suddenly darken the doorway, or that some inexplicable replica of
his presence should enter the room. Oh if she could but obtain some
news, read but one line that his hand had traced!

It is a truism to insist on the associations which this or that
particular spot, sometime occupied in common with a presence--gone, it
may be, for ever--calls back to the mind, because even the most
unimaginative must, in their heart of hearts, own to a consciousness of
having at sometime in their lives gone through this feeling. Lalante of
course, was not unimaginative, and the associations which every stick
and stone of the place conjured up were overwhelming in their sense of
utter desolation. It seemed that every word that had passed between
them sounded again in her ears, this jest here and on such an occasion,
that light banter or grave discussion there, each and all at such a time
and on such a spot. Within doors, outside on the stoep, or in the open
veldt it was all the same, that awful, intense craving for the presence
which was no longer there.

The patter of running feet and the light laughter of child voices--then
her two small brothers came round from the back of the house.

"Time to go back Lala, hey? Oh!"

There was that in their sister's look which turned both of them suddenly
grave. A small hand--hot and of course not over clean--stole into each
of Lalante's, and two untidy heads nestled against her, one on each
side. These two had long since gained an inkling of the real state of
affairs. Now they meant to be consolatory, but of course didn't know
what to say, so they said nothing.

"You darlings, yes it is," she answered. "Go and tell Sixpence to bring
round the horses."

The former unreliable herd had been given the post of general out-door
caretaker of the place--owing again to Lalante's pleading. Now he
appeared, leading the three horses, a grin of cordiality making a white
stripe across his broad face. He, again launched forth into inquiry as
to when the _Baas_ would return.

"_Ou_! but he hoped it would be soon," he went on, when he got his
answer. "That was a _Baas_ to serve, none like him in the land. He was
great, he was a chief indeed. He was his--Sixpence's--father, and his
heart was sore until his father's presence was over him once more."

Lalante smiled, still sadly as she gave the Kafir the length of tobacco
which she had brought over for him. Even this raw savage had an
affection