three weeks now, and he was ready
to own that she had proved a very great acquisition indeed. She had
adapted herself so wholeheartedly to their way of life, and she and
Edala had taken to each other wonderfully. It was good for Edala to
have the companionship of someone approximately near her own age; the
difficulty hitherto had been to obtain such companionship for her. And
as regarded himself, why her demeanour was perfection. She could talk
brilliantly and well upon all his favourite topics, without ever
becoming contradictious or argumentative, as is the way of her sex. She
forestalled his every want, yet in such a tactful unobtrusive way; and
while perfectly frank and unconstrained, she always managed to bring
into her intercourse with him just that little scarcely perceptible
touch of deference which the difference between their ages rendered so
charming. It had more than once occurred to him that Edala might become
jealous, but with a certain grim sadness he had recognised that it might
not be altogether a bad thing if Edala did.

Now the said Edala reappeared, clad in what she termed her `Robin Hood
suit,' which by the way did not denote `bloomers' or any such atrocity,
but was merely an exceedingly workman-like blouse and skirt of sage
green, an excellent hue for blending with the prevailing tints of the
surrounding bush country. Her golden head was crowned by a soft felt
hat, without any adornment whatever.

"Father!" she cried, "you haven't done anything towards getting up the
horses, or getting things ready. And _we_ are ready."

"I don't see `we' all the same," he laughed. "I only see one. And the
day has hardly begun. Hullo! What's all that about?"

`That' was represented by an abominable and riotous clamour suddenly
raised by the dogs, who were lying outside. They had sprung up and were
pouring forth hideous defiance to the world at large. Quickly each had
seized the binoculars lying always handy for the scrutiny of new
arrivals or passers-by in the distance--and were out on the stoep.

"Why it's Elvesdon and--Prior," said Thornhill, lowering the glasses.
"And they've both brought guns. You didn't send word, did you, that you
were plotting this hunt?"

"No, and it's a beastly bore they've turned up just now," she answered
pettishly. "Now I can't take my gun."

"Why not?"

"You know I never shoot when there's a crowd."

"Oh well. We know Elvesdon well enough by this time, and Pr