboth。Carefullyabstainfromstudyingit。Doallthatinyouliestoannihilatethatbook，person，oropinion。
Actingonthisrule，sowideinitscomprehensiveness，sobeautifullysimpleinitsworking，BonaparteapproachedTantSanniewiththebookinhishand。Waldocameastepnearer，eyeingitlikeadogwhoseyounghasfallenintoevilhands。
\"Thisbook，\"saidBonaparte，\"isnotafitandproperstudyforayoungandimmaturemind。\"
TantSanniedidnotunderstandaword，andsaid：
\"What？\"
\"Thisbook，\"saidBonaparte，bringingdownhisfingerwithenergyonthecover，\"thisbookissleg，sleg，Davel，Davel！\"
TantSannieperceivedfromthegravityofhiscountenancethatitwasnolaughingmatter。Fromthewords\"sleg\"and\"Davel\"sheunderstoodthatthebookwasevil，andhadsomeconnectionwiththeprincewhopullsthewiresofeviloverthewholeearth。
\"Wheredidyougetthisbook？\"sheasked，turninghertwinklinglittleeyesonWaldo。\"IwishthatmylegsmaybeasthinasanEnglishman’sifitisn’toneofyourfather’s。HehadmoresinsthanalltheKaffersinKafferland，forallthathepretendedtobesogoodallthoseyears，andtolivewithoutawifebecausehewasthinkingoftheonethatwasdead！Asthoughtendeadwivescouldmakeupforonefatonewitharmsandlegs！\"
criedTantSannie，snorting。
\"Itwasnotmyfather’sbook，\"saidtheboysavagely。\"Igotitfromyourloft。\"
\"Myloft！mybook！Howdareyou？\"criedTantSannie。
\"ItwasEm’sfather’s。Shegaveitme，\"hemutteredmoresullenly。
\"Giveithere。Whatisthenameofit？Whatisitabout？\"sheasked，puttingherfingeruponthetitle。
Bonaparteunderstood。
\"PoliticalEconomy，\"hesaidslowly。
\"DearLord！\"saidTantSannie，\"cannotonehearfromtheverysoundwhatanungodlybookitis！Onecanhardlysaythename。Haven’twegotcursesenoughonthisfarm？\"criedTantSannie，eloquently；\"mybestimportedMerinoramdyingofnobodyknowswhat，andtheshort—horncowcastinghertwocalves，andthesheepeatenupwiththescabandthedrought？Andisthisatimetobringungodlythingsabouttheplace，tocalldownthevengeanceofAlmightyGodtopunishusmore？Didn’ttheministertellmewhenIwasconfirmednottoreadanybookexceptmyBibleandhymn—book，thatthedevilwasinalltherest？AndIneverhavereadanyotherbook，\"
saidTantSanniewithvirtuousenergy，\"andIneverwill！\"
Waldosawthatthefateofhisbookwassealed，andturnedsullenlyonhisheel。
\"SoyouwillnotstaytohearwhatIsay！\"criedTantSannie。\"There，takeyourPolity—gollity—gominy，yourdevil’sbook！\"shecried，flingingthebookathisheadwithmuchenergy。
Itmerelytouchedhisforeheadononesideandfelltotheground。
\"Goon，\"shecried；\"Iknowyouaregoingtotalktoyourself。Peoplewhotalktothemselvesalwaystalktothedevil。Goandtellhimallaboutit。
Go，go！run！\"criedTantSannie。
Buttheboyneitherquickenednorslackenedhispace，andpassedsullenlyroundthebackofthewagon—house。
Bookshavebeenthrownatotherheadsbeforeandsincethatsummerafternoon，byhandsmorewhiteanddelicatethanthoseoftheBoer—woman；
butwhethertheresultoftheprocesshasbeeninanycasewhollysatisfactory，maybequestioned。Welovethatwithapeculiartenderness，wetreasureitwithapeculiarcare，ithasforusquiteafictitiousvalue，forwhichwehavesuffered。Ifwemaynotcarryitanywhereelsewewillcarryitinourhearts，andalwaystotheend。
BonaparteBlenkinswenttopickupthevolume，nowloosenedfromitscover，whileTantSanniepushedthestumpsofwoodfurtherintotheoven。
Bonapartecameclosetoher，tappedthebookknowingly，nodded，andlookedatthefire。TantSanniecomprehended，and，takingthevolumefromhishand，threwitintothebackoftheoven。Itlayupontheheapofcoals，smoked，flared，andblazed，andthe\"PoliticalEconomy\"wasnomore——goneoutofexistence，likemanyanotherpoorhereticoffleshandblood。
Bonapartegrinned，andtowatchtheprocessbroughthisfacesoneartheovendoorthatthewhitehaironhiseyebrowsgotsinged。Hetheninquirediftherewereanymoreintheloft。
Learningthattherewere，hemadesignsindicativeoftakinguparmfulsandflingingthemintothefire。ButTantSanniewasdubious。ThedeceasedEnglishmanhadleftallhispersonaleffectsspeciallytohischild。ItwasallverywellforBonapartetotalkofburningthebooks。Hehadhadhishairspirituallypulled，andshehadnowishtorepeathisexperience。
Sheshookherhead。Bonapartewasdispleased。Butthenahappythoughtoccurredtohim。Hesuggestedthatthekeyoftheloftshouldhenceforthbeputintohisownsafecareandkeeping——noonegainingpossessionofitwithouthispermission。TothisTantSanniereadilyassented，andthetwowalkedlovinglytothehousetolookforit。
Chapter1。XII。HeBites。
BonaparteBlenkinswasridinghomeonthegreymare。Hehadriddenoutthatafternoon，partlyforthebenefitofhishealth，partlytomaintainhischaracterasoverseerofthefarm。Asherodeonslowly，hethoughtfullytouchedtheearsofthegreymarewithhiswhip。
\"No，Bon，myboy，\"headdressedhimself，\"don’tpropose！Youcan’tmarryforfouryears，onaccountofthewill；thenwhypropose？Wheedleher，tweedleher，teedleher，butdon’tlethermakesureofyou。Whenawoman，\"saidBonaparte，sagelyrestinghisfingeragainstthesideofhisnose，\"Whenawomanissureofyoushedoeswhatshelikeswithyou；butwhensheisn’t，youdowhatyoulikewithher。AndI——\"saidBonaparte。
Herehedrewthehorseupsuddenlyandlooked。Hewasnowclosetothehouse，andleaningoverthepigstywall，incompanywithEm，whowasshowingherthepigs，wasastrangefemalefigure。Itwasthefirstvisitorthathadappearedonthefarmsincehisarrival，andhelookedatherwithinterest。Shewasatall，pudgygirloffifteen，weighingahundredandfiftypounds，withbaggypendulouscheeksandup—turnednose。
ShestrikinglyresembledTantSannie，informandfeature，buthersleepygoodeyeslackedthattwinklethatdweltintheBoer—woman’ssmallorbs。
Shewasattiredinabrightgreenprint，worebrassringsinherearsandglassbeadsroundherneck，andwassuckingthetipofherlargefingerasshelookedatthepigs。
