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they got into a rich strata； where they found garnets by the pint；
and some small diamonds； and at last； one lucky day； their largest
diamond。 It weighed thirty…seven carats； and was a rich yellow。
Now； when a diamond is clouded or off color； it is terribly
depreciated； but a diamond with a positive color is called a fancy
stone； and ranks with the purest stones。
〃I wish I had this in Cape Town；〃 said Staines。
〃Why； I'll take it to Cape Town； if you like；〃 said the changeable
Falcon。
〃You will？〃 said Christopher； surprised。
〃Why not？ I'm not much of a digger。 I can serve our interest
better by selling。 I could get a thousand pounds for this at Cape
Town。〃
〃We will talk of that quietly；〃 said Christopher。
Now； the fact is； Falcon； as a digger； was not worth a pin。 He
could not sort。 His eyes would not bear the blinding glare of a
tropical sun upon lime and dazzling bits of mica； quartz； crystal；
white topaz； etc。； in the midst of which the true glint of the
royal stone had to be caught in a moment。 He could not sort； and
he had not the heart to dig。 The only way to make him earn his
half was to turn him into the travelling and selling partner。
Christopher was too generous to tell him this； but he acted on it；
and said he thought his was an excellent proposal； indeed； he had
better take all the diamonds they had got to Dale's Kloof first；
and show them to his wife； for her consolation： 〃And perhaps；〃 said
he； 〃in a matter of this importance； she will go to Cape Town with
you； and try the market there。〃
〃All right；〃 said Falcon。
He sat and brooded over the matter a long time； and said； 〃Why make
two bites of a cherry？ They will only give us half the value at
Cape Town； why not go by the steamer to England； before the London
market is glutted； and all the world finds out that diamonds are as
common as dirt？〃
〃Go to England！ What！ without your wife？ I'll never be a party to
that。 Me part man and wife！ If you knew my own story〃
〃Why； who wants you？〃 said Reginald。 〃You don't understand。
Phoebe is dying to visit England again； but she has got no excuse。
If you like to give her one； she will be much obliged to you； I can
tell you。〃
〃Oh； that is a very different matter。 If Mrs。 Falcon can leave her
farm〃
〃Oh； that brute of a brother of hers is a very honest fellow； for
that matter。 She can trust the farm to him。 Besides； it is only a
month's voyage by the mail steamer。〃
This suggestion of Falcon's set Christopher's heart bounding； and
his eyes glistening。 But he restrained himself； and said； 〃This
takes me by surprise； let me smoke a pipe over it。〃
He not only did that； but he lay awake all night。
The fact is that for some time past； Christopher had felt sharp
twinges of conscience； and deep misgivings as to the course he had
pursued in leaving his wife a single day in the dark。 Complete
convalescence had cleared his moral sentiments； and perhaps； after
all； the discovery of the diamonds had co…operated； since now the
insurance money was no longer necessary to keep his wife from
starving。
〃Ah！〃 said he； 〃faith is a great quality； and how I have lacked
it！〃
To do him justice； he knew his wife's excitable nature； and was not
without fears of some disaster； should the news be communicated to
her unskilfully。
But this proposal of Falcon's made the way clearer。 Mrs。 Falcon；
though not a lady； had all a lady's delicacy； and all a woman's
tact and tenderness。 He knew no one in the world more fit to be
trusted with the delicate task of breaking to his Rosa that the
grave； for once； was baffled； and her husband lived。 He now became
quite anxious for Falcon's departure； and ardently hoped that
worthy had not deceived himself as to Mrs。 Falcon's desire to visit
England。
In short； it was settled that Falcon should start for Dale's Kloof；
taking with him the diamonds； believed to be worth altogether three
thousand pounds at Cape Town； and nearly as much again in England；
and a long letter to Mrs。 Falcon； in which Staines revealed his
true story； told her where to find his wife； or hear of her； viz。；
at Kent Villa； Gravesend； and sketched an outline of instructions
as to the way； and cunning degrees； by which the joyful news should
be broken to her。 With this he sent a long letter to be given to
Rosa herself； but not till she should know all： and in this letter
he enclosed the ruby ring she had given him。 That ring had never
left his finger； by sea or land； in sickness or health。
The letter to Rosa was sealed。 The two letters made quite a
packet； for； in the letter to his beloved Rosa； he told her
everything that had befallen him。 It was a romance； and a picture
of love； a letter to lift a loving woman to heaven； and almost
reconcile her to all her bereaved heart had suffered。
This letter； written with many tears from the heart that had so
suffered； and was now softened by good fortune and bounding with
joy； Staines entrusted to Falcon； together with the other diamonds；
and with many warm shakings of the hand； started him on his way。
〃But mind； Falcon；〃 said Christopher； 〃I shall expect an answer
from Mrs。 Falcon in twenty days at farthest。 I do not feel so sure
as you do that she wants to go to England； and； if not； I must
write to Uncle Philip。 Give me your solemn promise； old fellow； an
answer in twenty daysif you have to send a Kafir on horseback。〃
〃I give you my honor；〃 said Falcon superbly。
〃Send it to me at Bulteel's Farm。〃
〃All right。 'Dr。 Christie； Bulteel's Farm。'〃
〃Wellno。 Why should I conceal my real name any longer from such
friends as you and your wife？ Christie is short for Christopher
that IS my Christian name； but my surname is Staines。 Write to
'Dr。 Staines。'〃
〃Dr。 Staines！〃
〃Yes。 Did you ever hear of me？〃
Falcon wore a strange look。 〃I almost think I have。 Down at
Gravesend； or somewhere。〃
〃That is curious。 Yes； I married my Rosa there； poor thing！ God
bless her； God comfort her。 She thinks me dead。〃
His voice trembled； he grasped Falcon's cold hand till the latter
winced again； and so they parted； and Falcon rode off muttering；
〃Dr。 Staines！ so then YOU are Dr。 Staines。〃
CHAPTER XXII。
Rosa Staines had youth on her side； and it is an old saying that
youth will not be denied。 Youth struggled with death for her； and
won the battle。
But she came out of that terrible fight weak as a child。 The sweet
pale face； the widow's cap； the suit of deep blackit was long ere
these came down from the sickroom。 And when they did； oh； the dead
blank！ The weary； listless life！ The days spent in sighs； and
tears； and desolation。 Solitude！ solitude！ Her husband was gone；
and a strange woman played the mother to her child before her eyes。
Uncle Philip was devotedly kind to her； and so was her father； but
they could do nothing for her。
Months rolled on； and skinned the wound over。 Months could not
heal。 Her boy became dearer and dearer； and it was from him came
the first real drops of comfort； however feeble。
She used to read her lost one's diary every day； and worship； in
deep sorrow； the mind she had scarcel