acy of companionship, which under the
circumstances might have been expected. A kind of constraint seemed to
rest between them, and yet why? It was puzzling. Remembering the real
emotion displayed by his host when the latter had learned what had
occurred that morning, it was even more puzzling. He did not fail,
however, to note that the affection seemed mostly on the parental side.
This struck him as strange: nor did there appear to be anything to
account for it. There was nothing of the tyrannical or even irritable
type of parent about his host, who, on the contrary, seemed calm and
quiet and considerate in everything he said or did; he himself had been
greatly taken with him. What then could it mean?

Ah, now a solution presented itself. The girl had probably contracted
some engagement, or wanted to, to which her father had objected. And in
the result there was an estrangement between them. He had seen one or
two cases of the kind before. The thought, however, seemed to depress
him though half-unconsciously. Yet why should it? What could it
possibly matter to him--he asked himself. Yes, what the devil could it
matter to him? Thus pondering, he joined in the conversation in a
half-absent kind of way, though wholly unconscious of any such frame of
mind. The fact, however, did not escape his host, who was divided in
opinion as to the cause.

"I suppose you've had a good deal of experience in the native
department," said the latter, when they had got into roomy cane-chairs
on the verandah and pipes were in full blast. Edala had retired,
announcing an intention of having forty winks and reappearing when it
was cooler.

"Fair. I was on the Pondo border for a time. It was more interesting,
in a way, still I'm glad to get back here."

"What do you think of these rumours of unrest?" said Thornhill.

"There is unrest, and it wants careful handling. Still you haven't got
to believe everything you hear. I've been doing a round since I came,
trying to get at the general feeling. I was at Tongwana's kraal this
morning and the old chap was profusely civil, so were all his people: in
fact it was on my way back from there that I--er--first met your
daughter."

"Oh, Tongwana? Yes, he's all right. By the way, I was forgetting. If
you'll excuse me for a minute I'll send some boys down to collect your
saddle and bridle."

"Thanks. I daresay you could lend me some sort of a mount to get home
on, could you?