l, for Lalante's
face with all her brave efforts at absolute self-control, was not
without some pathetic trace of the strain she was undergoing.

Supper, that evening, was not a particularly convivial institution; in
fact, the conversation was mainly sustained by Warren. Even the two
small boys were instinctively subdued.

"By Jove, I believe we are going to have a storm," said Warren, as they
got up. "We'd better saddle up and _trek_ before it comes, eh, Wyvern?"

"Well, you might just escape it," said Le Sage, with alacrity. "I'll go
and see about getting the horses up."

The sun was setting in gloomy, lurid fire behind an opaque curtain of
inky cloud, as they went forth into the open air; which said air was
strangely still and boding and oppressive, though now and again a fitful
puff would bring dull distant rumblings of thunder. Wyvern went round
with his uncordial host to the stables, while the others remained on the
_stoep_ to watch it.

"I don't seem to like starting in the face of this," said Warren. "It's
coming up and we shall get it thick about half way."

"Then don't start," said Lalante decisively. "We can easily put you up.
Ah--look!"

A succession of vivid flashes lit up the gloomy murk in the distance,
followed immediately by a heavy, detonating roar.

"I believe you're right," said Warren, meditatively. "By Jove, it's
coming on at express pace--right for us, too."

"One thing is certain," pronounced Lalante, not even trying to suppress
the jubilant ring in her voice, "and that is that you two can't possibly
go: back to-night. It isn't safe. Look how the storm is working up,
right across your road too. No, you can't. Now, can you, Mr Warren?"

"I'm in Wyvern's hands," answered Warren with a laugh, "and he, I
suspect, is in yours."

"Very well. That settles it. Come. We'll go round and tell them not
to bother about getting up the horses, for you're both going to stop the
night. I'm horribly afraid of lightning--for other people."

The livid, inky cloud was slowly and surely advancing, and as she had
said, it was right across the road back to Seven Kloofs. As the two
went forth a distant but heavy boom rolled dully to their ears.

"For other people?" repeated Warren significantly. "And for yourself?
You are never afraid?"

"No, I don't believe I am."

Warren looked at her with warm admiration, and something else--which he
succeeded in disguising the more easily that--as w