ServiceNo。I。
TheboyWaldokissedthepagesofhisbookandlookedup。Farovertheflatlaythekopje，amerespeck；thesheepwanderedquietlyfrombushtobush；thestillnessoftheearlySundayrestedeverywhere，andtheairwasfresh。
Helookeddownathisbook。Onitspageablackinsectcrept。Helifteditoffwithhisfinger。Thenheleanedonhiselbow，watchingitsquiveringantennaeandstrangemovements，smiling。
\"Evenyou，\"hewhispered，\"shallnotdie。EvenyouHeloves。EvenyouHewillfoldinHisarmswhenHetakeseverythingandmakesitperfectandhappy。\"
WhenthethinghadgonehesmoothedtheleavesofhisBiblesomewhatcaressingly。Theleavesofthatbookhaddroppedbloodforhimonce；theyhadtakenthebrightnessoutofhischildhood；frombetweenthemhadsprungthevisionsthathadclungabouthimandmadenighthorrible。Adder—likethoughtshadliftedtheirheads，hadshotoutforkedtonguesathim，askingmockinglystrange，trivialquestionsthathecouldnotanswer，miserablechild：
WhydidthewomeninMarkseeonlyoneangelandthewomeninLuketwo？
Couldastorybetoldinoppositewaysandbothwaysbetrue？Couldit？
couldit？Thenagain：Istherenothingalwaysright，andnothingalwayswrong？CouldJaelthewifeofHebertheKenite\"putherhandtothenail，andherrighthandtotheworkman’shammer？\"andcouldtheSpiritoftheLordchantpaeansoverher，loudpaeans，highpaeans，setinthebookoftheLord，andnovoicecryoutitwasameananddastardlysintolie，andkillthetrustingintheirsleep？CouldthefriendofGodmarryhisownsister，andbebeloved，andthemanwhodoesittodaygoestohell，tohell？Wastherenothingalwaysrightoralwayswrong？
Thoseleaveshaddroppedbloodforhimonce：theyhadmadehisheartheavyandcold；theyhadrobbedhischildhoodofitsgladness；nowhisfingersmovedoverthemcaressingly。
\"MyfatherGodknows，myfatherknows，\"hesaid；\"wecannotunderstand；Heknows。\"Afterawhilehewhispered，smiling——\"Iheardyourvoicethismorningwhenmyeyeswerenotyetopen，Ifeltyounearme，myFather。Whydoyoulovemeso？Hisfacewasilluminated。\"Inthelastfourmonthstheoldquestionhasgonefromme。Iknowyouaregood；Iknowyouloveeverything；Iknow，Iknow，Iknow！Icouldnothaveborneitanymore，notanymore。\"Helaughedsoftly。\"AndallthewhileIwassomiserableyouwerelookingatmeandlovingme，andIneverknewit。ButIknowitnow。Ifeelit，\"saidtheboy，andhelaughedlow；\"Ifeelit！\"helaughed。
Afterawhilehebeganpartlytosing，partlytochantthedisconnectedversesofhymns，thosewhichspokehisgladness，manytimesover。Thesheepwiththeirsenselesseyesturnedtolookathimashesang。
Atlasthelapsedintoquiet。Thenastheboylaytherestaringatbushandsand，hesawavision。
HehadcrossedtheriverofDeath，andwalkedontheotherbankintheLord’slandofBeulah。Hisfeetsankintothedarkgrass，andhewalkedalone。Then，faroverthefields，hesawafigurecomingacrossthedarkgreengrass。Atfirsthethoughtitmustbeoneoftheangels；butasitcamenearerhebegantofeelwhatitwas。Anditcamecloser，closertohim，andthenthevoicesaid，\"Come，\"andheknewsurelyWhoitwas。Herantothedearfeetandtouchedthemwithhishands；yes，heheldthemfast！Helaydownbesidethem。Whenhelookedupthefacewasoverhim，andthegloriouseyeswerelovinghim；andtheytwoweretherealonetogether。
Helaughedadeeplaugh；thenstarteduplikeonesuddenlyawakenedfromsleep。
\"Oh，God！Hecried，\"Icannotwait；Icannotwait！Iwanttodie；IwanttoseeHim；Iwanttotouchhim。Letmedie！\"Hefoldedhishands，trembling。\"HowcanIwaitsolong——forlong，longyearsperhaps？Iwanttodie——toseeHim。Iwilldieanydeath。Oh，letmecome！\"
Weepinghebowedhimself，andquiveredfromheadtofoot。Afteralongwhileheliftedhishead。
\"Yes；Iwillwait；Iwillwait。Butnotlong；donotletitbeverylong，JesusKing。Iwantyou；oh，Iwantyou——soon，soon！\"Hesatstill，staringacrosstheplainwithhistearfuleyes。
ServiceNo。II。
InthefrontroomofthefarmhousesatTantSannieinherelbow—chair。Inherhandwashergreatbrass—claspedhymn—book，roundherneckwasacleanwhitehandkerchief，underherfeetwasawoodenstove。TheretoosatEmandLyndall，incleanpinaforesandnewshoes。TheretoowasthespruceHottentotinastarchedwhitekapje，andherhusbandontheothersideofthedoor，withhiswooloiledandverymuchcombedout，andstaringathisnewleatherboots。TheKafferservantswerenottherebecauseTantSannieheldtheyweredescendedfromapes，andneedednosalvation。ButtherestweregatheredfortheSundayservice，andwaitedtheofficiator。
MeanwhileBonaparteandtheGermanapproachedarminarm——Bonaparteresplendentintheblackclothclothes，aspotlessshirt，andaspotlesscollar；theGermanintheoldsalt—and—pepper，castingshyglancesofadmirationathiscompanion。
AtthefrontdoorBonaparteremovedhishatwithmuchdignity，raisedhisshirtcollar，andentered。Tothecentretablehewalked，puthishatsolemnlydownbythebigBible，andbowedhisheadoveritinsilentprayer。
TheBoer—womanlookedattheHottentot，andtheHottentotlookedattheBoer—woman。
TherewasonethingonearthforwhichTantSanniehadaprofoundreverence，whichexercisedasubduinginfluenceoverher，whichmadeherforthetimeabetterwoman——thatthingwasnew，shiningblackcloth。Itmadeherthinkofthepredikant；itmadeherthinkoftheelderswhosatinthetoppewofthechurchonSundays，withthehairsonicelyoiled，soholyandrespectable，withtheirlittleswallow—tailedcoats；itmadeherthinkofheaven，whereeverythingwassoholyandrespectable，andnobodyworetancord，andthelittlestangelhadablack—tailedcoat。Shewishedshehadn’tcalledhimathiefandaRomanCatholic。ShehopedtheGermanhadn’ttoldhim。Shewonderedwherethoseclotheswerewhenhecameinragstoherdoor。Therewasnodoubt，hewasaveryrespectableman，agentleman。
TheGermanbegantoreadahymn。AttheendofeachlineBonapartegroaned，andtwiceattheendofeveryverse。
TheBoer—womanhadoftenheardofpersonsgroaningduringprayers，toaddacertainpoignancyandfinishtothem；oldJanVanderlinde，hermother’sbrother，alwaysdiditafterhewasconverted；andshewouldhavelookeduponitasnoespecialsignofgraceinanyone；buttogroanathymn—time！
Shewasstartled。Shewonderedifherememberedthatsheshookherfistinhisface。ThiswasamanofGod。Theykneltdowntopray。TheBoer—womanweighedtwohundredandfiftypounds，andcouldnotkneel。Shesatinherchair，andpeepedbetweenhercrossedfingersatthestranger’sback。Shecouldnotunderstandwhathesaid；buthewasinearnest。Heshookthechairbythebackrailtillitmadequitealittledustonthemudfloor。
WhentheyrosefromtheirkneesBonapartesolemnlyseatedhimselfinthechairandopenedtheBible。Heblewhisnose，pulleduphisshirtcollar，smoothedtheleaves，strokeddownhiscapaciouswaistcoat，blewhisnoseagain，lookedsolemnlyroundtheroom，thenbegan。
\"Allliarsshallhavetheirpartinthelakewhichburnethwithfireandbrimstone，whichistheseconddeath。\"
HavingreadthisportionofScripture，Bonapartepausedimpressively，andlookedallroundtheroom。
\"Ishallnot，mydearfriends，\"hesaid，\"longdetainyou。Muchofourprecioustimehasalreadyfledblissfullyfromusinthevoiceofthanksgivingandthetongueofpraise。Afew，averyfewwordsareallI
shalladdresstoyou，andmaytheybeasarodofirondividingthebonesfromthemarrow，andthemarrowfromthebones。
\"Inthefirstplace：Whatisaliar？\"
Thequestionwasputsopointedly，andfollowedbyapausesoprofound，thateventheHottentotmanleftofflookingathisbootsandopenedhiseyes，thoughheunderstoodnotaword。
\"Irepeat，\"saidBonaparte，\"whatisaliar？\"
Thesensationwasintense；theattentionoftheaudiencewasriveted。
\"Haveyouanyofyoueverseenaliar，mydearfriends？\"Therewasastilllongerpause。\"Ihopenot；Itrulyhopenot。ButIwilltellyouwhataliaris。Iknewaliaronce——alittleboywholivedinCapeTown，inShortMarketStreet。HismotherandIsattogetheroneday，discoursingaboutoursouls。
\"’Here，Sampson，’saidhismother，’goandbuysixpenceofmeibossfromtheMalayroundthecorner。’
\"Whenhecamebackshesaid：’Howmuchhaveyougot？’
\"’Five，’hesaid。
\"Hewasafraidifhesaidsixandahalfshe’daskforsome。And，myfriends，thatwasalie。Thehalfofameibossstuckinhisthroatandhediedandwasburied。Andwheredidthesoulofthatlittleliargoto，myfriends？Itwenttothelakeoffireandbrimstone。Thisbringsmetothesecondpointofmydiscourse。
\"Whatisalakeoffireandbrimstone？Iwilltellyou，myfriends，\"saidBonapartecondescendingly。\"Theimaginationunaidedcannotconceiveit：
butbythehelpoftheLordIwillputitbeforeyourmind’seye。
\"IwastravellinginItalyonceonatime；IcametoacitycalledRome，avastcity，andnearitisamountainwhichspitsforthfire。ItsnameisEtna。Now，therewasamaninthatcityofRomewhohadnotthefearofGodbeforehiseyes，andhelovedawoman。Thewomandied，andhewalkedupthatmountainspittingfire，andwhenhegottothetophethrewhimselfinattheholethatisthere。ThenextdayIwentup。Iwasnotafraid；
theLordpreservesHisservants。Andintheirhandsshalltheybeartheeup，lestatanytimethoufallintoavolcano。ItwasdarknightwhenI
gotthere，butinthefearoftheLordIwalkedtotheedgeoftheyawningabyss，andlookedin。Thatsight——thatsight，myfriends，isimpresseduponmymostindeliblememory。Ilookeddownintotheluriddepthsuponanincandescentlake，ameltedfire，aseethingsea；thebillowsrolledfromsidetoside，andontheirfierycreststossedthewhiteskeletonofthesuicide。Theheathadburntthefleshfromoffthebones；theylayasalightcorkuponthemelted，fierywaves。Oneskeletonhandwasraisedupward，thefingerpointingtoheaven；theother，withoutstretchedfinger，pointingdownward，asthoughitwouldsay，’Igobelow，butyou，Bonaparte，maysoarabove。’Igazed；Istoodentranced。Atthatinstanttherewasacrackintheluridlake；itswelled，expanded，andtheskeletonofthesuicidedisappeared，tobeseennomorebymortaleye。\"
HereagainBonaparterested，andthencontinued：
\"Thelakeofmeltedstoneroseinthecrater，itswelledhigherandhigherattheside，itstreamedforthatthetop。Ihadpresenceofmind；nearmewasarock；Istooduponit。Thefierytorrentwasvomitedoutandstreamedoneithersideofme。AndthroughthatlongandterriblenightI
stoodtherealoneuponthatrock，theglowing，fierylavaoneveryhand——amonumentofthelong—sufferingandtenderprovidenceoftheLord，whosparedmethatImightthisdaytestifyinyourearsofHim。
\"Now，mydearfriends，letusdeducethelessonsthataretobelearntfromthisnarrative。
\"Firstly：letusnevercommitsuicide。Themanisafool，myfriends，thatmanisinsane，myfriends，whowouldleavethisearth，myfriends。
Herearejoysinnumerable，suchasithathnotenteredintotheheartofmantounderstand，myfriends。Hereareclothes，myfriends；herearebeds，myfriends；hereisdeliciousfood，myfriends。Ourpreciousbodiesweregivenustolove，tocherish。Oh，letusdoso！Oh，letusneverhurtthem；butcareforandlovethem，myfriends！\"
Everyonewasimpressed，andBonaparteproceeded：
\"Thirdly；letusnotlovetoomuch。Ifthatyoungmanhadnotlovedthatyoungwoman，hewouldnothavejumpedintoMountEtna。Thegoodmenofoldneverdidso。WasJeremiaheverinlove，orEzekiel，orHosea，orevenanyoftheminorprophets？No。Thenwhyshouldwebe？Thousandsarerollinginthatlakeatthismomentwhowouldsay，’Itwaslovethatbroughtushere。’Oh，letusthinkalwaysofourownsoulsfirst。
\"’AchargetokeepIhave，AGodtoglorify；
Anever—dyingsoultosave，Andfititforthesky。’
\"Oh，belovedfriends，rememberthelittleboyandthemeiboss；remembertheyounggirlandtheyoungman；rememberthelake，thefire，andthebrimstone；rememberthesuicide’sskeletononthepitchybillowsofMountEtna；rememberthevoiceofwarningthathasthisdaysoundedinyourears；
andwhatIsaytoyouIsaytoall——watch！MaytheLordaddhisblessings！\"
HeretheBibleclosedwithatremendousthud。TantSannieloosenedthewhitehandkerchiefaboutherneckandwipedhereyes，andthecolouredgirl，seeingherdoso，sniffled。Thedidnotunderstandthediscourse，whichmadeitthemoreaffecting。
Therehungoveritthatinscrutablecharmwhichhoversforeverforthehumanintellectovertheincomprehensibleandshadowy。WhenthelasthymnwassungtheGermanconductedtheofficiatortoTantSannie，whograciouslyextendedherhand，andofferedcoffeeandaseatonthesofa。Leavinghimthere，theGermanhurriedawaytoseehowthelittleplum—puddinghehadleftathomewasadvancing；andTantSannieremarkedthatitwasahotday。
Bonapartegatheredhermeaningasshefannedherselfwiththeendofherapron。Hebowedlowinacquiescence。Alongsilencefollowed。TantSanniespokeagain。Bonapartegavehernoear；hiseyewasfixedonasmallminiatureontheoppositewall，whichrepresentedTantSannieasshehadappearedonthedaybeforeherconfirmation，fifteenyearsbefore，attiredingreenmuslin。Suddenlyhestartedtohisfeet，walkeduptothepicture，andtookhisstandbeforeit。Longandwistfullyhegazedintoitsfeatures；itwaseasytoseethathewasdeeplymoved。Withasuddenmovement，asthoughnolongerabletorestrainhimself，heseizedthepicture，looseneditfromitsnail，andhelditclosetohiseyes。Atlength，turningtotheBoer—woman，hesaid，inavoiceofdeepemotion：
\"Youwill，Itrust，dearmadam，excusethisexhibitionofmyfeelings；butthis——thislittlepicturerecallstomemyfirstandbestbeloved，mydeardepartedwife，whoisnowasaintinheaven。\"
TantSanniecouldnotunderstand；buttheHottentotmaid，whohadtakenherseatonthefloorbesidehermistress，translatedtheEnglishintoDutchasfarasshewasable。
\"Ah，myfirst，mybeloved！\"headded，lookingtenderlydownatthepicture。
\"Oh，thebeloved，thebeautifullineaments！Myangelwife！Thisissurelyasisterofyours，madame？\"headded，fixinghiseyesonTantSannie。
TheDutchwomanblushed，shookherhead，andpointedtoherself。
Carefully，intently，BonapartelookedfromthepictureinhishandtoTantSannie’sfeatures，andfromthefeaturesbacktothepicture。Thenslowlyalightbrokeoverhiscountenance，helookedup，itbecameasmile；helookedbackattheminiature，hiswholecountenancewaseffulgent。
\"Ah，yes；Iseeitnow，\"hecried，turninghisdelightedgazeontheBoer—
woman；\"eyes，mouth，nose，chin，theveryexpression！\"hecried。\"HowisitpossibleIdidnotnoticeitbefore？\"
\"Takeanothercupofcoffee，\"saidTantSannie。\"Putsomesugarin。\"
Bonapartehungthepicturetenderlyup，andwasturningtotakethecupfromherhand，whentheGermanappeared，tosaythatthepuddingwasreadyandthemeatonthetable。
\"He’saGod—fearingman，andonewhoknowshowtobehavehimself，\"saidtheBoer—womanashewentoutatthedoor。\"Ifhe’sugly，didnottheLordmakehim？AndarewetolaughattheLord’shandiwork？Itisbettertobeuglyandgoodthanprettyandbad；thoughofcourseit’snicewhenoneisboth，\"saidTantSannie，lookingcomplacentlyatthepictureonthewall。
IntheafternoontheGermanandBonapartesatbeforethedoorofthecabin。
Bothsmokedincompletesilence——Bonapartewithabookinhishandsandhiseyeshalfclosed；theGermanpuffingvigorously，andglancingupnowandagainatthesereneblueskyoverhead。
\"Supposing——you——you，infact，madetheremarktome，\"burstforththeGermansuddenly，\"thatyouwerelookingforasituation。\"
Bonaparteopenedhismouthwide，andsentastreamofsmokethroughhislips。
\"Nowsupposing，\"saidtheGerman——\"merelysupposing，ofcourse——thatsomeone，someone，infact，shouldmakeanoffertoyou，say，tobecomeschoolmasterontheirfarmandteachtwochildren，twolittlegirls，perhaps，andwouldgiveyoufortypoundsayear，wouldyouacceptit？Justsupposing，ofcourse。\"
\"Well，mydearfriend，\"saidBonaparte，\"thatwoulddependoncircumstances。Moneyisnoconsiderationwithme。FormywifeIhavemadeprovisionforthenextyear。Myhealthisbroken。CouldImeetaplacewhereagentlemanwouldbetreatedasagentlemanIwouldacceptit，howeversmalltheremuneration。Withme，\"saidBonaparte，\"moneyisnoconsideration。\"
\"Well，\"saidtheGerman，whenhehadtakenawhiffortwomorefromhispipe，\"IthinkIshallgoupandseeTantSanniealittle。IgoupoftenonSundayafternoontohaveageneralconversation，toseeher，youknow。
Nothing——nothingparticular，youknow。\"
Theoldmanputhisbookintohispocket，andwalkeduptothefarmhousewithapeculiarlyknowinganddelightedexpressionofcountenance。
\"Hedoesn’tsuspectwhatI’mgoingtodo，\"soliloquizedtheGerman；\"hasn’ttheleastidea。Anicesurpriseforhim。\"
Themanwhomhehadleftathisdoorwaywinkedattheretreatingfigurewithawinkthatwasnottobedescribed。
Chapter1。VI。BonaparteBlenkinsMakesHisNest。
\"Ah，whatisthematter？\"askedWaldo，stoppingatthefootoftheladderwithaloadofskinsonhisbackthathewascarryinguptotheloft。
ThroughtheopendoorinthegablelittleEmwasvisible，herfeetdanglingfromthehighbenchonwhichshesat。Theroom，onceastoreroom，hadbeendividedbyarowofmealiebagsintotwoparts——thebackbeingBonaparte’sbedroom，thefronthisschoolroom。
\"Lyndallmadehimangry，\"saidthegirltearfully；\"andhehasgivenmethefourteenthofJohntolearn。HesayshewillteachmetobehavemyselfwhenLyndalltroubleshim。\"
\"Whatdidshedo？\"askedtheboy。
\"Yousee，\"saidEm，hopelesslyturningtheleaves，\"wheneverhetalksshelooksoutatthedoor，asthoughshedidnothearhim。TodaysheaskedhimwhatthesignsoftheZodiacwere，andhesaidhewassurprisedthatsheshouldaskhim；itwasnotafitandproperthingforlittlegirlstotalkabout。ThensheaskedhimwhoCopernicuswas；andhesaidhewasoneoftheEmperorsofRome，whoburnedtheChristiansinagoldenpig，andthewormsatehimupwhilehewasstillalive。Idon’tknowwhy，\"saidEmplaintively，\"butshejustputherbooksunderherarmandwalkedout；andshewillnevercometohisschoolagain，shesays，andshealwaysdoeswhatshesays。AndnowImustsithereeverydayalone，\"saidEm，thegreattearsdroppingsoftly。
\"PerhapsTantSanniewillsendhimaway，\"saidtheboy，inhismumblingway，tryingtocomforther。
\"No，\"saidEm，shakingherhead；\"no。LastnightwhenthelittleHottentotmaidwaswashingherfeet，hetoldherhelikedsuchfeet，andthatfatwomenweresonicetohim；andshesaidImustalwaysputpurecreaminhiscoffeenow。No；he’llnevergoaway，\"saidEmdolorously。
Theboyputdownhisskinsandfumbledinhispocket，andproducedasmallpieceofpapercontainingsomething。Hestuckitouttowardher。
\"There，takeitforyou，\"hesaid。Thiswasbywayofcomfort。
Emopeneditandfoundasmallbitofgum，acommodityprizedbythechildren；butthegreattearsdroppeddownslowlyontoit。
Waldowasdistressed。Hehadcriedsomuchinhismorseloflifethattearsinanotherseemedtoburnhim。
\"If，\"hesaid，steppinginawkwardlyandstandingbythetable，\"ifyouwillnotcryIwilltellyousomething——asecret。\"
\"Whatisthat？\"askedEm，instantlybecomingdecidedlybetter。
\"Youwilltellittonohumanbeing？\"
\"No。\"
Hebentnearertoher，andwithdeepsolemnitysaid：
\"Ihavemadeamachine！\"
Emopenedhereyes。
\"Yes；amachineforshearingsheep。Itisalmostdone，\"saidtheboy。
\"Thereisonlyonethingthatisnotrightyet；butitwillbesoon。Whenyouthink，andthink，andthink，allnightandallday，itcomesatlast，\"
headdedmysteriously。
\"Whereisit？\"
\"Here！Ialwayscarryithere，\"saidtheboy，puttinghishandtohisbreast，whereabulging—outwasvisible。\"Thisisamodel。Whenitisdonetheywillhavetomakealargeone。\"
\"Showitme。\"
Theboyshookhishead。
\"No，nottillitisdone。Icannotletanyhumanbeingseeittillthen。\"
\"Itisabeautifulsecret，\"saidEm；andtheboyshuffledouttopickuphisskins。
Thateveningfatherandsonsatinthecabineatingtheirsupper。Thefathersigheddeeplysometimes。PerhapshethoughthowlongatimeitwassinceBonapartehadvisitedthecabin；buthissonwasinthatlandinwhichsighshavenopart。Itisaquestionwhetheritwerenotbettertobetheshabbiestoffools，andknowthewayupthelittlestairofimaginationtothelandofdreams，thanthewisestofmen，whoseenothingthattheeyesdonotshow，andfeelnothingthatthehandsdonottouch。
Theboychewedhisbrownbreadanddrankhiscoffee；butintruthhesawonlyhismachinefinished——thatlastsomethingfoundoutandadded。Hesawitasitworkedwithbeautifulsmoothness；andoverandabove，ashechewedhisbreadanddrankhiscoffee，therewasthatdelightfulconsciousnessofsomethingbendingoverhimandlovinghim。Itwouldnothavebeenbetterinoneofthecourtsofheaven，wherethewallsaresetwithrowsoftheKingofGlory’samethystsandmilk—whitepearls，thanthere，eatinghissupperinthatlittleroom。
Astheysatinsilencetherewasaknockatthedoor。Whenitwasopenedthesmallwoollyheadofalittleniggershoweditself。ShewasamessengerfromTantSannie：theGermanwaswantedatonceatthehomestead。Puttingonhishatwithbothhands，hehurriedoff。Thekitchenwasindarkness，butinthepantrybeyondTantSannieandhermaidswereassembled。
AKaffergirl，whohadbeengrindingpepperbetweentwostones，kneltonthefloor，theleanHottentotstoodwithabrasscandlestickinherhand，andTantSannie，neartheshelf，withahandoneachhip，wasevidentlylisteningintently，aswerehercompanions。
\"Whatmaybeit？\"criedtheoldGermaninastonishment。Theroombeyondthepantrywasthestoreroom。Throughthethinwoodenpartitiontherearoseatthatinstant，evidentlyfromsomecreatureensconcedthere，aprolongedandprodigioushowl，followedbyasuccessionofviolentblowsagainstthepartitionwall。
TheGermanseizedthechurn—stick，andwasabouttorushroundthehouse，whentheBoer—womanimpressivelylaidherhanduponhisarm。
\"Thatishishead，\"saidTantSannie，\"thatishishead。\"
\"Butwhatmightitbe？\"askedtheGerman，lookingfromonetotheother，churn—stickinhand。
Alowhollowbellowpreventedreply，andthevoiceofBonapartelifteditselfonhigh。
\"Mary—Ann！myangel！mywife！\"
\"Isn’titdreadful？\"saidTantSannie，astheblowswererepeatedfiercely。
\"Hehasgotaletter；hiswifeisdead。Youmustgoandcomforthim，\"saidTantSannieatlast，\"andIwillgowithyou。Itwouldnotbethethingformetogoalone——me，whoamonlythirty—three，andheanunmarriedmannow，\"saidTantSannie，blushingandsmoothingoutherapron。
Uponthistheyalltrudgedroundthehouseincompany——theHottentotmaidcarryingthelight，TantSannieandtheGermanfollowing，andtheKaffergirlbringinguptherear。
\"Oh，\"saidTantSannie，\"Iseenowitwasn’twickednessmadehimdowithouthiswifesolong——onlynecessity。\"
AtthedoorshemotionedtotheGermantoenter，andfollowedhimclosely。
OnthestretcherbehindthesacksBonapartelayonhisface，hisheadpressedintoapillow，hislegskickinggently。TheBoer—womansatdownonaboxatthefootofthebed。TheGermanstoodwithfoldedhandslookingon。
\"Wemustalldie，\"saidTantSannieatlast；\"itisthedearLord’swill。\"
Hearinghervoice，Bonaparteturnedhimselfontohisback。
\"It’sveryhard，\"saidTantSannie，\"Iknow，forI’velosttwohusbands。\"
BonapartelookedupintotheGerman’sface。
\"Oh，whatdoesshesay？Speaktomewordsofcomfort！\"
TheGermanrepeatedTantSannie’sremark。
\"Ah，I——Ialso！Twodear，dearwives，whomIshallneverseeanymore！\"
criedBonaparte，flinginghimselfbackuponthebed。
Hehowled，tillthetarantulas，wholivedbetweentheraftersandthezincroof，felttheunusualvibration，andlookedoutwiththeirwickedbrighteyes，toseewhatwasgoingon。
TantSanniesighed，theHottentotmaidsighed，theKaffergirlwholookedinatthedoorputherhandoverhermouthandsaid\"Mow—wah！\"
\"YoumusttrustintheLord，\"saidTantSannie。\"Hecangiveyoumorethanyouhavelost。\"