istance gave promise of thunder. Ben Halse had been
detained longer than he had reckoned on, but had found it unnecessary to
go on to Durban. In a day or two he expected to return home. The time
at Ezulwini went by pleasantly enough. The trader had several old
friends in the place, and Verna was in request for tennis, here or
there. So, too, was Denham, who had at once been made free of the ready
friendliness of a small community.

"Talking of Denham," went on Ben Halse, puffing at a newly lighted pipe
that would only half draw, "it's a rum thing, Verna, that just as you
had been wondering what sort of chap he was he should have turned up
here."

"Yes, isn't it? But I hope he won't find it too rough with us," she
added somewhat anxiously.

"Not he. Didn't he say he'd knocked about in South America? I expect
it's a sight rougher in parts there than here. He's a man who takes
things as they come, rely upon it. And he doesn't put on an atom of
`side.'"

Incidentally, "side" is _the_ unpardonable sin among our colonial
brethren, and rightly so.

"No, that he certainly doesn't," assented Verna decisively. "Oh, I dare
say it'll be all right."

At the same time she was wondering as to this anxiety on behalf of this
particular guest's comfort. She had never done so on behalf of any
other, had never dreamed of giving any such consideration a second
thought. They must just take them as they found them, or, if not, stay
away, was her rule.

"Why, here comes Harry Stride," said Ben, looking up. "He seems a bit
cross by the way he's walking. You can nearly always tell a man's mood
by the way he walks. Hallo, Harry!"

The young prospector turned to join them, only too delighted. He was a
handsome and manly-looking young fellow, as Verna was not slow to
recognise as she noted his tall form coming down the garden path.

"Come from the club, Harry?" said the trader.

"Yes, I couldn't stick it any longer. That man Denham's there, laying
down the law, as usual. I'm fed up with Denham. It seems that a man
has only to come out from home with enough coin, and crowd on enough
`side,' and--"

"But this one doesn't crowd on `side,'" interrupted Verna quietly.

The other stared.

"Oh, I beg your pardon," he said. "I forgot he was a friend of yours.
I ought to have remembered."

"We most of us suffer from lapse of memory at times, Harry," said Ben
Halse kindly. "Often two people don't take to each other, a