claim from a land that was no home to him, only an investment.

Her soul cried out it was no wish of hers that it should be so; but
only silent condemnation seemed to echo back to her from the far blue
hills.

She glanced at the strong, serene face of her companion, and because
somehow he seemed a little less stern and uncompromising to-day she
said to him simply, leaning a little to his side:

"I envy you so, the sense that you have won the right to love her. I
envy the plucky settlers' wives who are the mothers of her future. I
feel myself so utterly an alien. Has Rhodesia any use for ... for such
as I?"

He looked at her strangely, and as he looked she saw an expression
almost like hungry longing come into his eyes; then as suddenly vanish
again, leaving him utterly amazingly stony. He turned his head
sharply, and his gaze became fixed and rigid.

"Millionaires' daughters can usually be pretty useful if they like,"
he said almost brutally; and she felt as if he had struck her. In
sudden anger and bewilderment she touched her horse with her whip and
darted ahead. It was not the words, but the way in which he had said
them. What did he mean?... What did he not mean?... She bit her lips
to keep back the smarting tears that blinded her eyes. She felt as if
she hated him. For a little space he had been so different to the
cold, callous soldier, and in quiet response she had spoken from her
heart; and in return he had said this cutting thing with cold intent,
making her feel that he despised her. Did he see in her only a willing
accomplice to her father's money-making schemes? The one perhaps who
spent the gains heartlessly and carelessly elsewhere? Beside those
settlers' wives he had said were heroines, was she but an idle,
contemptible, useless heiress? She spurred her horse on, letting her
thoughts run away with her, unwilling that he should overtake her
until she had got herself well in hand; and Carew followed behind,
feeling again that sense of a black, rayless abyss all about him. Why
had he looked full and deep into her eyes like that?... Why had he not
gazed only upon the mountains that soothed and refreshed him?... The
mere discovery that the past he thought to have outlived slept so
lightly was a shock to him. Had he not then outlived anything? Had he
only put his memories lightly to sleep, and dreamt all the life he had
lived since? He was scarcely conscious that he had said anything
inconsiderate; he har