n
open door that seemed to lead whither she desired to go. She
fancied that it was out of sight of the two men on the _stoep_, but
as she reached it, she realized her mistake. For there fell a
sudden step close to her, and as she paused irresolute, Burke's
figure blocked the opening. He stood looking at her, pipe in hand.

"So--you are up!" he said.

His voice was quite friendly, yet she was possessed by a strong
feeling that he did not want her there.

She looked back at him in some embarrassment. "I hope you don't
mind," she said. "I was only coming out for a breath of air."

"Why should I mind?" said Burke. "Come and sit on the _stoep_! My
neighbour, Piet Vreiboom, is there, but he is just going."

He spoke the last words with great distinctness, and it occurred to
her that he meant them to be overheard.

She hung back. "Oh, I don't think I will. I can't talk Dutch.
Really I would rather----"

"He understands a little English," said Burke. "But don't be
surprised at anything he says! He isn't very perfect."

He stood against the wall for her to pass him, and she did so with
a feeling that she had no choice. Very reluctantly she moved out
on to the wooden _stoep_, and turned towards the visitor. The
orange of the sunset was behind her, turning her hair to living
gold. It fell full upon the face of the man before her, and she
was conscious of a powerful sense of repugnance. Low-browed,
wide-nosed, and prominent of jaw, with close-set eyes of monkeyish
craft, such was the countenance of Piet Vreiboom. He sat and
stared at her, his hat on his head, his pipe in his mouth.

"How do you do, Mrs. Ranger?" he said.

Sylvia checked her advance, but in a moment Burke Ranger's hand
closed, upon her elbow, quietly impelling her forward.

"Mr. Vreiboom saw you with me at Ritzen yesterday," he said, and
she suddenly remembered the knot of Boer farmers at the hotel-door
and the staring eyes that had abashed her.

She glanced up at Burke, but his face was quite emotionless. Only
something about him--an indefinable something--held her back from
correcting the mistake that Vreiboom had made. She looked at the
seated Boer with a dignity wholly unconscious. "How do you do?"
she said coolly.

He stretched out a hand to her. His smile was familiar. "I hope
you like the farm, Mrs. Ranger," he said.

"She has hardly seen it yet," said Burke.

There was a slight pause before Sylvia gave her hand. This