ountry animals I can keep there. Shall have to go to England some
day, and then I think we'd better all go together."

"Don't know. We might. Did you hear that, Lyn? We are all to go to
England together."

The girl had just appeared on the stoep. She was looking exquisitely
fair and sweet. There were times when Hilary Blachland could hardly
believe that he was wide awake, and not merely dreaming, that the
presence which had been with him in spirit throughout his wanderings, in
hardship and direst peril, was actually and really with him now, from
day to day, and this was one of them.

"I think it would be rather nice," she answered, coming over to join
them. "But you don't really mean it, father? When?"

"Ask Blachland," was the quizzical rejoinder. "It's his scheme--Eh--
What's up, Jafta?"

For that estimable Hottentot had appeared on the scene with intent to
bespeak his master's presence and attention as to some everyday matter.

"Oh, well, I suppose I must go and see about it," said Bayfield, getting
up.

Over the green gold of the hilltops the summer sunlight swept
gloriously--and the valley bottom lay in a hot shimmer, but here in the
leafy shade it was only warm enough to convey the idea of restful ease.
Bright butterflies flitted amid the flowers, and the hum of bees mingled
with the twittering of noisy finks and the piping of spreuws--not having
the fear of Fred's air-gun before their eyes--in the bosky recesses of
the garden.

Hilary Blachland, lounging there in his cane chair--the very
personification of reposeful ease in his cool white attire--was watching
the beautiful face opposite, noting every turn of the sweet golden head.
There was a difference in Lyn, he decided. It was difficult to define
it exactly, but the difference was there. Was it that something of the
old, frank, childlike ingenuousness seemed to have disappeared?

"Do you remember what we were talking about here, Lyn, that evening we
got back from the Earles'?" he said. "You were wishing that I and your
father were partners."

"Yes. I remember," and the lighting up of her face was not lost upon
him. "And you predicted we should soon find you a most desperate bore.
See how well I remember the very words."

"Quite right, little Lyn. Well, both predictions are going to be
fulfilled."

"But--how?"

"And--I shall be here always, as you were wishing then. Are you still
pleased, little Lyn?"

"Oh, you know I am."