按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
reached shore some old friends of her father's took her and him to
their house； a quiet place upon the Berea。 Here； now that the first
excitement of rescue and grief was over； the inevitable reaction set
in； bringing with it weakness so distressing that the doctor insisted
upon her going to bed； where she remained for the next five days。 With
the healing up of the wound in her head her strength came back to her
at last； but it was a very sad Benita who crept from her room one
afternoon on to the verandah and looked out at the cruel sea； peaceful
now as the sky above。
Her father； who had nursed her tenderly during these dark days； came
and sat by her； taking her hand in his。
〃This is capital；〃 he said； glancing at her anxiously。 〃You are
getting quite yourself again。〃
〃I shall never be myself again；〃 she answered。 〃My old self is dead；
although the outside of me has recovered。 Father； I suppose that it is
wrong； but I wish that I were dead too。 I wish that he had taken me
with him when he jumped into the sea to lighten the boat。〃
〃Don't speak like that；〃 he broke in hastily。 〃Of course I know that I
am not much to youhow can I be after all that is past？ But I love
you； dear； and if I were left quite alone again〃 And he broke off。
〃You shall not be left alone if I can help it；〃 she replied； looking
at the old man with her dark and tender eyes。 〃We have only each other
in the world now； have we？ The rest have gone； never to return。〃
He threw his arms about her； and； drawing her to him； kissed her
passionately。
〃If only you could learn to love me！〃 he said。
〃I do love you；〃 she answered； 〃who now shall never love any other man
upon the earth。〃
This was the beginning of a deep affection which sprang up between Mr。
Clifford and his daughter； and continued to the end。
〃Is there any news？〃 she asked a little later。
〃Nonenone about him。 The tide took his body away； no doubt； after
the Kaffir had gone。 I remember him well now。 He was a fine young man；
and it comes into my mind that when I said good…bye to him above those
old ruins； I wished that I had a son like that。 And to think that he
went so near to becoming a son to me！ Well； the grass must bend when
the wind blows； as the natives say。〃
〃I am glad that you knew him；〃 she answered simply。
Then they began talking about other matters。 He told her that all the
story had become known； and that people spoke of Robert Seymour as
〃the hero〃； also that there was a great deal of curiosity about her。
〃Then let us get away as soon as we can；〃 she said nervously。 〃But；
Father； where are we going？〃
〃That will be for you to decide； love。 Listen； now； this is my
position。 I have been quite steady for years； and worked hard； with
the result that I and my partner have a fine farm in the Transvaal； on
the high land near Lake Chrissie； out Wakkerstroom way。 We breed
horses there； and have done very well with them。 I have ￡1；500 saved；
and the farm brings us in quite ￡600 a year beyond the expenses。 But
it is a lonely place； with only a few Boers about； although they are
good fellows enough。 You might not care to live there with no
company。〃
〃I don't think that I should mind；〃 she answered； smiling。
〃Not now； but by…and…by you would when you know what it is like。 Now I
might sell my share in the farm to my partner； who； I think； would buy
it； or I might trust to him to send me a part of the profits； which
perhaps he would not。 Then； if you wish it； we could live in or near
one of the towns； or even； as you have an income of your own； go home
to England； if that is your will。〃
〃Is it your will？〃 she asked。
He shook his head。 〃No； all my life is here。 Also； I have something to
find before I diefor your sake； dear。〃
〃Do you mean up among those ruins？〃 she asked； looking at him
curiously。
〃Yes。 So you know about it？〃 he answered； with a flash of his blue
eyes。 〃Oh！ of course； Seymour told you。 Yes； I mean among the ruins
but I will tell you that story another timenot here； not here。 What
do you wish to do； Benita？ Remember； I am in your hands； I will obey
you in all things。〃
〃Not to stop in a town and not to go to England；〃 she replied； while
he hung eagerly upon her words； 〃for this has become my holy land。
Father； I will go with you to your farm； there I can be quiet； you and
I together。〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered rather uneasily； 〃but； you see； Benita； we shall
not be quite alone there。 My partner； Jacob Meyer； lives with me。〃
〃Jacob Meyer？ Ah！ I remember；〃 and she winced。 〃He is a German； is he
notand odd？〃
〃German Jew； I imagine； and very odd。 Should have made his fortune a
dozen times over； and yet has never done anything。 Too unpractical；
too visionary； with all his brains and scheming。 Not a good man；
Benita； although he suits me； and； for the matter of that； under our
agreement I cannot get rid of him。〃
〃How did he become your partner？〃 she asked。
〃Oh！ a good many years ago he turned up at the place with a doleful
story。 Said that he had been trading among the Zulus； he was what we
call a 'smouse' out here； and got into a row with them； I don't know
how。 The end of it was that they burned his waggon； looted his trade…
goods and oxen； and killed his servants。 They would have killed him
too； only； according to his own account； he escaped in a very queer
fashion。〃
〃How？〃
〃Well； he says by mesmerising the chief and making the man lead him
through his followers。 An odd story enough； but I can quite believe it
of Jacob。 He worked for me for six months； and showed himself very
clever。 Then one night； I remember it was a few days after I had told
him of the story of the Portuguese treasure in Matabeleland； he
produced ￡500 in Bank of England notes out of the lining of his
waistcoat； and offered to buy a half interest in the farm。 Yes； ￡500！
Although for all those months I had believed him to be a beggar。 Well；
as he was so /slim/； and better than no company in that lonely place；
in the end I accepted。 We have done well since； except for the
expedition after the treasure which we did not get； although we more
than paid our expenses out of the ivory we bought。 But next time we
shall succeed； I am sure；〃 he added with enthusiasm； 〃that is； if we
can persuade those Makalanga to let us search on the mountain。〃
Benita smiled。
〃I think you had better stick to the horsebreeding；〃 she said。
〃You shall judge when you hear the story。 But you have been brought up
in England； will you not be afraid to go to Lake Chrissie？〃
〃Afraid of what？〃 she asked。
〃Oh！ of the loneliness； and of Jacob Meyer。〃
〃I was born on the veld； Father； and I have always hated London。 As
for your odd friend； Mr。 Meyer； I am not afraid of any man on earth。 I
have done with men。 At the least I will try the place and see how I
get on。〃
〃Very well；〃 answered her father wi