"’Mysalvationisinwork，ifIshouldstopbutforonemomentyouwouldcreepdownuponme，’hereplied。Andtheyputouttheirlongnecksfurther。
"’Lookdownintothecreviceatyourfeet，’theysaid。’Seewhatliethere——whitebones！Asbraveandstrongamanasyouclimbedtotheserocks。’Andhelookedup。Hesawtherewasnouseinstriving；hewouldneverholdTruth，neverseeher，neverfindher。Sohelaydownhere，forhewasverytired。Hewenttosleepforever。Heputhimselftosleep。
Sleepisverytranquil。Youarenotlonelywhenyouareasleep，neitherdoyourhandsache，noryourheart。Andthehunterlaughedbetweenhisteeth。
"’HaveItornfrommyheartallthatwasdearest；haveIwanderedaloneinthelandofnight；haveIresistedtemptation；haveIdweltwherethevoiceofmykindisneverheard，andlabouredalone，toliedownandbefoodforyou，yeharpies？’
"Helaughedfiercely；andtheEchoesofDespairslunkaway，forthelaughofabrave，strongheartisasadeathblowtothem。
"Neverthelesstheycreptoutagainandlookedathim。
"’Doyouknowthatyourhairiswhite？’theysaid，’thatyourhandsbegintotremblelikeachild’s？Doyouseethatthepointofyourshuttleisgone？——itiscrackedalready。Ifyoushouldeverclimbthisstair，’theysaid，’itwillbeyourlast。Youwillneverclimbanother。’
"Andheanswered，’Iknowit！’andworkedon。
"Theold，thinhandscutthestonesillandjaggedly，forthefingerswerestiffandbent。Thebeautyandthestrengthofthemanwasgone。
"Atlast，anold，wizened，shrunkenfacelookedoutabovetherocks。Itsawtheeternalmountainsrisewithwallstothewhiteclouds；butitsworkwasdone。
"Theoldhunterfoldedhistiredhandsandlaydownbytheprecipicewherehehadworkedawayhislife。Itwasthesleepingtimeatlast。Belowhimoverthevalleysrolledthethickwhitemist。Onceitbroke；andthroughthegapthedyingeyeslookeddownonthetreesandfieldsoftheirchildhood。Fromafarseemedbornetohimthecryofhisownwildbirds，andheheardthenoiseofpeoplesingingastheydanced。Andhethoughtheheardamongthemthevoicesofhisoldcomrades；andhesawfaroffthesunlightshineonhisearlyhome。Andgreattearsgatheredinthehunter’seyes。
"’Ah！Theywhodietheredonotdiealone，’hecried。
"Thenthemistsrolledtogetheragain；andheturnedhiseyesaway。
"’Ihavesought，’hesaid，’forlongyearsIhavelaboured；butIhavenotfoundher。Ihavenotrested，Ihavenotrepined，andIhavenotseenher；
nowmystrengthisgone。WhereIliedownwornoutothermenwillstand，youngandfresh。BythestepsthatIhavecuttheywillclimb；bythestairsthatIhavebuilttheywillmount。Theywillneverknowthenameofthemanwhomadethem。Attheclumsyworktheywilllaugh；whenthestonesrolltheywillcurseme。Buttheywillmount，andonmywork；theywillclimb，andbymystair！Theywillfindher，andthroughme！Andnomanlivethtohimselfandnomandiethtohimself。’
"Thetearsrolledfrombeneaththeshrivelledeyelids。IfTruthhadappearedabovehiminthecloudsnowhecouldnothaveseenher，themistofdeathwasinhiseyes。
"’Mysoulhearstheirgladstepcoming，’hesaid；’andtheyshallmount！
theyshallmount！’Heraisedhisshrivelledhandtohiseyes。
"Thenslowlyfromthewhiteskyabove，throughthestillair，camesomethingfalling，falling，falling。Softlyitfluttereddown，anddroppedontothebreastofthedyingman。Hefeltitwithhishands。Itwasafeather。Hediedholdingit。"
Theboyhadshadedhiseyeswithhishand。Onthewoodofthecarvinggreatdropsfell。Thestrangermusthavelaughedathim，orremainedsilent。Hedidso。
"Howdidyouknowit？"theboywhisperedatlast。"Itisnotwrittenthere——notonthatwood。Howdidyouknowit？"
"Certainly，"saidthestranger，"thewholeofthestoryisnotwrittenhere，butitissuggested。Andtheattributeofalltrueart，thehighestandthelowest，isthis——thatitraysmorethanitsays，andtakesyouawayfromitself。Itisalittledoorthatopensintoaninfinitehallwhereyoumayfindwhatyouplease。Men，thinkingtodetract，say：’Peoplereadmoreinthisorthatworkofgeniusthanwaseverwritteninit，’notperceivingthattheypaythehighestcompliment。Ifwepickupthefingerandnailofarealman，wecandecipherawholestory——couldalmostreconstructthecreatureagain，fromheadtofoot。ButhalfthebodyofaMumboo—jumbowidolleavesusutterlyinthedarkastowhattherestwaslike。Weseewhatwesee，butnothingmore。Thereisnothingsouniversallyintelligibleastruth。Ithasathousandmeanings，andsuggestsathousandmore。"
Heturnedoverthewoodenthing。
"Thoughamanshouldcarveitintomatterwiththeleastpossiblemanipulativeskill，itwillyetfindinterpreters。Itisthesoulthatlooksoutwithburningeyesthroughthemostgrossfleshlyfilament。
Whosoevershouldportraytrulythelifeanddeathofalittleflower——itsbirth，suckinginofnourishment，reproductionofitskind，witheringandvanishing——wouldhaveshapedasymbolofallexistence。Alltruefactsofnatureorthemindarerelated。Yourlittlecarvingrepresentssomementalfactsastheyreallyare，thereforefiftydifferenttruestoriesmightbereadfromit。Whatyourworkwantsisnottruth，butbeautyofexternalform，theotherhalfofart。"Heleanedalmostgentlytowardtheboy。
"Skillmaycomeintime，butyouwillhavetoworkhard。Theloveofbeautyandthedesireforitmustbeborninaman；theskilltoreproduceithemustmake。Hemustworkhard。"
"AllmylifeIhavelongedtoseeyou，"theboysaid。
Thestrangerbrokeofftheendofhiscigar，andlitit。Theboyliftedtheheavywoodfromthestranger’skneeanddrewyetnearerhim。Inthedog—likemannerofhisdrawingneartherewassomethingsuperblyridiculous，unlessonechancedtoviewitinanotherlight。Presentlythestrangersaid，whiffing，"Dosomethingforme。"
Theboystartedup。
"No；staywhereyouare。Idon’twantyoutogoanyowhere；Iwantyoutotalktome。Tellmewhatyouhavebeendoingallyourlife。"
Theboyslunkdownagain。Wouldthatthemanhadaskedhimtorootupbusheswithhishandsforhishorsetofeedon；ortoruntothefarendoftheplainforthefossilsthatlaythere，ortogathertheflowersthatgrewonthehillsattheedgeoftheplain；hewouldhaverunandbeenbackquickly——butnow！
"Ihaveneverdoneanything，"hesaid。
"Thentellmeofthatnothing。IliketoknowwhatotherfolkshavebeendoingwhosewordIcanbelieve。Itisinteresting。Whatwasthefirstthingyoueverwantedverymuch？"
Theboywaitedtoremember，thenbeganhesitatingly，butsoonthewordsflowed。Inthesmallestpastwefindaninexhaustibleminewhenoncewebegintodigatit。
Aconfused，disorderedstory——thelittlemadelargeandthelargesmall，andnothingshowingitsinwardmeaning。Itisnottillthepasthasrecededmanystepsthatbeforetheclearesteyesitfallsintoco—ordinatepictures。ItisnottilltheIwetellofhasceasedtoexistthatittakesitsplaceamongotherobjectiverealities，andfindsitstruenicheinthepicture。Thepresentandthenearpastisaconfusion，whosemeaningflashesonusasitslinksawayintothedistance。
Thestrangerlitonecigarfromtheendofanother，andpuffedandlistenedwithhalf—closedeyes。
"Iwillremembermoretotellyouifyoulike，"saidtheboy。
Hespokewiththatextremegravitycommontoallveryyoungthingswhofeeldeeply。Itisnottilltwentythatwelearntobeindeadlyearnestandtolaugh。Thestrangernodded，whilethefellowsoughtforsomethingmoretorelate。Hewouldtellalltothismanofhis——allthatheknew，allthathehadfelt，hisinmostsorestthought。Suddenlythestrangerturneduponhim。
"Boy，"hesaid，"youarehappytobehere。"
Waldolookedathim。Washisdelightfuloneridiculinghim？Here，withthisbrownearthandtheselowhills，whiletherarewonderfulworldlayallbeyond。Fortunatetobehere？
Thestrangerreadhisglance。
"Yes，"hesaid；"herewiththekaroo—bushesandredsand。DoyouwonderwhatImean？Toallwhohavebeenbornintheoldfaiththerecomesatimeofdanger，whentheoldslipsfromus，andwehavenotyetplantedourfeetonthenew。WehearthevoicefromSinaithunderingnomore，andthestillsmallvoiceofreasonisnotyetheard。Wehaveprovedthereligionourmothersfedusontobeadelusion；inourbewildermentweseenorulebywhichtoguideourstepsdaybyday；andyeteverydaywemuststepsomewhere。"
Thestrangerleanedforwardandspokemorequickly。"Wehaveneveroncebeentaughtbywordoracttodistinguishbetweenreligionandthemorallawsonwhichithasartfullyfasteneditself，andfromwhichithassuckeditsvitality。Whenwehavedraggeddowntheweedsandcreepersthatcoveredthesolidwallandhavefoundthemtoberottenwood，weimaginethewallitselftoberottenwoodtoo。Wefinditissolidandstandingonlywhenwefallheadlongagainstit。Wehavebeentaughtthatallrightandwrongoriginateinthewillofanirresponsiblebeing。Itissometimebeforeweseehowtheinexorable’Thoushaltandshaltnot，’arecarvedintothenatureofthings。Thisisthetimeofdanger。"
Hisdark，mistyeyeslookedintotheboy’s。
"Intheendexperiencewillinevitablyteachusthatthelawsforawiseandnoblelifehaveafoundationinfinitelydeeperthanthefiatofanybeing，Godorman，eveninthegroundworkofhumannature。
"Shewillteachusthatwhososheddethman’sblood，thoughbymanhisbloodbenotshed，thoughnomanavengeandnohellawait，yeteverydropshallblisteronhissoulandeatinthenameofthedead。Shewillteachthatwhosotakesalovenotlawfullyhisown，gathersaflowerwithapoisononitspetals；thatwhosorevenges，strikeswithaswordthathastwoedges——
oneforhisadversary，oneforhimself；thatwholivestohimselfisdead，thoughthegroundisnotyetonhim；thatwhowrongsanothercloudshisownsun；andthatwhosinsinsecretstandsaccursedandcondemnedbeforetheoneJudgewhodealseternaljustice——hisownall—knowingself。
"Experiencewillteachusthis，andreasonwillshowuswhyitmustbeso；
butatfirsttheworldswingsbeforeoureyes，andnovoicecriesout，’Thisistheway，walkyeinit！’Youarehappytobehere，boy！Whenthesuspensefillsyouwithpainyoubuildstonewallsanddigearthforrelief。Othershavestoodwhereyoustandtoday，andhavefeltasyoufeel；andanotherreliefhasbeenofferedthem，andtheyhavetakenit。
"Whenthedayhascomewhentheyhaveseenthepathinwhichtheymightwalk，theyhavenotthestrengthtofollowit。Habitshavefastenedonthemfromwhichnothingbutdeathcanfreethem；whichclingcloserthanhissacerdotalsanctimonytoapriest；whichfeedontheintellectlikeaworm，sappingenergy，hope，creativepower，allthatmakesamanhigherthanabeast——leavingonlythepowertoyearn，toregret，andtosinklowerintheabyss。
"Boy，"hesaid，andthelistenerwasnotmoreunsmilingnowthanthespeaker，"youarehappytobehere！Staywhereyouare。Ifyoueverpray，letitbeonlytheoneoldprayer——’Leadusnotintotemptation。’Liveonherequietly。Thetimemayyetcomewhenyouwillbethatwhichothermenhavehopedtobeandneverwillbenow。"
Thestrangerrose，shookthedustfromhissleeve，andashamedathisownearnestness，lookedacrossthebushesforhishorse。
"Weshouldhavebeenonourwayalready，"hesaid。"Weshallhavealongrideinthedarktonight。"
Waldohastenedtofetchtheanimal；buthereturnedleadingitslowly。Thesooneritcamethesoonerwoulditsriderbegone。
Thestrangerwasopeninghissaddlebag，inwhichwereabrightFrenchnovelandanoldbrownvolume。Hetookthelastandhelditouttotheboy。
"Itmaybeofsomehelptoyou，"hesaid，carelessly。"ItwasagospeltomewhenIfirstfellonit。Youmustnotexpecttoomuch；butitmaygiveyouacentreroundwhichtohangyourideas，insteadoflettingthemlieaboutinaconfusionthatmakestheheadache。Weofthisgenerationarenotdestinedtoeatandbesatisfiedasourfatherswere；wemustbecontenttogohungry。"
Hesmiledhisautomatonsmile，andrebuttonedthebag。Waldothrustthebookintohisbreast，andwhilehesaddledthehorsethestrangermadeinquiriesastothenatureoftheroadandthedistancetothenextfarm。
Whenthebagswerefixed，Waldotookuphiswoodenpostandbegantofastenitontothesaddle，tyingitwiththelittlebluecottonhandkerchieffromhisneck。Thestrangerlookedoninsilence。Whenitwasdonetheboyheldthestirrupforhimtomount。
"Whatisyourname？"heinquired，unglovinghisrighthandwhenhewasinthesaddle。
Theboyreplied：
"Well，Itrustweshallmeetagainsomeday，soonerorlater。"
Heshookhandswiththeunglovedhand；thendrewontheglove，andtouchedhishorse，androdeslowlyaway。Theboystoodtowatchhim。
Oncewhenthestrangerhadgonehalfacrosstheplainhelookedback。
"Poordevil，"hesaid，smilingandstrokinghismoustache。Thenhelookedtoseeifthelittlebluehandkerchiefwerestillsafelyknotted。"Poordevil！"
Hesmiled，andthenhesighedwearily，verywearily。
AndWaldowaitedtillthemovingspeckhaddisappearedonthehorizon；thenhestoopedandkissedpassionatelyahoof—markinthesand。Thenhecalledhisyoungbirdstogether，andputhisbookunderhisarm，andwalkedhomealongthestonewall。Therewasararebeautytohiminthesunshinethatevening。
Chapter2。III。GregoryRoseFindsHisAffinity。
Thenewman，GregoryRose，satatthedoorofhisdwelling，hisarmsfolded，hislegscrossed，andaprofoundmelancholyseemingtorestoverhissoul。Hishousewasalittlesquaredaub—and—wattlebuilding，faroutinthekaroo，twomilesfromthehomestead。Itwascoveredoutsidewithasombrecoatingofbrownmud，twolittlepanesbeingletintothewallsforwindows。Behinditwerethesheep—kraals，andtotherightalargedam，nowprincipallycontainingbakedmud。Faroffthelittlekopjeconcealedthehomestead，andwasnotitselfanobjectconspicuousenoughtorelievethedrearymonotonyofthelandscape。
BeforethedoorsatGregoryRoseinhisshirt—sleeves，onacamp—stool，andeverandanonhesigheddeeply。Therewasthatinhiscountenanceforwhichevenhisdepressingcircumstancesfailedtoaccount。Againandagainhelookedatthelittlekopje，atthemilk—pailathisside，andatthebrownpony，whoashortwayoffcroppedthedrybushes——andsighed。
Presentlyheroseandwentintohishouse。Itwasonetinyroom，thewhitewashedwallsprofuselycoveredwithprintscutfromthe"IllustratedLondonNews"，andinwhichtherewasanoticeablepreponderanceoffemalefacesandfigures。Astretcherfilledoneendofthehut，andarackforagunandalittlehanginglooking—glassdiversifiedthegableopposite，whileinthecentrestoodachairandtable。Allwasscrupulouslyneatandclean，forGregorykeptalittledusterfoldedinthecornerofhistable—
drawer，justashehadseenhismotherdo，andeverymorningbeforehewentouthesaidhisprayers，andmadehisbed，anddustedthetableandthelegsofthechairs，andeventhepicturesonthewallandthegun—rack。
Onthishotafternoonhetookfrombeneathhispillowawatch—bagmadebyhissisterJemima，andtookoutthewatch。Onlyhalfpastfour！Withasuppressedgroanhedroppeditbackandsatdownbesidethetable。Half—
pastfour！Presentlyherousedhimself。HewouldwritetohissisterJemima。Healwayswrotetoherwhenhewasmiserable。Shewashissafety—
valve。Heforgotherwhenhewashappy；butheusedherwhenhewaswretched。
Hetookoutinkandpaper。Therewasafamilycrestandmottoonthelatter，fortheRosessincecomingtothecolonyhaddiscoveredthattheywereofdistinguishedlineage。OldRosehimself，anhonestEnglishfarmer，knewnothingofhisnobledescent；buthiswifeanddaughterknew——
especiallyhisdaughter。TherewereRosesinEnglandwhokeptaparkanddatedfromtheConquest。Sothecolonial"RoseFarm"became"RoseManor"
inremembranceoftheancestraldomain，andtheclaimoftheRosestonoblebloodwasestablished——intheirownmindsatleast。
Gregorytookuponeofthewhite，crestedsheets；butondeeperreflectionhedeterminedtotakeapinkone，asmoresuitabletothestateofhisfeelings。Hebegan：
"KopjeAlone，"Mondayafternoon。
"MyDearJemima——"
Thenhelookedupintothelittleglassopposite。Itwasayouthfulfacereflectedthere，withcurlingbrownbeardandhair；butinthedarkblueeyestherewasalookoflanguidlongingthattouchedhim。Here—dippedhispenandwrote：
"WhenIlookupintothelittleglassthathangsoppositeme，Iwonderifthatchangedandsadface——"
Herehesatstillandreflected。Itsoundedalmostasifhemightbeconceitedorunmanlytobelookingathisownfaceintheglass。No，thatwouldnotdo。Sohelookedforanotherpinksheetandbeganagain。
"KopjeAlone，"Mondayafternoon。
"DearSister，——ItishardlysixmonthssinceIleftyoutocometothisspot，yetcouldyounowseemeIknowwhatyouwouldsay，Iknowwhatmotherwouldsay——’CanthatbeourGreg——thatthingwiththestrangelookinhiseyes？’
"Yes，Jemima，itisyourGreg，andthechangehasbeencomingovermeeversinceIcamehere；butitisgreatestsinceyesterday。YouknowwhatsorrowsIhavepassedthrough，Jemima；howunjustlyIwasalwaystreatedatschool，themasterskeepingmebackandcallingmeablockhead，though，astheythemselvesallowed，Ihadthebestmemoryofanyboyintheschool，andcouldrepeatwholebooksfrombeginningtoend。Youknowhowcruellyfatheralwaysusedme，callingmeanoodleandamilksop，justbecausehecouldn’tunderstandmyfinenature。Youknowhowhehasmadeafarmerofmeinsteadofaminister，asIoughttohavebeen；youknowitall，Jemima；
andhowIhaveborneitall，notasawoman，whowhinesforeverytouch，butasamanshould——insilence。
"Buttherearethings，thereisathing，whichthesoullongstopourforthintoakindredear。
"Dearsister，haveyoueverknownwhatitistokeepwantingandwantingandwantingtokisssomeone’smouth，andyoumaynot；totouchsomeone’shand，andyoucannot？Iaminlove，Jemima。
"TheoldDutchwomanfromwhomIhirethisplacehasalittlestepdaughter，andhernamebeginswith’E’。
"SheisEnglish。IdonotknowhowherfathercametomarryaBoer—woman。
Itmakesmefeelsostrangetoputdownthatletter，thatIcanhardlygoonwriting’E’。I’velovedhereversinceIcamehere。ForweeksIhavenotbeenabletoeatordrink；myverytobaccowhenIsmokehasnotaste；
andIcanremainfornomorethanfiveminutesinoneplace，andsometimesfeelasthoughIwerereallygoingmad。
"EveryeveningIgotheretofetchmymilk。Yesterdayshegavemesomecoffee。Thespoonfellontheground。Shepickeditup；whenshegaveitmeherfingertouchedmine。Jemima，IdonotknowifIfanciedit——I
shiveredhot，andsheshiveredtoo！Ithought，’Itisallright；shewillbemine；shelovesme！’Justthen，Jemima，incameafellow，agreat，coarsefellow，aGerman——aridiculousfellow，withcurlsrightdowntohisshoulders；itmakesonesicktolookathim。He’sonlyaservantoftheBoer—woman’s，andalow，vulgar，uneducatedthing；that’sneverbeentoboarding—schoolinhislife。Hehadbeentothenextfarmseekingsheep。
Whenhecameinshesaid，’Goodevening，Waldo。Havesomecoffee！’ANDSHE
KISSEDHIM。
"AlllastnightIheardnothingelsebut’Havesomecoffee；havesomecoffee。’IfIwenttosleepforamomentIdreamedthatherfingerwaspressingmine；butwhenIwokewithastartIheardhersay，’Goodevening，Waldo。Havesomecoffee！’
"Isthismadness？
"Ihavenoteatenamouthfultoday。ThiseveningIgoandproposetoher。
IfsherefusesmeIshallgoandkillmyselftomorrow。Thereisadamofwatercloseby。Thesheephavedrunkmostofitup，butthereisstillenoughifItieastonetomyneck。
"Itisachoicebetweendeathandmadness。Icanendurenomore。Ifthisshouldbethelastletteryouevergetfromme，thinkofmetenderly，andforgiveme。Withouther，lifewouldbeahowlingwilderness，alongtribulation。Sheismyaffinity；theoneloveofmylife，ofmyyouth，ofmymanhood；mysunshine；myGod—givenblossom。
"’Theyneverlovedwhodreamedthattheylovedonce，Andwhosaith，’Ilovedonce’？——
Notangels，whosedeepeyeslookdownthroughrealmsoflight！’
"Yourdisconsolatebrother，onwhatis，inallprobability，thelastanddistractednightofhislife。
"GregoryNazianzenRose。
"P。S。——Tellmothertotakecareofmypearlstuds。Ilefttheminthewash—hand—standdrawer。Don’tletthechildrengetholdofthem。
"P。P。S。——Ishalltakethisletterwithmetothefarm。IfIturndownonecorneryoumayknowIhavebeenaccepted；ifnot，youmayknowitisallupwithyourheartbrokenbrother，G。N。R。"
Gregoryhavingfinishedthisletter，readitoverwithmuchapproval，putitinanenvelope，addressedit，andsatcontemplatingtheinkpot，somewhatrelievedinmind。
Theeveningturnedoutchillyandverywindyaftertheday’sheat。Fromafaroff，asGregorynearedthehomesteadonthebrownpony，hecoulddistinguishalittlefigureinalittleredcloakatthedoorofthecow—
kraal。Emleanedoverthepolesthatbarredthegate，andwatchedthefrothingmilkrunthroughtheblackfingersoftheherdsman，whiletheunwillingcowsstoodwithtetheredheadsbythemilkingpoles。Shehadthrowntheredcloakoverherownhead，andhelditunderherchinwithalittlehand，tokeepfromherearsthewind，thatplayfullyshookit，andtossedthelittlefringeofyellowhairintohereyes。
"Isitnottoocoldforyoutobestandinghere？"saidGregory，comingsoftlyclosetoher。
"Oh，no；itissonice。Ialwayscometowatchthemilking。Thatredcowwiththeshorthornsisbringingupthecalfofthewhitecowthatdied。
Shelovesitso——justasifitwereherown。Itissonicetoseeherlickitslittleears。Justlook！"
"Thecloudsareblack。Ithinkitisgoingtoraintonight，"saidGregory。
"Yes，"answeredEm，lookingupaswellasshecouldforthelittleyellowfringe。
"ButI’msureyoumustbecold，"saidGregory，andputhishandunderthecloak，andfoundthereasmallfistdoubledup，soft，andverywarm。Hehelditfastinhishand。
"Oh，Em，Iloveyoubetterthanalltheworldbesides！Tellme，doyoulovemealittle？"
"Yes，Ido，"saidEm，hesitating，andtryingsoftlytofreeherhand。
"Betterthaneverything；betterthanalltheworld，darling？"heasked，bendingdownsolowthattheyellowhairwasblownintohiseyes。
"Idon’tknow，"saidEm，gravely。"Idoloveyouverymuch；butIlovemycousinwhoisatschool，andWaldo，verymuch。YouseeIhaveknownthemsolong！"
"Oh，Em，donottalktomesocoldly！"Gregorycried，seizingthelittlearmthatrestedonthegate，andpressingittillshewashalfafraid。Theherdsmanhadmovedawaytotheotherendofthekraalnow，andthecows，busywiththeircalves，tooknonoticeofthelittlehumanfarce。"Em，ifyoutalksotomeIwillgomad！Youmustloveme，lovemebetterthanall！Youmustgiveyourselftome。IhavelovedyousincethatfirstmomentwhenIsawyouwalkingbythestonewallwiththejuginyourhands。
Youweremadeforme，createdforme！IwillloveyoutillIdie！Oh，Em，donotbesocold，socrueltome！"
Heheldherarmsotightlythatherfingersrelaxedtheirhold，andthecloakfluttereddownontotheground，andthewindplayedmoreroughlythaneverwiththelittleyellowhead。
"Idoloveyouverymuch，"shesaid；"butIdonotknowifIwanttomarryyou。IloveyoubetterthanWaldo，butIcan’ttellifIloveyoubetterthanLyndall。IfyouwouldletmewaitforaweekIthinkperhapsIcouldtellyou。"
Gregorypickedupthecloakandwrappeditroundher。
"IfyoucouldbutlovemeasIloveyou，"hesaid；"butnowomancanloveasamancan。IwillwaittillSaturday。Iwillnotoncecomenearyoutillthen。Good—bye！Oh，Em，"hesaid，turningagain，andtwininghisarmabouther，andkissinghersurprisedlittlemouth，"ifyouarenotmywifeIcannotlive。Ihaveneverlovedanotherwoman，andInevershall！——
never，never！"