\"Whoisitthathascome？\"askedBonaparte，whenhestooddrinkinghiscoffeeinthefrontroom。
\"Why，myniece，tobesure，\"saidTantSannie，theHottentotmaidtranslating。\"She’stheonlydaughterofmyonlybrotherPaul，andshe’scometovisitme。She’llbeanicemouthfultothemanthatcangether，\"
addedTantSannie。\"Herfather’sgottwothousandpoundsinthegreenwagonboxunderhisbed，andafarm，andfivethousandsheep，andGodAlmightyknowshowmanygoatsandhorses。Theymilktencowsinmid—
winter，andtheyoungmenareafterherlikefliesaboutabowlofmilk。
Shesaysshemeanstogetmarriedinfourmonths，butshedoesn’tyetknowtowhom。ItwassowithmewhenIwasyoung，\"saidTantSannie。\"I’vesatupwiththeyoungmenfourandfivenightsaweek。Andtheywillcomeridingagain，assoonasevertheyknowthatthetime’supthattheEnglishmanmademeagreenottomarryin。\"
TheBoer—womansmirkedcomplacently。
\"Whereareyougoingto？\"askedTantSanniepresently，seeingthatBonaparterose。
\"Ha！I’mjustgoingtothekraals；I’llbeintosupper，\"saidBonaparte。
Nevertheless，whenhereachedhisowndoorhestoppedandturnedinthere。
Soonafterhestoodbeforethelittleglass，arrayedinhisbestwhiteshirtwiththelittletucks，andshavinghimself。Hehadonhisverybesttrousers，andhadheavilyoiledthelittlefringeatthebackofhishead，which，however，refusedtobecomedarker。Butwhatdistressedhimmostwashisnose——itwasveryred。Herubbedhisfingerandthumbonthewall，andputalittlewhitewashonit；but，findingitrathermademattersworse，herubbeditoffagain。Thenhelookedcarefullyintohisowneyes。Theycertainlywerealittlepulleddownattheoutercorners，whichgavethemtheappearanceoflookingcrosswise；butthentheywereaniceblue。Soheputonhisbestcoat，tookuphisstick，andwentouttosupper，feelingonthewholewellsatisfied。
\"Aunt，\"saidTranatoTantSanniewhenthatnighttheylaytogetherinthegreatwoodenbed，\"whydoestheEnglishmansighsowhenhelooksatme？\"
\"Ha！\"saidTantSannie，whowashalfasleep，butsuddenlystarted，wideawake。\"It’sbecausehethinksyoulooklikeme。Itellyou，Trana，\"saidTantSannie，\"themanismadwithloveofme。ItoldhimtheothernightI
couldn’tmarrytillEmwassixteen，orI’dloseallthesheepherfatherleftme。AndhetalkedaboutJacobworkingsevenyearsandsevenyearsagainforhiswife。Andofcoursehemeantme，\"saidTantSanniepompously。\"Buthewon’tgetmesoeasilyashethinks；he’llhavetoaskmorethanonce。\"
\"Oh！\"saidTrana，whowasalumpishgirlandnotmuchgiventotalking；butpresentlysheadded，\"Aunt，whydoestheEnglishmanalwaysknockagainstapersonwhenhepassesthem？\"
\"That’sbecauseyouarealwaysintheway，\"saidTantSannie。
\"But，aunt，saidTrana，presently，\"Ithinkheisveryugly。\"
\"Phugh！\"saidTantSannie。It’sonlybecausewe’renotaccustomedtosuchnosesinthiscountry。Inhiscountryhesaysallthepeoplehavesuchnoses，andtheredderyournoseisthehigheryouare。He’softhefamilyoftheQueenVictoria，youknow，\"saidTantSannie，wakeningupwithhersubject；\"andhedoesn’tthinkanythingofgovernorsandchurcheldersandsuchpeople；theyarenothingtohim。Whenhisauntwiththedropsydieshe’llhavemoneyenoughtobuyallthefarmsinthisdistrict。\"
\"Oh！\"saidTrana。Thatcertainlymadeadifference。
\"Yes，\"saidTantSannie；\"andhe’sonlyforty—one，thoughyou’dtakehimtobesixty。Andhetoldmelastnighttherealreasonofhisbaldness。\"
TantSanniethenproceededtorelatehow，ateighteenyearsofage，Bonapartehadcourtedafairyounglady。Howadeadlyrival，jealousofhisverdantlocks，hisgoldenflowinghair，had，withadamnableandinsinuatingdeception，madehimapresentofapotofpomatum。How，applyingitintheevening，onrisinginthemorninghefoundhispillowstrewnwiththegoldenlocks，and，lookingintotheglass，beheldtheshiningandsmoothexpansewhichhenceforthhemustbear。Thefewremaininghairswereturnedtoasilverywhiteness，andtheyoungladymarriedhisrival。
\"And，\"saidTantSanniesolemnly，\"ifithadnotbeenforthegraceofGod，andreadingofthepsalms，hesayshewouldhavekilledhimself。Hesayshecouldkillhimselfquiteeasilyifhewantstomarryawomanandshewon’t。\"
\"Allewereld！\"saidTrana：andthentheywenttosleep。
Everyonewaslostinsleepsoon；butfromthewindowofthecabinthelightstreamedforth。Itcamefromadungfire，overwhichWaldosatbrooding。Hourafterhourhesatthere，nowandagainthrowingafreshlumpoffuelontothefire，whichburntupbravely，andthensankintoagreatbedofredcoals，whichreflectedthemselvesintheboy’seyesashesattherebrooding，brooding，brooding。Atlast，whenthefirewasblazingatitsbrightest，herosesuddenlyandwalkedslowlytoabeamfromwhichanoxriemhung。Looseningit，herananooseinoneendandthendoubleditroundhisarm。
\"Mine，mine！Ihavearight，\"hemuttered；andthensomethinglouder，\"ifIfallandamkilled，somuchthebetter！\"
Heopenedthedoorandwentoutintothestarlight。
Hewalkedwithhiseyesbentupontheground，butoverheaditwasoneofthosebrilliantsouthernnightswheneveryspacesosmallthatyourhandmightcoveritshowsfiftycoldwhitepoints，andtheMilky—Wayisabeltofsharpfrostedsilver。HepassedthedoorwhereBonapartelaydreamingofTranaandherwealth，andhemountedtheladdersteps。Fromthoseheclamberedwithsomedifficultyontotheroofofthehouse。Itwasofoldrottenthatchwitharidgeofwhiteplaster，anditcrumbledawayunderhisfeetateverystep。Hetrodasheavilyashecould。Somuchthebetterifhefell。
Hekneltdownwhenhegottothefargable，andbegantofastenhisriemtothecrumblingbricks。Belowwasthelittlewindowoftheloft。Withoneendoftheriemtiedroundthegable，theotherendroundhiswaist，howeasytoslidedowntoit，andtoopenit，throughoneofthebrokenpanes，andtogoin，andtofillhisarmswithbooks，andtoclamberupagain！
Theyhadburntonebook——hewouldhavetwenty。Everyman’shandwasagainsthis——hisshouldbeagainsteveryman’s。Noonewouldhelphim——hewouldhelphimself。
Heliftedtheblackdamphairfromhisknitforehead，andlookedroundtocoolhishotface。Thenhesawwhataregalnightitwas。Hekneltsilentlyandlookedup。Athousandeyeswerelookingdownathim，brightandsocold。Therewasalaughingironyinthem。
\"Sohot，sobitter，soangry？Poorlittlemortal？\"
Hewasashamed。Hefoldedhisarms，andsatontheridgeoftherooflookingupatthem。
\"Sohot，sobitter，soangry？\"
Itwasasthoughacoldhandhadbeenlaiduponhisthrobbingforehead，andslowlytheybegantofadeandgrowdim。TantSannieandtheburntbook，Bonaparteandthebrokenmachine，theboxintheloft，hehimselfsittingthere——howsmalltheyallbecame！Eventhegraveoveryonder。Thosestarsthatshoneonupabovesoquietly，theyhadseenathousandsuchlittleexistencesfightjustsofiercely，flareupjustsobrightlyandgoout；
andthey，theold，oldstars，shoneonforever。
\"Sohot，soangry，poorlittlesoul？\"theysaid。
Theriemslippedfromhisfingers；hesatwithhisarmsfolded，lookingup。
\"We，\"saidthestars，haveseentheearthwhenitwasyoung。Wehaveseensmallthingscreepoutuponitssurface——smallthingsthatprayedandlovedandcriedveryloudly，andthencreptunderitagain。Butwe，\"saidthestars，\"areasoldastheUnknown。\"
Heleanedhischinagainstthepalmofhishandandlookedupatthem。Solonghesattherethatbrightstarssetandnewonesrose，andyethesaton。
Thenatlasthestoodup，andbegantoloosentheriemfromthegable。
Whatdiditmatteraboutthebooks？Thelustandthedesireforthemhaddiedout。Iftheypleasedtokeepthemfromhimtheymight。Whatmatter？
itwasaverylittlething。Whyhate，andstruggle，andfight？Letitbeasitwould。
Hetwistedtheriemroundhisarmandwalkedbackalongtheridgeofthehouse。
BythistimeBonaparteBlenkinshadfinishedhisdreamofTrana，andasheturnedhimselfroundforafreshdozeheheardthestepsdescendingtheladder。Hisfirstimpulsewastodrawtheblanketoverhisheadandhislegsunderhim，andtoshout；butrecollectingthatthedoorwaslockedandthewindowcarefullybolted，heallowedhisheadslowlytocropoutamongtheblankets，andlistenedintently。Whosoeveritmightbe，therewasnodangeroftheirgettingathim；soheclamberedoutofbed，andgoingontiptoetothedoor，appliedhiseyetothekeyhole。Therewasnothingtobeseen；sowalkingtothewindow，hebroughthisfaceasclosetotheglassashisnosewouldallow。Therewasafigurejustdiscernible。Theladwasnottryingtowalksoftly，andtheheavyshufflingofthewell—
knownvelschoenscouldbeclearlyheardthroughtheclosedwindowastheycrossedthestonesintheyard。Bonapartelistenedtilltheyhaddiedawayroundthecornerofthewagon—house；and，feelingthathisbarelegsweregettingcold，hejumpedbackintobedagain……
\"Whatdoyoukeepupinyourloft？\"inquiredBonaparteoftheBoer—womanthenextevening，pointingupwardsandelucidatinghismeaningbytheadditionofsuchDutchwordsasheknew，fortheleanHottentotwasgonehome。
\"Driedskins，\"saidtheBoer—woman，\"andemptybottles，andboxes，andsacks，andsoap。\"
\"Youdon’tkeepanyofyourprovisionsthere——sugar，now？\"saidBonaparte，pointingtothesugar—basinandthenupattheloft。
TantSannieshookherhead。
\"Onlysalt，anddriedpeaches。\"
\"Driedpeaches！Eh？\"saidBonaparte。\"Shutthedoor，mydearchild，shutittight，\"hecalledouttoEm，whostoodinthediningroom。ThenheleanedovertheelbowofthesofaandbroughthisfaceascloseaspossibletotheBoer—woman’s，andmadesignsofeating。Thenhesaidsomethingshedidnotcomprehend；thensaid，\"Waldo，Waldo，Waldo，\"pointeduptotheloft，andmadesignsofeatingagain。
NowaninklingofhismeaningdawnedontheBoer—woman’smind。Tomakeitclearer，hemovedhislegsafterthemannerofonegoingupaladder，appearedtobeopeningadoor，masticatedvigorously，said，\"Peaches，peaches，peaches，\"andappearedtobecomingdowntheladder。
ItwasnowevidenttoTantSanniethatWaldohadbeeninherloftandeatenherpeaches。
Toexemplifyhisownshareintheproceedings，Bonapartelaydownonthesofa，andshuttinghiseyestightly，said，\"Night，night，night！\"Thenhesatupwildly，appearingtobeintentlylistening，mimickedwithhisfeetthecomingdownaladder，andlookedatTantSannie。Thisclearlyshowedhow，rousedinthenight，hehaddiscoveredthetheft。
\"Hemusthavebeenagreatfooltoeatmypeaches，\"saidTantSannie。
\"Theyarefullofmitesasasheepskin，andashardasstones。\"
Bonaparte，fumblinginhispocket，didnotevenhearherremark，andtookoutfromhiscoat—tailalittlehorsewhip，nicelyrolledup。Bonapartewinkedatthelittlerhinoceroshorsewhip，attheBoer—woman，andthenatthedoor。
\"Shallwecallhim——Waldo，Waldo？\"hesaid。
TantSannienodded，andgiggled。Therewassomethingsoexceedinglyhumorousintheideathathewasgoingtobeattheboy，thoughforherownpartshedidnotseethatthepeacheswereworthit。WhentheKaffermaidcamewiththewash—tubshewassenttosummonWaldo；andBonapartedoubledupthelittlewhipandputitinhispocket。Thenhedrewhimselfup，andpreparedtoacthisimportantpartwithbecominggravity。SoonWaldostoodinthedoor，andtookoffhishat。
\"Comein，comein，mylad，\"saidBonaparte，\"andshutthedoorbehind。\"
Theboycameinandstoodbeforethem。
\"Youneednotbesoafraid，child，\"saidTantSannie。\"Iwasachildmyselfonce。It’snogreatharmifyouhavetakenafew。\"
Bonaparteperceivedthatherremarkwasnotinkeepingwiththenatureoftheproceedings，andofthelittledramaheintendedtoact。Pursingouthislips，andwavinghishand，hesolemnlyaddressedtheboy。
\"Waldo，itgrievesmebeyondexpressiontohavetosummonyouforsopainfulapurpose；butitisattheimperativecallofduty，whichIdarenotevade。Idonotstatethatfrankandunreservedconfessionwillobviatethenecessityofchastisement，whichifrequisiteshallbefullyadministered；butthenatureofthatchastisementmaybemitigatedbyfreeandhumbleconfession。Waldo，answermeasyouwouldyourownfather，inwhoseplaceInowstandtoyou；haveyou，orhaveyounot，didyou，ordidyounot，eatofthepeachesintheloft？\"
\"Sayyoutookthem，boy，sayyoutookthem，thenhewon’tbeatyoumuch，\"
saidtheDutchwoman，good—naturedly，gettingalittlesorryforhim。
Theboyraisedhiseyesslowlyandfixedthemvacantlyuponher，thensuddenlyhisfacegrewdarkwithblood。
\"So，youhaven’tgotanythingtosaytous，mylad？\"saidBonaparte，momentarilyforgettinghisdignity，andbendingforwardwithalittlesnarl。\"ButwhatImeanisjustthis，mylad——whenittakesaboythree—
quartersofanhourtofillasalt—pot，andwhenatthreeo’clockinthemorninghegoesknockingaboutthedoorsofaloft，it’snaturaltosupposethere’smischiefinit。It’scertainthereismischiefinit；andwherethere’smischiefin，itmustbetakenout，\"saidBonaparte，grinningintotheboy’sface。Then，feelingthathehadfallenfromthathighgravitywhichwasasspicetothepudding，andtheflavourofthewholelittletragedy，hedrewhimselfup。\"Waldo，\"hesaid，\"confesstomeinstantly，andwithoutreserve，thatyouatethepeaches。\"
Theboy’sfacewaswhitenow。Hiseyeswereontheground，hishandsdoggedlyclaspedbeforehim。
\"What，doyounotintendtoanswer？\"
Theboylookedupatthemoncefromunderhisbenteyebrows，andthenlookeddownagain。
\"Thecreaturelooksasifallthedevilsinhellwereinit，\"criedTantSannie。\"Sayyoutookthem，boy。Youngthingswillbeyoungthings；IwasolderthanyouwhenIusedtoeatbultonginmymother’sloft，andgetthelittleniggerswhippedforit。Sayyoutookthem。\"
Buttheboysaidnothing。
\"Ithinkalittlesolitaryconfinementmightperhapsbebeneficial，\"saidBonaparte。\"Itwillenableyou，Waldo，toreflectontheenormityofthesinyouhavecommittedagainstourFatherinheaven。Andyoumayalsothinkofthesubmissionyouowetothosewhoareolderandwiserthanyouare，andwhosedutyitistocheckandcorrectyou。\"
Sayingthis，Bonapartestoodupandtookdownthekeyofthefuel—house，whichhungonanailagainstthewall。
\"Walkon，myboy，\"saidBonaparte，pointingtothedoor；andashefollowedhimouthedrewhismouthexpressivelyononeside，andmadethelashofthelittlehorsewhipstickoutofhispocketandshakeupanddown。
TantSanniefelthalfsorryforthelad；butshecouldnothelplaughing，itwasalwayssofunnywhenonewasgoingtohaveawhipping，anditwoulddohimgood。Anyhow，hewouldforgetallaboutitwhentheplaceswerehealed。Hadnotshebeenbeatenmanytimesandbeenallthebetterforit？
Bonapartetookupalightedcandlethathadbeenleftburningonthekitchentable，andtoldtheboytowalkbeforehim。Theywenttothefuel—
house。Itwasalittlestoneerectionthatjuttedoutfromthesideofthewagon—house。Itwaslowandwithoutawindow，andthedrieddungwaspiledinonecorner，andthecoffee—millstoodinanother，fastenedonthetopofashortpostaboutthreefeethigh。Bonapartetookthepadlockofftheroughdoor。
\"Walkin，mylad，\"hesaid。
Waldoobeyedsullenly；oneplacetohimwasmuchthesameasanother。Hehadnoobjectiontobeinglockedup。
Bonapartefollowedhimin，andclosedthedoorcarefully。Heputthelightdownontheheapofdunginthecorner，andquietlyintroducedhishandunderhiscoat—tails，anddrewslowlyfromhispockettheendofarope，whichheconcealedbehindhim。
\"I’mverysorry，exceedinglysorry，Waldo，mylad，thatyoushouldhaveactedinthismanner。Itgrievesme，\"saidBonaparte。
Hemovedroundtowardtheboy’sback。Hehardlylikedthelookinthefellow’seyes，thoughhestoodtheremotionless。Ifheshouldspringonhim！
Sohedrewtheropeoutverycarefully，andshiftedroundtothewoodenpost。Therewasaslipknotinoneendoftherope，andasuddenmovementdrewtheboy’shandstohisbackandpasseditroundthem。Itwasaninstant’sworktodragittwiceroundthewoodenpost：thenBonapartewassafe。
Foramomenttheboystruggledtofreehimself；thenheknewthathewaspowerless，andstoodstill。
\"Horsesthatkickmusthavetheirlegstied，\"saidBonaparte，ashepassedtheotherendoftheroperoundtheboy’sknees。\"Andnow，mydearWaldo，\"
takingthewhipoutofhispocket，\"Iamgoingtobeatyou。\"
Hepausedforamoment。Itwasperfectlyquiet；theycouldheareachother’sbreath。
\"’Chastenthysonwhilethereishope，’\"saidBonaparte，\"’andletnotthysoulspareforhiscrying。’ThoseareGod’swords。Ishallactasafathertoyou，Waldo。Ithinkwehadbetterhaveyournakedback。\"
Hetookouthispenknife，andslittheshirtdownfromtheshouldertothewaist。
\"Now，\"saidBonaparte，\"IhopetheLordwillblessandsanctifytoyouwhatIamgoingtodotoyou。\"
Thefirstcutranfromtheshoulderacrossthemiddleoftheback；thesecondfellexactlyinthesameplace。Ashudderpassedthroughtheboy’sframe。
\"Nice，eh？\"saidBonaparte，peepingroundintohisface，speakingwithalisp，asthoughtoaverylittlechild。\"Nith，eh？\"
Buttheeyeswereblackandlustreless，andseemednottoseehim。WhenhehadgivensixteenBonapartepausedinhisworktowipealittledropofbloodfromhiswhip。
\"Cold，eh？Whatmakesyoushiverso？Perhapsyouwouldliketopullupyourshirt？ButI’venotquitedoneyet。\"
Whenhehadfinishedhewipedthewhipagain，andputitbackinhispocket。Hecuttheropethroughwithhispenknife，andthentookupthelight。
\"Youdon’tseemtohavefoundyourtongueyet。Forgottenhowtocry？\"saidBonaparte，pattinghimonthecheek。
Theboylookedupathim——notsullenly，notangrily。Therewasawild，fitfulterrorintheeyes。Bonapartemadehastetogooutandshutthedoor，andleavehimaloneinthedarkness。Hehimselfwasafraidofthatlook……
Itwasalmostmorning。Waldolaywithhisfaceuponthegroundatthefootofthefuel—heap。Therewasaroundholenearthetopofthedoor，whereaknotofwoodhadfallenout，andastreamofgreylightcameinthroughit。
Ah，itwasgoingtoendatlast。Nothinglastsforever，noteventhenight。Howwasithehadneverthoughtofthatbefore？Forinallthatlongdarknighthehadbeenverystrong，hadneverbeentired，neverfeltpain，hadrunonandon，upanddown，upanddown；hehadnotdaredtostandstill，andhehadnotknownitwouldend。Hehadbeensostrong，thatwhenhestruckhisheadwithallhisforceuponthestonewallitdidnotstunhimnorpainhim——onlymadehimlaugh。Thatwasadreadfulnight。
Whenheclaspedhishandsfranticallyandprayed——\"OGod，mybeautifulGod，mysweetGod，once，onlyonce，letmefeelyounearmetonight！\"hecouldnotfeelhim。Heprayedaloud，veryloud，andhegotnoanswer；whenhelisteneditwasallquitequiet——likewhenthepriestsofBaalcriedaloudtotheirgod——\"Oh，Baal，hearus！Oh，Baal，hearus！ButBaalwasgonea—
hunting。
Thatwasalongwildnight，andwildthoughtscameandwentinit；buttheylefttheirmarksbehindthemforever：for，asyearscannotpasswithoutleavingtheirtracesbehindthem，neithercannightsintowhichareforcedthethoughtsandsufferingsofyears。Andnowthedawnwascoming，andatlasthewasverytired。Heshiveredandtriedtodrawtheshirtupoverhisshoulders。Theyweregettingstiff。Hehadneverknowntheywerecutinthenight。Helookedupatthewhitelightthatcameinthroughtheholeatthetopofthedoorandshuddered。Thenheturnedhisfacebacktothegroundandsleptagain。
SomehourslaterBonapartecametowardthefuel—housewithalumpofbreadinhishand。Heopenedthedoorandpeeredin；thenentered，andtouchedthefellowwithhisboot。Seeingthathebreathedheavily，thoughhedidnotrouse，Bonapartethrewthebreaddownontheground。Hewasalive，thatwasonething。Hebentoverhim，andcarefullyscratchedopenoneofthecutswiththenailofhisforefinger，examiningwithmuchinteresthislastnight’swork。Hewouldhavetocounthissheephimselfthatday；theboywasliterallycutup。Helockedthedoorandwentawayagain。
\"Oh，Lyndall，\"saidEm，enteringthediningroom，andbathedintears，thatafternoon，\"IhavebeenbeggingBonapartetolethimout，andhewon’t。\"
\"Themoreyoubegthemorehewillnot，\"saidLyndall。
Shewascuttingoutapronsonthetable。
\"Oh，butit’slate，andIthinktheywanttokillhim，\"saidEm，weepingbitterly；andfindingthatnomoreconsolationwastobegainedfromhercousin，shewentoffblubbering——\"IwonderyoucancutoutapronswhenWaldoisshutuplikethat。\"
FortenminutesaftershewasgoneLyndallworkedonquietly；thenshefoldedupherstuff，rolledittightlytogether，andstoodbeforethecloseddoorofthesittingroomwithherhandscloselyclasped。Aflushrosetoherface：sheopenedthedoorquickly，andwalkedin，wenttothenailonwhichthekeyofthefuel—roomhung。BonaparteandTantSanniesatthereandsawher。
\"Whatdoyouwant？\"theyaskedtogether。
\"Thiskey，\"shesaid，holdingitup，andlookingatthem。
\"Doyoumeanhertohaveit？\"saidTantSannieinDutch。
\"Whydon’tyoustopher？\"askedBonaparteinEnglish。
\"Whydon’tyoutakeitfromher？\"saidTantSannie。
Sotheylookedateachother，talking，whileLyndallwalkedtothefuel—
housewiththekey，herunderlipbittenin。
\"Waldo，\"shesaid，asshehelpedhimtostandup，andtwistedhisarmaboutherwaisttosupporthim，\"wewillnotbechildrenalways；weshallhavethepower，too，someday。\"Shekissedhisnakedshoulderwithhersoftlittlemouth。Itwasallthecomfortheryoungsoulcouldgivehim。
Chapter1。XIII。HeMakesLove。
\"Here，\"saidTantSannietoherHottentotmaid，\"Ihavebeeninthishousefouryears，andneverbeenupintheloft。FatterwomenthanIgoupladders；Iwillgouptodayandseewhatitislike，andputittorightsupthere。Youbringthelittleladderandstandatthebottom。\"
\"There’sonewouldbesorryifyouweretofall，\"saidtheHottentotmaid，leeringatBonaparte’spipe，thatlayonthetable。
\"Holdyourtongue，jade，\"saidhermistress，tryingtoconcealapleasedsmile，\"andgoandfetchtheladder。\"
Therewasanever—usedtrap—dooratoneendofthesittingroom：thistheHottentotmaidpushedopen，andsettingtheladderagainstit，theBoer—
womanwithsomedangeranddifficultyclimbedintotheloft。ThentheHottentotmaidtooktheladderaway，asherhusbandwasmendingthewagon—
house，andneededit；butthetrap—doorwasleftopen。
ForalittlewhileTantSanniepokedaboutamongtheemptybottlesandskins，andlookedatthebagofpeachesthatWaldowassupposedtohavelikedso；thenshesatdownnearthetrap—doorbesideabarrelofsaltmutton。Shefoundthatthepiecesofmeatweremuchtoolarge，andtookoutherclasp—knifetodividethem。
Thatwasalwaysthewaywhenoneleftthingstoservants，shegrumbledtoherself：butwhenonceshewasmarriedtoherhusbandBonaparteitwouldnotmatterwhetherasheepspoiledorno——whenoncehisrichauntwiththedropsywasdead。Shesmiledasshedivedherhandintothepickle—water。
Atthatinstanthernieceenteredtheroombelow，closelyfollowedbyBonaparte，withhisheadononeside，smilingmawkishly。HadTantSanniespokenatthatmomentthelifeofBonaparteBlenkinswouldhaverunawhollydifferentcourse；asitwas，sheremainedsilent，andneithernoticedtheopentrap—doorabovetheirheads。
\"Sitthere，mylove，\"saidBonaparte，motioningTranaintoheraunt’selbow—chair，anddrawinganothercloseupinfrontofit，inwhichheseatedhimself。\"There，putyourfeetuponthestovetoo。Youraunthasgoneoutsomewhere。LonghaveIwaitedforthisauspiciousevent！\"
Trana，whounderstoodnotonewordofEnglish，satdowninthechairandwonderedifthiswasoneofthestrangecustomsofotherlands，thatanoldgentlemanmaybringhischairuptoyours，andsitwithhiskneestouchingyou。ShehadbeenfivedaysinBonaparte’scompany，andfearedtheoldman，anddislikedhisnose。
\"HowlonghaveIdesiredthismoment！\"saidBonaparte。\"Butthatagedrelativeofthineisalwayscastingherunhallowedshadowuponus。Lookintomyeyes，Trana。\"
