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shoot； and me and Dick would do all the work for you。 But there
are others here you can't leave for me。 Well； then； good…by； dear。
In Africa； or here； I shall always love you； and many a salt tear I
shall shed for you yet； many a one I have； as well you know。 God
bless you。 Pray for poor Phoebe； that goes against her will to
Africa； and leaves her heart with thee。〃
This was too much even for the selfish Reginald。 He kneeled at her
knees； and took her hand； and kissed it； and actually shed a tear
or two over it。
She could not speak。 He had no hope of changing her resolution；
and presently he heard Dick's voice outside； so he got up to avoid
him。 〃I'll come again in the morning； before you go。〃
〃Oh； no！ no！〃 she gasped。 〃Unless you want me to die at your feet。
I am almost dead now。〃
Reginald slipped out by the kitchen。
Dick came in； and found his sister leaning with her head back
against the wall。 〃Why； Phoebe；〃 said he； 〃whatever is the
matter？〃 and he took her by the shoulder。
She moaned； and he felt her all limp and powerless。
〃What is it； lass？ Whatever is the matter？ Is it about going
away？〃
She would not speak for a long time。
When she did speak； it was to say something for which my male
reader may not be prepared。 But it will not surprise the women。
〃O Dickforgive me！〃
〃Why； what for？〃
〃Forgive me； or else kill me： I don't care which。〃
〃I do； though。 There； I forgive you。 Now what's your crime？〃
〃I can't go。 Forgive me！〃
〃Can't go？〃
〃I can't。 Forgive me！〃
〃I'm blessed if I don't believe that vagabond has been here
tormenting of you again。〃
〃Oh； don't miscall him。 He is penitent。 Yes； Dick； he has been
here crying to meand I can't leave him。 I can'tI can't。 Dear
Dick！ you are young and stout…hearted； take all the things over；
and make your fortune out there； and leave your poor foolish sister
behind。 I should only fling myself into the salt sea if I left him
now； and that would be peace to me； but a grief to thee。〃
〃Lordsake； Phoebe； don't talk so。 I can't go without you。 And do
but think； why； the horses are on board by now； and all the gear。
It's my belief a good hiding is all you want； to bring you to your
senses； but I han't the heart to give you one； worse luck。 Blessed
if I know what to say or do。〃
〃I won't go！〃 cried Phoebe； turning violent all of a sudden。 〃No；
not if I am dragged to the ship by the hair of my head。 Forgive
me！〃 And with that word she was a mouse again。
〃Eh； but women are kittle cattle to drive；〃 said poor Dick
ruefully。 And down he sat at a nonplus； and very unhappy。
Phoebe sat opposite； sullen； heart…sick； wretched to the core； but
determined not to leave Reginald。
Then came an event that might have been foreseen； yet it took them
both by surprise。
A light step was heard； and a graceful； though seedy； figure
entered the room with a set speech in his mouth： 〃Phoebe； you are
right。 I owe it to your long and faithful affection to make a
sacrifice for you。 I will go to Africa with you。 I will go to the
end of the world； sooner than you shall say I care for any woman on
earth but you。〃
Both brother and sister were so unprepared for this； that they
could hardly realize it at first。
Phoebe turned her great； inquiring eyes on the speaker； and it was
a sight to see amazement； doubt； hope； and happiness animating her
features； one after another。
〃Is this real？〃 said she。
〃I will sail with you to…morrow； Phoebe； and I will make you a good
husband； if you will have me。〃
〃That is spoke like a man；〃 said Dick。 〃You take him at his word；
Phoebe； and if he ill…uses you out there； I'll break every bone in
his skin。〃
〃How dare you threaten him？〃 said Phoebe。 〃You had best leave the
room。〃
Out went poor Dick； with the tear in his eye at being snubbed so。
While he was putting up the shutters； Phoebe was making love to her
pseudo penitent。 〃My dear；〃 said she； 〃trust yourself to me。 You
don't know all my love yet； for I have never been your wife； and I
would not be your jade； that is the only thing I ever refused you。
Trust yourself to me。 Why； you never found happiness with others；
try it with me。 It shall be the best day's work you ever did；
going out in the ship with me。 You don't know how happy a loving
wife can make her husband。 I'll pet you out there as man was never
petted。 And besides； it isn't for life； Dick and me will soon make
a fortune out there； and then I'll bring you home； and see you
spend it any way you like but one。 Oh； how I love you！ do you love
me a little？ I worship the ground you walk on。 I adore every hair
of your head！〃 Her noble arm went round his neck in a moment； and
the grandeur of her passion electrified him so far that he kissed
her affectionately； if not quite so warmly as she did him： and so
it was all settled。 The maid was discharged that night instead of
the morning； and Reginald was to occupy her bed。 Phoebe went up…
stairs with her heart literally on fire； to prepare his sleeping…
room； and so Dick and Reginald had a word。
〃I say； Dick； how long will this voyage be？〃
〃Two months； sir； I am told。〃
〃Please to cast your eyes on this suit of mine。 Don't you think it
is rather seedyto go to Africa with？ Why； I shall disgrace you
on board the ship。 I say； Dick； lend me three sovs。； just to buy a
new suit at the slop…shop。〃
〃Well； brother…in…law；〃 said Dick； 〃I don't see any harm in that。
I'll go and fetch them for you。〃
What does this sensible Dick do but go up…stairs to Phoebe； and
say； 〃He wants three pounds to buy a suit； am I to lend it him？〃
Phoebe was shaking and patting her penitent's pillow。 She dropped
it on the bed in dismay。 〃Oh； Dick； not for all the world！ Why；
if he had three sovereigns； he'd desert me at the water's edge。
Oh； God help me； how I love him！ God forgive me； how I mistrust
him！ Good Dick！ kind Dick！ say we have suits of clothes； and we'll
fit him like a prince； as he ought to be； on board ship； but not a
shilling of money： and； my dear； don't put the weight on ME。 You
understand？〃
〃Ay； mistress； I understand。〃
〃Good Dick！〃
〃Oh； all right！ and then don't you snap this here good； kind Dick's
nose off at a word again。〃
〃Never。 I get wild if anybody threatens him。 Then I'm not myself。
Forgive my hasty tongue。 You know I love you； dear！〃
〃Oh； ay！ you love me well enough。 But seems to me your love is
precious like cold veal； and your love for that chap is hot roast
beef。〃
〃Ha； ha； ha； ha！〃
〃Oh； ye can laugh now； can ye？〃
〃Ha； ha； ha！〃
〃Well； the more of that music； the better for me。〃
〃Yes； dear； but go and tell him。〃
Dick went down； and said； 〃I've got no money to spare； till I get
to the Cape； but Phoebe has got a box full of suits； and I made her
promise to keep it out。 She will dress you like a prince； you may
be sure。〃
〃Oh； that is it； is it？〃 said Reginald dryly。
Dick made no reply。
At nine o'clock they were on board the vessel； at ten she weighed
anchor； and a steam…vessel drew her down the river about thirty
miles； then cast off； and left her to the south…easterly breeze。