Chapter1。II。PlansandBushmanPaintings。
　　Atlastcametheyearofthegreatdrought，theyearofeighteen—sixty—two。
　　Fromendtoendofthelandtheearthcriedforwater。Manandbeastturnedtheireyestothepitilesssky，thatliketheroofofsomebrazenovenarchedoverhead。Onthefarm，dayafterday，monthaftermonth，thewaterinthedamsfelllowerandlower；thesheepdiedinthefields；thecattle，scarcelyabletocrawl，totteredastheymovedfromspottospotinsearchoffood。Weekafterweek，monthaftermonth，thesunlookeddownfromthecloudlesssky，tillthekaroo—busheswereleaflesssticks，brokenintotheearth，andtheearthitselfwasnakedandbare；andonlythemilk—
　　bushes，likeoldhags，pointedtheirshrivelledfingersheavenward，prayingfortherainthatnevercame……
　　Itwasonanafternoonofalongdayinthatthirstysummer，thatonthesideofthekopjefurthestfromthehomesteadthetwogirlssat。Theyweresomewhatgrownsincethedayswhentheyplayedhide—and—seekthere，buttheyweremerechildrenstill。
　　Theirdresswasofdark，coarsestuff；theircommonbluepinaforesreachedtotheirankles，andontheirfeettheyworehome—madevelschoen。
　　Theysatunderashelvingrock，onthesurfaceofwhichwerestillvisiblesomeoldBushmanpaintings，theirredandblackpigmentshavingbeenpreservedthroughlongyearsfromwindandrainbytheoverhangingledge；
　　grotesqueoxen，elephants，rhinoceroses，andaone—hornedbeast，suchasnomaneverhasseenorevershall。
　　Thegirlssatwiththeirbackstothepaintings。Intheirlapswereafewfernandice—plantleaves，whichbydintofmuchsearchingtheyhadgatheredundertherocks。
　　Emtookoffherbigbrownkapjeandbeganvigorouslytofanherredfacewithit；buthercompanionbentlowovertheleavesinherlap，andatlasttookupanice—plantleafandfasteneditontothefrontofherbluepinaforewithapin。
　　"Diamondsmustlookasthesedropsdo，"shesaid，carefullybendingovertheleaf，andcrushingonecrystaldropwithherdelicatelittlenail。
　　"WhenI，"shesaid，"amgrownup，Ishallwearrealdiamonds，exactlyliketheseinmyhair。"
　　Hercompanionopenedhereyesandwrinkledherlowforehead。
　　"Wherewillyoufindthem，Lyndall？Thestonesareonlycrystalsthatwepickedupyesterday。OldOttosaysso。"
　　"AndyouthinkthatIamgoingtostayherealways？"
　　Theliptrembledscornfully。
　　"Ah，no，"saidhercompanion。"Isupposesomedayweshallgosomewhere；
　　butnowweareonlytwelve，andwecannotmarrytillweareseventeen。
　　Fouryears，five——thatisalongtimetowait。Andwemightnothavediamondsifwedidmarry。"
　　"AndyouthinkthatIamgoingtostayheretillthen？"
　　"Well，whereareyougoing？"askedhercompanion。
　　Thegirlcrushedanice—plantleafbetweenherfingers。
　　"TantSannieisamiserableoldwoman，"shesaid。"Yourfathermarriedherwhenhewasdying，becausehethoughtshewouldtakebettercareofthefarm，andofus，thananEnglishwoman。Hesaidweshouldbetaughtandsenttoschool。Nowshesaveseveryfarthingforherself，buysusnotevenoneoldbook。Shedoesnotill—useus——why？Becausesheisafraidofyourfather’sghost。OnlythismorningshetoldherHottentotthatshewouldhavebeatenyouforbreakingtheplate，butthatthreenightsagosheheardarustlingandagruntingbehindthepantrydoor，andknewitwasyourfathercomingtospookher。Sheisamiserableoldwoman，"saidthegirl，throwingtheleaffromher；"butIintendtogotoschool。"
　　"Andifshewon’tletyou？"
　　"Ishallmakeher。"
　　"How？"
　　Thechildtooknottheslightestnoticeofthelastquestion，andfoldedhersmallarmsacrossherknees。
　　"Butwhydoyouwanttogo，Lyndall？"
　　"Thereisnothinghelpsinthisworld，"saidthechildslowly，"buttobeverywise，andtoknoweverything——tobeclever。"
　　"ButIshouldnotliketogotoschool！"persistedthesmallfreckledface。
　　"Andyoudonotneedto。WhenyouareseventeenthisBoer—womanwillgo；
　　youwillhavethisfarmandeverythingthatisuponitforyourown；butI，"saidLyndall，"willhavenothing。Imustlearn。"
　　"Oh，Lyndall！Iwillgiveyousomeofmysheep，"saidEm，withasuddenburstofpityinggenerosity。
　　"Idonotwantyoursheep，"saidthegirlslowly；"Iwantthingsofmyown。
　　WhenIamgrownup，"sheadded，theflushonherdelicatefeaturesdeepeningateveryword，"therewillbenothingthatIdonotknow。I
　　shallberich，veryrich；andIshallwearnotonlyforbest，buteveryday，apurewhitesilk，andlittlerose—buds，liketheladyinTantSannie’sbedroom，andmypetticoatswillbeembroidered，notonlyatthebottom，butallthrough。"
　　TheladyinTantSannie’sbedroomwasagorgeouscreaturefromafashion—
　　sheet，whichtheBoer—woman，somewhereobtaining，hadpastedupatthefootofherbed，tobeprofoundlyadmiredbythechildren。
　　"Itwouldbeverynice，"saidEm；butitseemedadreamofquitetootranscendentagloryevertoberealized。
　　Atthisinstantthereappearedatthefootofthekopjetwofigures——theone，adog，whiteandsleek，oneyellowearhangingdownoverhislefteye；
　　theother，hismaster，aladoffourteen，andnootherthantheboyWaldo，grownintoaheavy，slouchingyouthoffourteen。Thedogmountedthekopjequickly，hismasterfollowedslowly。Heworeanagedjacketmuchtoolargeforhim，androlledupatthewrists，and，asofold，apairofdilapidatedvelschoensandafelthat。Hestoodbeforethetwogirlsatlast。
　　"Whathaveyoubeendoingtoday？"askedLyndall，liftinghereyestohisface。
　　"Lookingafterewesandlambsbelowthedam。Here！"hesaid，holdingouthishandawkwardly，"Ibroughtthemforyou。"
　　Therewereafewgreenbladesoftendergrass。
　　"Wheredidyoufindthem？"
　　"Onthedamwall。"
　　Shefastenedthembesidetheleafonherbluepinafore。
　　"Theylooknicethere，"saidtheboy，awkwardlyrubbinghisgreathandsandwatchingher。
　　"Yes；butthepinaforespoilsitall；itisnotpretty。"
　　Helookedatitclosely。
　　"Yes，thesquaresareugly；butitlooksniceuponyou——beautiful。"
　　Henowstoodsilentbeforethem，hisgreathandshanginglooselyateitherside。
　　"Someonehascometoday，"hemumbledoutsuddenly，whentheideastruckhim。
　　"Who？"askedbothgirls。
　　"AnEnglishmanonfoot。"
　　"Whatdoeshelooklike？"askedEm。
　　"Ididnotnotice；buthehasaverylargenose，"saidtheboyslowly。"Heaskedthewaytothehouse。"
　　"Didn’thetellyouhisname？"
　　"Yes——BonaparteBlenkins。"
　　"Bonaparte！"saidEm，"whythatislikethereelHottentotHansplaysontheviolin——
　　’Bonaparte，Bonaparte，mywifeissick；
　　Inthemiddleoftheweek，butSundaysnot，Igiveherriceandbeansforsoup’——
　　Itisafunnyname。"
　　"TherewasalivingmancalledBonaparteonce，"saidsheofthegreateyes。
　　"Ahyes，Iknow，"saidEm——"thepoorprophetwhomthelionsate。Iamalwayssosorryforhim。"
　　Hercompanioncastaquietglanceuponher。
　　"Hewasthegreatestmanwhoeverlived，"shesaid，"themanIlikebest。"
　　"Andwhatdidhedo？"askedEm，consciousthatshehadmadeamistake，andthatherprophetwasnottheman。
　　"Hewasoneman，onlyone，"saidherlittlecompanionslowly，"yetallthepeopleintheworldfearedhim。Hewasnotborngreat，hewascommonasweare；yethewasmasteroftheworldatlast。Oncehewasonlyalittlechild，thenhewasalieutenant，thenhewasageneral，thenhewasanemperor。Whenhesaidathingtohimselfheneverforgotit。Hewaited，andwaitedandwaited，anditcameatlast。"
　　"Hemusthavebeenveryhappy，"saidEm。
　　"Idonotknow，"saidLyndall；"buthehadwhathesaidhewouldhave，andthatisbetterthanbeinghappy。Hewastheirmaster，andallthepeoplewerewhitewithfearofhim。Theyjoinedtogethertofighthim。Hewasoneandtheyweremany，andtheygothimdownatlast。Theywerelikethewildcatswhentheirteetharefastinagreatdog，likecowardlywildcats，"saidthechild，"theywouldnotlethimgo。Thereweremany；hewasonlyone。Theysenthimtoanislandonthesea，alonelyisland，andkepthimtherefast。Hewasoneman，andtheyweremany，andtheywereterrifiedathim。Itwasglorious！"saidthechild。
　　"Andwhatthen？"saidEm。
　　"Thenhewasalonethereinthatislandwithmentowatchhimalways，"saidhercompanion，slowlyandquietly。"Andinthelonglonelynightsheusedtolieawakeandthinkofthethingshehaddoneintheolddays，andthethingshewoulddoiftheylethimgoagain。Inthedaywhenhewalkedneartheshoreitseemedtohimthattheseaallaroundhimwasacoldchainabouthisbodypressinghimtodeath。"
　　"Andthen？"saidEm，muchinterested。
　　"Hediedthereinthatisland；henevergotaway。"
　　"Itisratheranicestory，"saidEm；"buttheendissad。"
　　"Itisaterrible，hatefulending，"saidthelittletellerofthestory，leaningforwardonherfoldedarms；"andtheworstis，itistrue。Ihavenoticed，"addedthechildverydeliberately，"thatitisonlythemade—upstoriesthatendnicely；thetrueonesallendso。"
　　Asshespoketheboy’sdark，heavyeyesrestedonherface。
　　"Youhavereadit，haveyounot？"
　　Henodded。"Yes；buttheBrownhistorytellsonlywhathedid，notwhathethought。"
　　"ItwasintheBrownhistorythatIreadofhim，"saidthegirl；"butI
　　knowwhathethought。Booksdonottelleverything。"
　　"No，"saidtheboy，slowlydrawingnearertoherandsittingdownatherfeet。"Whatyouwanttoknowtheynevertell。"
　　Thenthechildrenfellintosilence，tillDoss，thedog，growinguneasyatitslongcontinuance，sniffedatoneandtheother，andhismasterbrokeforthsuddenly：
　　"Iftheycouldtalk，iftheycouldtellusnow！"hesaid，movinghishandoutoverthesurroundingobjects——"thenwewouldknowsomething。Thiskopje，ifitcouldtellushowitcamehere！The’PhysicalGeography’
　　says，"hewentonmostrapidlyandconfusedly，"thatwhatweredrylandsnowwereoncelakes；andwhatIthinkisthis——theselowhillswereoncetheshoresofalake；thiskopjeissomeofthestonesthatwereatthebottom，rolledtogetherbythewater。Butthereisthis——Howdidthewatercometomakeoneheapherealone，inthecentreoftheplain？"Itwasaponderousquestion；noonevolunteeredananswer。"WhenIwaslittle，"
　　saidtheboy，"Ialwayslookedatitandwondered，andIthoughtagreatgiantwasburiedunderit。NowIknowthewatermusthavedoneit；buthow？Itisverywonderful。Didonelittlestonecomefirst，andstoptheothersastheyrolled？"saidtheboywithearnestness，inalowvoice，moreasspeakingtohimselfthantothem。
　　"Oh，Waldo，Godputthelittlekopjehere，"saidEmwithsolemnity。
　　"Buthowdidheputithere？"
　　"Bywanting。"
　　"Buthowdidthewantingbringithere？"
　　"Becauseitdid。"
　　Thelastwordswereutteredwiththeairofonewhoproducesaclinchingargument。Whateffectithadonthequestionerwasnotevident，forhemadenoreply，andturnedawayfromher。
　　DrawingclosertoLyndall’sfeet，hesaidafterawhileinalowvoice：
　　"Lyndall，hasitneverseemedtoyouthatthestonesweretalkingwithyou？
　　Sometimes，"headdedinayetlowertone，"Ilieundertherewithmysheep，anditseemsthatthestonesarereallyspeaking——speakingoftheoldthings，ofthetimewhenthestrangefishesandanimalslivedthatareturnedintostonenow，andthelakeswerehere；andthenofthetimewhenthelittleBushmenlivedhere，sosmallandsougly，andusedtosleepinthewilddogholes，andinthesloots，andeatsnakes，andshotthebuckswiththeirpoisonedarrows。Itwasoneofthem，oneoftheseoldwildBushmen，thatpaintedthose，"saidtheboy，noddingtowardthepictures——
　　"onewhowasdifferentfromtherest。Hedidnotknowwhy，buthewantedtomakesomethingbeautiful——hewantedtomakesomething，sohemadethese。
　　Heworkedhard，veryhard，tofindthejuicetomakethepaint；andthenhefoundthisplacewheretherockshangover，andhepaintedthem。Toustheyareonlystrangethings，thatmakeuslaugh；buttohimtheywereverybeautiful。"
　　Thechildrenhadturnedroundandlookedatthepictures。
　　"Heusedtokneelherenaked，painting，painting，painting；andhewonderedatthethingshemadehimself，"saidtheboy，risingandmovinghishandindeepexcitement。"NowtheBoershaveshotthemall，sothatweneverseealittleyellowfacepeepingoutamongthestones。"Hepaused，adreamylookcomingoverhisface。"Andthewildbuckshavegone，andthosedays，andwearehere。Butwewillbegonesoon，andonlythestoneswilllieonhere，lookingateverythingliketheylooknow。IknowthatitisIwhoamthinking，"thefellowaddedslowly，"butitseemsasthoughitweretheywhoaretalking。Hasitneverseemedsotoyou，Lyndall？"
　　"No，itneverseemssotome，"sheanswered。
　　Thesunhaddippednowbelowthehills，andtheboy，suddenlyrememberingtheewesandlambs，startedtohisfeet。
　　"Letusalsogotothehouseandseewhohascome，"saidEm，astheboyshuffledawaytorejoinhisflock，whileDossranathisheels，snappingattheendsofthetorntrousersastheyflutteredinthewind。
　　Chapter1。III。IWasAStranger，andYeTookMeIn。
　　Asthetwogirlsroundedthesideofthekopje，anunusualscenepresenteditself。Alargegroupwasgatheredatthebackdoorofthehomestead。
　　OnthedoorstepstoodtheBoer—woman，ahandoneachhip，herfaceredandfiery，herheadnoddingfiercely。AtherfeetsattheyellowHottentotmaid，hersatellite，andaroundstoodtheblackKaffermaids，withblanketstwistedroundtheirhalf—nakedfigures。Two，whostampedmealiesinawoodenblock，heldthegreatstampersintheirhands，andstaredstupidlyattheobjectofattraction。ItcertainlywasnottolookattheoldGermanoverseer，whostoodinthecentreofthegroup，thattheyhadallgatheredtogether。Hissalt—and—peppersuit，grizzlyblackbeard，andgreyeyeswereasfamiliartoeveryoneonthefarmastheredgablesofthehomesteaditself；butbesidehimstoodthestranger，andonhimalleyeswerefixed。EverandanonthenewcomercastaglanceoverhispendulousrednosetothespotwheretheBoer—womanstood，andsmiledfaintly。
　　"I’mnotachild，"criedtheBoer—woman，inlowCapeDutch，"andIwasn’tbornyesterday。No，bytheLord，no！Youcan’ttakemein！Mymotherdidn’tweanmeonMonday。OnewinkofmyeyeandIseethewholething。
　　I’llhavenotrampssleepingonmyfarm，"criedTantSannieblowing。"No，bythedevil，no！notthoughhehadsixty—times—sixrednoses。"
　　TheretheGermanoverseermildlyinterposedthatthemanwasnotatramp，butahighlyrespectableindividual，whosehorsehaddiedbyanaccidentthreedaysbefore。
　　"Don’ttellme，"criedtheBoer—woman；"themanisn’tbornthatcantakemein。Ifhe’dhadmoney，wouldn’thehaveboughtahorse？Menwhowalkarethieves，liars，murderers，Rome’spriests，seducers！Iseethedevilinhisnose！"criedTantSannieshakingherfistathim；"andtocomewalkingintothehouseofthisBoer’schildandshakinghandsasthoughhecameonhorseback！Oh，no，no！"
　　Thestrangertookoffhishat，atall，batteredchimneypot，anddisclosedabaldhead，atthebackofwhichwasalittlefringeofcurledwhitehair，andhebowedtoTantSannie。
　　"Whatdoessheremark，myfriend？"heinquired，turninghiscrosswise—
　　lookingeyesontheoldGerman。
　　TheGermanrubbedhisoldhandsandhesitated。
　　"Ah——well——ah——the——Dutch——youknow——donotlikepeoplewhowalk——inthiscountry——ah！"
　　"Mydearfriend，"saidthestranger，layinghishandontheGerman’sarm，"Ishouldhaveboughtmyselfanotherhorse，butcrossing，fivedaysago，afullriver，Ilostmypurse——apursewithfivehundredpoundsinit。I
　　spentfivedaysonthebankoftherivertryingtofindit——couldn’t。PaidaKafferninepoundstogoinandlookforitattheriskofhislife——
　　couldn’tfindit。"
　　TheGermanwouldhavetranslatedthisinformation，buttheBoer—womangavenoear。
　　"No，no；hegoestonight。Seehowhelooksatme——apoorunprotectedfemale！Ifhewrongsme，whoistodomeright？"criedTantSannie。
　　"Ithink，"saidtheGermaninanundertone，ifyoudidn’tlookatherquitesomuchitmightbeadvisable。She——ah——she——might——imaginethatyoulikedhertoowell，——infact——ah——"
　　"Certainly，mydearfriend，certainly，"saidthestranger。"Ishallnotlookather。"
　　Sayingthis，heturnedhisnosefulluponasmallKafferoftwoyearsold。
　　ThatsmallnakedsonofHambecameinstantlysoterrifiedthathefledtohismother’sblanketforprotection，howlinghorribly。
　　Uponthisthenewcomerfixedhiseyespensivelyonthestamp—block，foldinghishandsontheheadofhiscane。Hisbootswerebroken，buthestillhadthecaneofagentleman。
　　"YouvagabondsseEngelschman！"saidTantSannie，lookingstraightathim。
　　ThiswasanearapproachtoplainEnglish；butthemancontemplatedtheblockabstractedly，whollyunconsciousthatanyantagonismwasbeingdisplayedtowardhim。
　　"YoumightnotbeaScotchmanoranythingofthatkind，mightyou？"
　　suggestedtheGerman。"ItistheEnglishthatshehates。"
　　"Mydearfriend，"saidthestranger，"IamIrisheveryinchofme——fatherIrish，motherIrish。I’venotadropofEnglishbloodinmyveins。"
　　"Andyoumightnotbemarried，mightyou？"persistedtheGerman。"Ifyouhadawifeandchildren，now？Dutchpeopledonotlikethosewhoarenotmarried。"
　　"Ah，"saidthestranger，lookingtenderlyattheblock，"Ihaveadearwifeandthreesweetlittlechildren——twolovelygirlsandanobleboy。"
　　ThisinformationhavingbeenconveyedtotheBoer—woman，she，aftersomefurtherconversation，appearedslightlymollified；butremainedfirmtoherconvictionthattheman’sdesignswereevil。
　　"For，dearLord！"shecried；"allEnglishmenareugly；butwasthereeversuchared—rag—nosedthingwithbrokenbootsandcrookedeyesbefore？Takehimtoyourroom，"shecriedtotheGerman；"butallthesinhedoesIlayatyourdoor。"
　　TheGermanhavingtoldhimhowmatterswerearranged，thestrangermadeaprofoundbowtoTantSannieandfollowedhishost，wholedthewaytohisownlittleroom。
　　"Ithoughtshewouldcometoherbetterselfsoon，"theGermansaidjoyously。"TantSannieisnotwhollybad，farfromit，far。"Thenseeinghiscompanioncastafurtiveglanceathim，whichhemistookforoneofsurprise，headdedquickly，"Ah，yes，yes；weareallaprimitivepeoplehere——notverylofty。Wedealnotintitles。EveryoneisTanteandOom——
　　auntanduncle。Thismaybemyroom，"hesaid，openingthedoor。"Itisrough，theroomisrough；notapalace——notquite。Butitmaybebetterthanthefields，alittlebetter！"hesaid，glancingroundathiscompanion。"Comein，comein。Thereissomethingtoeat——amouthful：notthefareofemperorsorkings；butwedonotstarve，notyet，"hesaid，rubbinghishandstogetherandlookingroundwithapleased，half—nervoussmileonhisoldface。
　　"Myfriend，mydearfriend，"saidthestranger，seizinghimbythehand，"maytheLordblessyou，theLordblessandrewardyou——theGodofthefatherlessandthestranger。ButforyouIwouldthisnighthavesleptinthefields，withthedewsofheavenuponmyhead。"
　　LatethateveningLyndallcamedowntothecabinwiththeGerman’srations。
　　Throughthetinysquarewindowthelightstreamedforth，andwithoutknockingsheraisedthelatchandentered。Therewasafireburningonthehearth，anditcastitsruddyglowoverthelittledingyroom，withitsworm—eatenraftersandmudfloor，andbrokenwhitewashedwalls。Acuriouslittleplace，filledwithallmannerofarticles。Nexttothefirewasagreattoolbox；beyondthatthelittlebookshelfwithitswell—wornbooks；
　　beyondthat，inthecorner，aheapoffilledandemptygrain—bags。Fromtheraftershungdownstraps，riems，oldboots，bitsofharness，andastringofonions。Thebedwasinanothercorner，coveredbyapatchworkquiltoffadedredlions，anddividedfromtherestoftheroombyabluecurtain，nowdrawnback。Onthemantelshelfwasanendlessassortmentoflittlebagsandstones；andonthewallhungamapofSouthGermany，witharedlinedrawnthroughittoshowwheretheGermanhadwandered。Thisplacewastheonehomethegirlshadknownformanyayear。ThehousewhereTantSannielivedandruledwasaplacetosleepin，toeatin，nottobehappyin。Itwasinvainshetoldthemtheyweregrowntoooldtogothere；everymorningandeveningfoundthemthere。Weretherenottoomanygoldenmemorieshangingabouttheoldplaceforthemtoleaveit？
　　Longwinternights，whentheyhadsatroundthefireandroastedpotatoes，andaskedriddles，andtheoldmanhadtoldofthelittleGermanvillage，where，fiftyyearsbefore，alittleGermanboyhadplayedatsnowballs，andhadcarriedhometheknittedstockingsofalittlegirlwhoafterwardbecameWaldo’smother；didtheynotseemtoseetheGermanpeasantgirlswalkingaboutwiththeirwoodenshoesandyellow，braidedhair，andthelittlechildreneatingtheirsuppersoutoflittlewoodenbowlswhenthegoodmotherscalledthemintohavetheirmilkandpotatoes？
　　Andweretherenotyetbettertimesthanthese？Moonlightnights，whentheyrompedaboutthedoor，withtheoldman，yetmoreachildthananyofthem，andlaughed，tilltheoldroofofthewagon—houserang？
　　Or，bestofall，weretherenotwarm，dark，starlightnights，whentheysattogetheronthedoorstep，holdingeachother’shands，singingGermanhymns，theirvoicesrisingclearinthestillnightair——tilltheGermanwoulddrawawayhishandsuddenlytowipequicklyatearthechildrenmustnotsee？Wouldtheynotsitlookingupatthestarsandtalkingofthem——ofthedearSouthernCross，red，fieryMars，Orion，withhisbelt，andtheSevenMysteriousSisters——andfalltospeculatingoverthem？Howoldarethey？Whodweltinthem？AndtheoldGermanwouldsaythatperhapsthesoulswelovedlivedinthem；there，inthatlittletwinklingpointwasperhapsthelittlegirlwhosestockingshehadcarriedhome；andthechildrenwouldlookupatitlovingly，andcallit"UncleOtto’sstar。"
　　Thentheywouldfalltodeeperspeculations——ofthetimesandseasonswhereintheheavensshallberolledtogetherasascroll，andthestarsshallfallasafig—treecastethheruntimelyfigs，andthereshallbetimenolonger："WhentheSonofmanshallcomeinHisglory，andallHisholyangelswithHim。"Inlowerandlowertonestheywouldtalk，tillatlasttheyfellintowhispers；thentheywouldwishgoodnightsoftly，andwalkhomehushedandquiet。
　　Tonight，whenLyndalllookedin，Waldosatbeforethefirewatchingapotwhichsimmeredthere，withhisslateandpencilinhishand；hisfathersatatthetableburiedinthecolumnsofathree—weeks—oldnewspaper；andthestrangerlaystretchedonthebedinthecorner，fastasleep，hismouthopen，hisgreatlimbsstretchedoutloosely，betokeningmuchweariness。
　　Thegirlputtherationsdownuponthetable，snuffedthecandle，andstoodlookingatthefigureonthebed。
　　"UncleOtto，"shesaidpresently，layingherhanddownonthenewspaper，andcausingtheoldGermantolookupoverhisglasses，"howlongdidthatmansayhehadbeenwalking？"
　　"Sincethismorning，poorfellow！Agentleman——notaccustomedtowalking——
　　horsedied——poorfellow！"saidtheGerman，pushingouthislipandglancingcommiseratinglyoverhisspectaclesinthedirectionofthebedwherethestrangerlay，withhisflabbydoublechin，andbrokenbootsthroughwhichthefleshshone。
　　"Anddoyoubelievehim，UncleOtto？"
　　"Believehim？whyofcourseIdo。Hehimselftoldmethestorythreetimesdistinctly。"