German, growing suddenly
excited. "Some one else, but not he. I know that boy. I knew him three
years. He is a good boy. I have seen him deeply affected on account of
his soul. And she would send the police after him! I say I would rather
make the loss good myself. I will not have it; he has fled in fear.
I know his heart. It was," said the German, with a little gentle
hesitation, "under my words that he first felt his need of a Saviour."

Bonaparte cracked some more almonds, then said, yawning, and more as
though he asked for the sake of having something to converse about than
from any interest he felt in the subject:

"And what has become of the herd's wife?"

The German was alight again in a moment.

"Yes; his wife. She has a child six days old, and Tant Sannie would turn
her out into the fields this night. That," said the German rising, "that
is what I call cruelty--diabolical cruelty. My soul abhors that deed.
The man that could do such a thing I could run him through with a
knife!" said the German, his grey eyes flashing, and his bushy black
beard adding to the murderous fury of his aspect. Then suddenly
subsiding, he said, "But all is now well; Tant Sannie gives her word
that the maid shall remain for some days. I go to Oom Muller's tomorrow
to learn if the sheep may not be there. If they are not, then I return.
They are gone, that is all. I make it good."

"Tant Sannie is a singular woman," said Bonaparte, taking the tobacco
bag the German passed to him.

"Singular! Yes," said the German; "but her heart is on her right side.
I have lived long years with her, and I may say, I have for her an
affection, which she returns. I may say," added the German with warmth,
"I may say, that there is not one soul on this farm for whom I have not
an affection."

"Ah, my friend," said Bonaparte, "when the grace of God is in our
hearts, is it not with us all? Do we not love the very worm we tread
upon, and as we tread upon it? Do we know distinctions of race, or of
sex, or of colour? No!

"'Love so amazing, so divine,
It fills my soul, my life, my all.'"

After a time he sank into a less fervent mood, and remarked:

"The coloured female who waits upon Tant Sannie appears to be of a
virtuous disposition, an individual who--"

"Virtuous!" said the German; "I have confidence in her. There is that in
her which is pure, that which is noble. The rich and high that walk this
earth with lofty eyelids might exch