boy," said Mr Van Stolz, as they
walked back to the office together, "or I would say, Clear out. I know
you are dying to go up to Suffield's. But it may be in early, and
there's sure to be nothing of much importance. After it's in, you can
clear out as soon as you like. Hark! there's the horn now. The cart's
just coming over the neck."

It was. About a mile or so up the road they could make out the rising
dust, which should soon resolve itself into a weather-beaten,
two-wheeled cart, laden with mail-sacks, and driven by a yellow-skinned
Hottentot, tootling on a battered trumpet. Nor was it much longer
before a portion of its contents was duly transferred to the public
offices.

"Congratulate me, Musgrave!" cried Mr Van Stolz, skipping into his
subordinate's room, with an open official letter in his hand.
"Congratulate me! I'm promoted!"

But the beaming and joyous expression of his countenance found no
reflection in that of Roden, who said--

"As far as you are the better for it, I do most heartily. Speaking
selfishly, however, it's the worst news I've heard for many a long day."

The other stared for a moment, then his face softened. No
congratulations could have conveyed a more direct tribute to the esteem
in which he was held by the speaker.

"Thanks, old fellow," he said, "I know what you mean. We've always got
on right well together, I really believe."

"Got on? I should rather think we had. The man who couldn't get on
with you could get on with nobody."

Still more did the other stare. This habitually cold, reserved cynic!
To hear him now, would be to think the man was full of heart.

"I'm afraid my congratulation is of a rueful order at best," said Roden,
with a smile. "And now, where is the transfer to, and what increase
does it carry?"

"Barabastadt. It's just such another hole as Doppersdorp--poor old
Doppersdorp isn't such a bad little place though. It's away in the
Karroo at the foot of the Rooi Ruggensbergen. Good springbok shooting,
I believe. And it means 100 pounds a year more, which is a
consideration when a man's hat doesn't cover all his family. Look;
there's the letter."

Roden ran his eye down the sheet, which set forth in official rigmarole
that His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive
Council, had been pleased to appoint Mr Peter Van Stolz to be Civil
Commissioner and Resident Magistrate of Barabastadt, at a salary of so
much per annum, in th