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have the pleasure of serving him for nought that once served me for
neither money nor reward。〃
〃You are a good woman；〃 said the doctor warmly。
〃There's better； and there's worse；〃 said Phoebe quietly； and even
a little coldly。
〃More of the latter；〃 said the doctor dryly。 〃Well； Mrs。？〃
〃Falcon； sir。〃
〃We shall hand him over to your care： but firstjust for formif
you are a married woman； we should like to see Dick here： he is
your husband； I presume。〃
Ploebe laughed merrily。 〃Dick is my brother； and he can't be
spared to come here。 Dick！ he'd say black was white if I told him
to。〃
〃Then let us see your husband about itjust for form。〃
〃My husband is at the farm。 I could not venture so far away； and
not leave him in charge。〃 If she had said； 〃I will not bring him
into temptation；〃 that would have been nearer the truth。 〃Let that
fly stick on the wall； sir。 What I do； my husband will approve。〃
〃I see how it is。 You rule the roost。〃
Phoebe did not reply point…blank to that； she merely said； 〃All my
chickens are happy； great and small；〃 and an expression of lofty；
womanly； innocent pride illuminated her face and made it superb for
a moment。
In short； it was settled that Staines should accompany her next
morning to Dale's Kloof Farm； if he chose。 On inquiry； it appeared
that he had just returned to the hospital with his patient。 He was
sent for； and Phoebe asked him sweetly if he would go with her to
her house； one hundred and eighty miles away； and she would be kind
to him。
〃On the water？〃
〃Nay； by land； but 'tis a fine country； and you will see beautiful
deer and things running across the plains； and〃
〃Shall I find the past again； the past again？〃
〃Ay； poor soul； that we shall； God willing。 You and I； we will
hunt it together。〃
He looked at her； and gave her his hand。 〃I will go with you。
Your face belongs to the past； so does your voice。〃
He then inquired； rather abruptly； had she any children。 She
smiled。
〃Ay； that I have； the loveliest little boy you ever saw。 When you
are as you used to be； you will be his doctor； won't you？〃
〃Yes； I will nurse him； and you will help me find the past。〃
Phoebe then begged Staines to be ready to start at six in the
morning。 She and Dick would take him up on their way。
While she was talking to him the doctor slipped out； and to tell
the truth he went to consult with another authority； whether he
should take this opportunity of telling Staines that he had money
and jewels at the bank： he himself was half inclined to do so； but
the other； who had not seen Phoebe's face； advised him to do
nothing of the kind。 〃They are always short of money； these
colonial farmers；〃 said he； 〃she would get every shilling out of
him。〃
〃Most would； but this is such an honest face。〃
〃Well； but she is a mother； you say。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； what mother could be just to a lunatic； with her own sweet
angel babes to provide for？〃
〃That is true；〃 said Dr。 。 〃Maternal love is apt to modify the
conscience。〃
〃What I would do；I would take her address； and make her promise
to write if he gets well； and if he does get well then write to
HIM； and tell him all about it。〃
Dr。 acted on this shrewd advice； and ordered a bundle to be
made up for the traveller out of the hospital stores： it contained
a nice light summer suit and two changes of linen。
CHAPTER XVIII。
Next morning； Staines and Dick Dale walked through the streets of
Cape Town side by side。 Dick felt the uneasiness of a sane man；
not familiar with the mentally afflicted； who suddenly finds
himself alone with one。 Insanity turns men oftenest into sheep and
hares； but it does now and then make them wolves and tigers； and
that has saddled the insane in general with a character for
ferocity。 Young Dale； then； cast many a suspicious glance at his
comrade； as he took him along。 These glances were reassuring：
Christopher's face had no longer the mobility； the expressive
changes； that mark the superior mind； his countenance was
monotonous： but the one expression was engaging； there was a sweet；
patient； lamb…like look： the glorious eye a little troubled and
perplexed； but wonderfully mild。 Dick Dale looked and looked； and
his uneasiness vanished。 And the more he looked； the more did a
certain wonder creep over him； and make him scarce believe the
thing he knew； viz。； that a learned doctor had saved him from the
jaws of death by rare knowledge； sagacity； courage； and skill
combined： and that mighty man of wisdom was brought down to this
lamb； and would go north； south； east； or west； with sweet and
perfect submission； even as he； Dick Dale； should appoint。 With
these reflections honest Dick felt his eyes get a little misty；
and； to use those words of Scripture； which nothing can surpass or
equal； his bowels yearned over the man。
As for Christopher； he looked straight forward； and said not a word
till they cleared the town； but when he saw the vast flowery vale；
and the far…off violet hills； like Scotland glorified； he turned to
Dick with an ineffable expression of sweetness and good fellowship；
and said； 〃Oh； beautiful！ We'll hunt the past together。〃
〃WewillSO；〃 said Dick； with a sturdy and indeed almost a stern
resolution。
Now； this he said； not that he cared for the past； nor intended to
waste the present by going upon its predecessor's trail； but he had
come to a resolutionfull three minutes agoto humor his
companion to the top of his bent； and say 〃Yes〃 with hypocritical
vigor to everything not directly and immediately destructive to him
and his。
The next moment they turned a corner and came upon the rest of
their party； hitherto hidden by the apricot hedge and a turning in
the road。 A blue…black Kafir； with two yellow Hottentot drivers；
man and boy； was harnessing； in the most primitive mode； four
horses on to the six oxen attached to the wagon； and the horses
were flattening their ears； and otherwise resenting the
incongruity。 Meantime a fourth figure； a colossal young Kafir
woman； looked on superior with folded arms； like a sable Juno
looking down with that absolute composure upon the struggles of man
and other animals； which Lucretius and his master Epicurus assigned
to the Divine nature。 Without jesting； the grandeur； majesty； and
repose of this figure were unsurpassable in nature； and such as
have vanished from sculpture two thousand years and more。
Dick Dale joined the group immediately； and soon arranged the
matter。 Meantime； Phoebe descended from the wagon； and welcomed
Christopher very kindly； and asked him if he would like to sit
beside her； or to walk。
He glanced into the wagon； it was covered and curtained； and dark
as a cupboard。 〃I think；〃 said he； timidly； 〃I shall see more of
the past out here。〃
〃So you will； poor soul；〃 said Phoebe kindly； 〃and better for your
health： but you must not go far from the wagon； for I'm a fidget；
and I have got the care of you now； you know； for want of a better。
Come； Ucatella； you must ride with me； and help me sort the things；
they are all higgledy…piggledy。〃 So those two got into the wagon
through the back c