carrying some articles in a basket, soap, I think, and tea in a packet,
amongst them. I told Hans to take the basket and bear it to the
house for her. He went off with it and, walking slowly, we fell into
conversation.

"Your father must do very well here," I said, nodding at the store with
the crowd of natives round it.

"Yes," she answered, "he makes much money which he puts in a bank at the
coast, for living costs us nothing and there is great profit in what he
buys and sells, also in the crops he grows and in the cattle. But," she
added pathetically, "what is the use of money in a place like this?"

"You can get things with it," I answered vaguely.

"That is what my father says, but what does he get? Strong stuff to
drink; dresses for those women down there, and sometimes pearls, jewels
and other things for me which I do not want. I have a box full of them
set in ugly gold, or loose which I cannot use, and if I put them on, who
is there to see them? That clever half-breed, Thomaso--for he is clever
in his way, faithful too--or the women down there--no one else."

"You do not seem to be happy, Miss Inez."

"No. I cannot tell how unhappy others are, who have met none, but
sometimes I think that I must be the most miserable woman in the world."

"Oh! no," I replied cheerfully, "plenty are worse off."

"Then, Mr. Quatermain, it must be because they cannot feel. Did you ever
have a father whom you loved?"

"Yes, Miss Inez. He is dead, but he was a very good man, a kind of
saint. Ask my servant, the little Hottentot Hans; he will tell you about
him."

"Ah! a very good man. Well, as you may have guessed, mine is not, though
there is much good in him, for he has a kind heart, and a big brain. But
the drink and those women down there, they ruin him," and she wrung her
hands.

"Why don't you go away?" I blurted out.

"Because it is my duty to stop. That is what my religion teaches me,
although of it I know little except through books, who have seen no
priest for years except one who was a missionary, a Baptist, I think,
who told me that my faith was false and would lead me to hell. Yes, not
understanding how I lived, he said that, who did not know that hell is
here. No, I cannot go, who hopes always that still God and the Saints
will show me how to save my father, even though it be with my blood. And
now I have said too much to you who are quite a stranger. Yet, I do not
know why, I feel that you will not betr