Shewasdirtyandlazy，andlikedtololltherewhentravellerscame，tohearthementalk，butshehadasoftheart。Presentlyahandcameoutofthewindow，andapairofvelvetslipperstouchedhisshoulder，tinyslipperswithblackflowers。Hepulledthemoutofherhand。Onlyonewoman’sfeethadwornthem，heknewthat。
"Leftherelastsummerbyalady，"saidthegirl；"mightbetheoneyouarelookingfor。Neversawanyfeetsosmall。"
Gregoryroseandquestionedher。
Theymighthavecomeinawagonandspider，shecouldnottell。Butthegentlemanwasveryhandsome，tall，lovelyfigure，blueeyes，woreglovesalwayswhenhewentout。AnEnglishofficer，perhaps；noAfricander，certainly。
Gregorystoppedher。
Thelady？Well，shewaspretty，rather，thegirlsaid；verycold，dullair，silent。Theystayedfor，itmightbe，fivedays；sleptinthewingoveragainstthestoep；quarrelledsometimes，shethought——thelady。Shehadseeneverythingwhenshewentintowait。Onedaythegentlemantouchedherhair；shedrewbackfromhimasthoughhisfingerspoisonedher。Wenttotheotherendoftheroomifhecametositnearher。Walkedoutalone。Coldwifeforsuchahandsomehusband，thegirlthought；sheevidentlypitiedhim，hewassuchabeautifulman。Theywentawayearlyonemorning，how，orinwhichway，thegirlcouldnottell。
Gregoryinquiredoftheservants，butnothingmorewastobelearnt；sothenextmorninghesaddledhishorseandwenton。Atthefarmshecametothegoodoldoomsandtantesaskedhimtohavecoffee，andthelittleshoelesschildrenpeepedoutatthestrangerfrombehindovensandgables；butnoonehadseenwhatheaskedfor。Thiswayandthatherodetopickupthethreadhehaddropped，butthespiderandthewagon，thelittleladyandthehandsomegentleman，noonehadseen。Inthetownshefaredyetworse。
Onceindeedhopecametohim。Onthestoepofanhotelatwhichhestayedthenightinacertainlittlevillage，therewalkedagentleman，graveandkindly—looking。Itwasnothardtoopenconversationwithhimabouttheweather，andthen——Hadheeverseensuchandsuchpeople，agentlemanandalady，aspiderandwagon，arriveatthatplace？Thekindlygentlemanshookhishead。Whatwastheladylike，heinquired。
Gregorypainted。Hairlikesilkenfloss，smallmouth，underlipveryfullandpink，upperlippinkbutverythinandcurled；therewerefourwhitespotsonthenailofherrighthandforefinger，andhereyebrowswereverydelicatelycurved。
"Yes；andarose—budtingeinthecheeks；handslikelilies，andperfectlyseraphicsmile。"
"Thatisshe！thatisshe！"criedGregory。
Whoelsecoulditbe？Heaskedwhereshehadgoneto。Thegentlemanmostthoughtfullystrokedhisbeard。
Hewouldtrytoremember。Werenotherears——。Heresuchaviolentfitofcoughingseizedhimthatheranawayintothehouse。Anill—fedclerkandadirtybarmanstandinginthedoorwaylaughedaloud。Gregorywonderediftheycouldbelaughingatthegentleman’scough，andthenheheardsomeonelaughingintheroomintowhichthegentlemanhadgone。Hemustfollowhimandtrytolearnmore；buthesoonfoundthattherewasnothingmoretobelearntthere。PoorGregory！
Backwardandforward，backwardandforward，fromthedirtylittlehotelwherehehaddroppedthethread，tothisfarmandtothat，rodeGregory，tillhisheartwassickandtired。Thatfromthatspotthewagonmighthavegoneitsownwayandthespideranotherwasanideathatdidnotoccurtohim。Atlasthesawitwasnouselingeringinthatneighbourhood，andpressedon。
Onedaycomingtoalittletown，hishorsesknockedup，andheresolvedtorestthemthere。Thelittlehotelofthetownwasabrightandsunnyplace，likethejovialfaceofthecleanlittlewomanwhokeptit，andwhotrottedabouttalkingalways——talkingtothecustomersinthetaproom，andtothemaidsinthekitchen，andtothepassers—bywhenshecouldhailthemfromthewindows；talking，asgood—naturedwomenwithlargemouthsandsmallnosesalwaysdo，inseasonandout。
Therewasalittlefrontparlourinthehotel，keptforstrangerswhowantedtobealone。Gregorysattheretoeathisbreakfast，andthelandladydustedtheroomandtalkedofthegreatfindsattheDiamondFields，andthebadnessofmaid—servants，andtheshamefulconductoftheDutchparsoninthattowntotheEnglishinhabitants。Gregoryatehisbreakfastandlistenedtonothing。Hehadaskedhisonequestion，andhadhadhisanswer；nowshemighttalkon。
Presentlyadoorinthecorneropenedandawomancameout——aMozambiquer，witharedhandkerchieftwistedroundherhead。Shecarriedinherhandatray，withasliceoftoastcrumbledfine，andahalf—filledcupofcoffee，andaneggbrokenopen，butnoteaten。Herebonyfacegrinnedcomplacentlyassheshutthedoorsoftlyandsaid，"Goodmorning。"
Thelandladybegantotalktoher。
"Youarenotgoingtoleaveherreally，Ayah，areyou？"shesaid。"Themaidssayso；butI’msureyouwouldn’tdosuchathing。"
TheMozambiquergrinned。
"HusbandsaysImustgohome。"
"Butshehasn’tgotanyoneelse，andwon’thaveanyoneelse。Come，now，"
saidthelandlady，"I’venotimetobesittingalwaysinasickroom，notifIwaspaidanythingforit。"
TheMozambiqueronlyshowedherwhiteteethgood—naturedlyforanswer，andwentout，andthelandladyfollowedher。
Gregory，gladtobealone，watchedthesunshineasitcameoverthefuchsiasinthewindow，andranupanddownonthepanelleddoorinthecorner。TheMozambiquerhadcloseditlooselybehindher，andpresentlysomethingtoucheditinside。Itmovedalittle，thenitwasstill，thenmovedagain；thenthroughthegapasmallnoseappeared，andayellowearoverlappingoneeye；thenthewholeheadobtruded，placeditselfcriticallyononeside，wrinkleditsnosedisapprovinglyatGregory，andwithdrew。
Throughthehalf—opendoorcameafaintscentofvinegar，andtheroomwasdarkandstill。
Presentlythelandladycameback。
"Leftthedooropen，"shesaid，bustlingtoshutit；"butadarkywillbeadarky，andnevercarriesaheadonitsshoulderslikeotherfolks。Notill，Ihopesir？"shesaid，lookingatGregorywhenshehadshutthebedroomdoor。
"No，"saidGregory，"no。"
Thelandladybeganputtingthethingstogether。
"Who，"askedGregory，"isinthatroom？"
Gladtohavealittleinnocentpieceofgossiptorelate，andsomeonewillingtohearit，thelandladymadethemostofalittlestoryassheclearedthetable。Sixmonthsbeforealadyhadcomealonetothehotelinawagon，withonlyacolouredleaderanddriver。Eightdaysafteralittlebabyhadbeenborn。
IfGregorystoodupandlookedoutatthewindowhewouldseeabluegum—
treeinthegraveyard；closebyitwasalittlegrave。Thebabywasburiedthere。Atinything——onlylivedtwohours，andthemotherherselfalmostwentwithit。Afterawhileshewasbetter；butonedayshegotupoutofbed，dressedherselfwithoutsayingawordtoanyone，andwentout。Itwasadrizzlyday；alittletimeaftersomeonesawhersittingonthewetgroundunderthebluegum—tree，withtheraindrippingfromherhatandshawl。Theywenttofetchher，butshewouldnotcomeuntilshechose。
Whenshedid，shehadgonetobedandhadnotrisenagainfromit；neverwould，thedoctorsaid。
Shewasverypatient，poorthing。Whenyouwentintoaskherhowshewasshesaidalways"Better，"or"Nearlywell！"andlaystillinthedarkenedroom，andnevertroubledanyone。TheMozambiquertookcareofher，andshewouldnotallowanyoneelsetotouchher；wouldnotsomuchasallowanyoneelsetoseeherfootuncovered。Shewasstrangeinmanyways，butshepaidwell，poorthing；andnowtheMozambiquerwasgoing，andshewouldhavetotakeupwithsomeoneelse。
Thelandladyprattledonpleasantly，andnowcarriedawaythetraywiththebreakfastthings。WhenshewasgoneGregoryleanedhisheadonhishands，buthedidnotthinklong。
Beforedinnerhehadriddenoutofthetowntowhereonariseanumberoftransport—wagonswereoutspanned。TheDutchmandriverofonewonderedatthestranger’seagernesstofreehimselfofhishorses。Stolenperhaps；
butitwasworthhiswhiletobuythematsolowaprice。Sothehorseschangedmasters，andGregorywalkedoffwithhissaddlebagsslungacrosshisarm。Onceoutofsightofthewagonshestruckoutoftheroadandwalkedacrosstheveld，thedry，floweringgrasseswavingeverywhereabouthim；half—wayacrosstheplainhecametoadeepgullywhichtheraintorrentshadwashedout，butwhichwasnowdry。Gregorysprungdownintoitsredbed。Itwasasafeplace，andquiet。Whenhehadlookedabouthimhesatdownundertheshadeofanoverhangingbankandfannedhimselfwithhishat，fortheafternoonwashot，andhehadwalkedfast。Athisfeetthedustyantsranabout，andthehighredbankbeforehimwascoveredbyanetworkofrootsandfibreswashedbarebytherains。AbovehisheadrosetheclearblueAfricansky；athissidewerethesaddlebagsfullofwomen’sclothing。Gregorylookeduphalfplaintivelyintothebluesky。
"AmI，amIGregoryNazianzenRose？"hesaid。
Itwasalsostrange，hesittingthereinthatslootinthatup—countryplain！——strangeasthefantastic，changingshapesinasummercloud。Atlast，tiredout，hefellasleep，withhisheadagainstthebank。Whenhewoketheshadowhadstretchedacrossthesloot，andthesunwasontheedgeoftheplain。Nowhemustbeupanddoing。Hedrewfromhisbreastpocketalittlesixpennylooking—glass，andhungitononeoftherootsthatstuckoutfromthebank。Thenhedressedhimselfinoneoftheold—fashionedgownsandagreatpinked—outcollar。Thenhetookoutarazor。Tuftbytuftthesoftbrownbeardfelldownintothesand，andthelittleantstookittolinetheirnestswith。Thentheglassshowedafacesurroundedbyafrilledcap，whiteasawoman’s，withalittlemouth，averyshortupperlip，andarecedingchin。
Presentlyarathertallwoman’sfigurewasmakingitswayacrosstheveld。
Asitpassedahollowed—outantheapitkneltdown，andstuffedinthesaddlebagswiththeman’sclothing，closinguptheanthillwithbitsofgroundtolookasnaturalaspossible。Likeasinnerhidinghisdeedofsin，thehiderstartedonceandlookedround，butyettherewasnoonenearsaveameerkat，whohadliftedherselfoutofherholeandsatonherhindlegswatching。Hedidnotlikethatevensheshouldsee，andwhenheroseshedivedawayintoherhole。Thenhewalkedonleisurely，thattheduskmighthavereachedthevillagestreetsbeforehewalkedthere。Thefirsthousewasthesmith’s，andbeforetheopendoortwoidleurchinslolled。
Ashehurriedupthestreetinthegatheringgloomheheardthemlaughlongandloudlybehindhim。Heglancedroundfearingly，andwouldalmosthavefled，butthatthestrangeskirtsclungabouthislegs。Andafterallitwasonlyasparkthathadalightedontheheadofone，andnotthestrangefiguretheylaughedat。
Thedoorofthehotelstoodwideopen，andthelightfelloutintothestreet。Heknocked，andthelandladycame。Shepeeredouttolookforthecartthathadbroughtthetraveller；butGregory’sheartwasbravenowhewassonearthequietroom。Hetoldherhehadcomewiththetransportwagonsthatstoodoutsidethetown。
Hehadwalkedin，andwantedlodgingsforthenight。
Itwasadeliberatelie，gliblytold；hewouldhavetoldfifty，thoughtherecordingangelhadstoodinthenextroomwithhispendippedintheink。
Whatwasittohim？Herememberedthatshelaytheresayingalways："Iambetter。"
Thelandladyputhissupperinthelittleparlourwherehehadsatinthemorning。Whenitwasonthetableshesatdownintherocking—chair，asherfashionwastoknitandtalk，thatshemightgathernewsforhercustomersinthetaproom。Inthewhitefaceunderthequeer，deep—fringedcapshesawnothingofthemorning’straveller。Thenewcomerwascommunicative。Shewasanursebyprofession，shesaid；hadcometotheTransvaal，hearingthatgoodnurseswereneededthere。Shehadnotyetfoundwork。Thelandladydidnotperhapsknowwhethertherewouldbeanyforherinthattown？
Thelandladyputdownherknittingandsmoteherfathandstogether。
Ifitwasn’ttheveryfingerofGod’sprovidence，asthoughyousawithangingoutofthesky，shesaid。Herewasaladyillandneedinganewnursethatveryday，andnotabletogetonetohermind，andnow——well，ifitwasn’tenoughtoconvertalltheAtheistsandFreethinkersintheTransvaal，shedidn’tknow！
Thenthelandladyproceededtodetailfacts。
"I’msureyouwillsuither，"sheadded；"you’rejustthekind。Shehasheapsofmoneytopayyouwith；haseverythingthatmoneycanbuy。AndI
gotaletterwithacheckinitforfiftypoundstheotherdayfromsomeone，whosaysI’mtospenditforher，andnottoletherknow。Sheisasleepnow，butI’lltakeyouintolookather。"
Thelandladyopenedthedoorofthenextroom，andGregoryfollowedher。A
tablestoodnearthebed，andalampburninglowstoodonit；thebedwasagreatfour—posterwithwhitecurtains，andthequiltwasofrichcrimsonsatin。ButGregorystoodjustinsidethedoorwithhisheadbentlow，andsawnofurther。
"Comenearer！I’llturnthelampupabit，thatyoucanhavealookather。Aprettything，isn’tit？"saidthelandlady。
Nearthefootofthebedwasadentinthecrimsonquilt，andoutofitDoss’smallheadandbrighteyeslookedknowingly。
ThenGregorylookedupatwhatlayonthecushion。Alittlewhite，whiteface，transparentasanangel’swithaclothboundroundtheforehead，andwithsofthairtossedaboutonthepillow。
"Wehadtocutitoff，"saidthewoman，touchingitwithherforefinger。
"Softassilk，likeawaxdoll’s。"
ButGregory’sheartwasbleeding。
"Nevergetupagain，thedoctorsays，"saidthelandlady。
Gregoryutteredoneword。Inaninstantthebeautifuleyesopenedwidely，lookedroundtheroomandintothedarkcorners。
"Whoishere？WhomdidIhearspeak？"
Gregoryhadsunkbackbehindthecurtain；thelandladydrewitaside，andpulledhimforward。
"Onlythislady，ma’am——anursebyprofession。Sheiswillingtostayandtakecareofyou，ifyoucancometotermswithher。"
Lyndallraisedherselfonherelbow，andcastonekeenscrutinizingglanceoverhim。
"HaveIneverseenyoubefore？"sheasked。
"No。"
Shefellbackwearily。
"Perhapsyouwouldliketoarrangethetermsbetweenyourselves，"saidthelandlady。"Hereisachair。Iwillbebackpresently。"
Gregorysatdown，withbentheadandquickbreath。Shedidnotspeak，andlaywithhalf—closedeyes，seemingtohaveforgottenhim。
"Willyouturnthelampdownalittle？"shesaidatlast；"Icannotbearthelight。"
Thenhisheartgrewbraverintheshadow，andhespoke。Nursingwastohim，hesaid，hischosenlife’swork。Hewantednomoneyif——Shestoppedhim。
"ItakenoserviceforwhichIdonotpay，"shesaid。"WhatIgavetomylastnurseIwillgivetoyou；ifyoudonotlikeityoumaygo。"
AndGregorymutteredhumbly，hewouldtakeit。
Afterwardshetriedtoturnherself。Heliftedher！Ah！ashrunkenlittlebody，hecouldfeelitsweaknessashetouchedit。Hishandsweretohimglorifiedforwhattheyhaddone。
"Thankyou！thatissonice。Otherpeoplehurtmewhentheytouchme，"shesaid。"Thankyou！"Thenafteralittlewhilesherepeatedhumbly，"Thankyou；theyhurtmeso。"
Gregorysatdowntrembling。Hislittleewe—lamb，couldtheyhurther？
ThedoctorsaidofGregoryfourdaysafter，"SheisthemostexperiencednurseIevercameincontactwith。"
Gregory，standinginthepassage，hearditandlaughedinhisheart。Whatneedhadheofexperience？Experienceteachesusinamillenniumwhatpassionteachesusinanhour。AKafferstudiesallhislifethediscerningofdistantsounds；buthewillneverhearmystep，whenmylovehearsit，comingtoherwindowinthedarkovertheshortgrass。
AtfirstGregory’sheartwassorewhendaybydaythebodygrewlighter，andthemouthhefedtookless；butafterwardhegrewaccustomedtoit，andwashappy。Forpassionhasonecry，oneonly——"Oh，totouchthee，Beloved！"
InthatquietroomLyndalllayonthebedwiththedogatherfeet，andGregorysatinhisdarkcornerwatching。
Sheseldomslept，andthroughthoselong，longdaysshewouldliewatchingtheroundstreakofsunlightthatcamethroughtheknotintheshutter，orthemassivelion’spawonwhichthewardroberested。Whatthoughtswereinthoseeyes？Gregorywondered；hedarednotask。
SometimesDosswherehelayonherfeetwoulddreamthattheytwowereinthecart，tearingovertheveld，withtheblackhorsessnorting，andthewindintheirfaces；andhewouldstartupinhissleepandbarkaloud。
Thenawaking，hewouldlickhismistress’handalmostremorsefully，andslinkquietlydownintohisplace。
Gregorythoughtshehadnopain，shenevergroaned；onlysometimes，whenthelightwasnearher，hethoughthecouldseecontractionsaboutherlipsandeyebrows。
Hesleptonthesofaoutsideherdoor。
Onenighthethoughtheheardasound，and，openingitsoftly，helookedin。Shewascryingoutaloud，asifsheandherpainwerealoneintheworld。Thelightfellontheredquilt，andthelittlehandsthatwereclaspedoverthehead。Thewide—openeyeswerelookingup，andtheheavydropsfellslowlyfromthem。
"Icannotbearanymore，notanymore，"shesaidinadeepvoice。"Oh，God，God！haveInotborneinsilence？HaveInotenduredtheselong，longmonths？Butnow，now，oh，God，Icannot！"
Gregorykneltinthedoorwaylistening。
"Idonotaskforwisdom，nothumanlove，notwork，notknowledge，notforallthingsIhavelongedfor，"shecried；"onlyalittlefreedomfrompain！
Onlyonelittlehourwithoutpain！ThenIwillsufferagain。"
Shesatup，andbitthelittlehandGregoryloved。
Hecreptawaytothefrontdoor，andstoodlookingoutatthequietstarlight。Whenhecamebackshewaslyinginherusualposture，thequieteyeslookingatthelion’sclaw。Hecameclosetothebed。
"Youhavemuchpaintonight？"heaskedher。
"No，notmuch。"
"CanIdoanythingforyou？"
"No，nothing。"
Shestilldrewherlipstogether，andmotionedwithherfingerstowardthedogwholaysleepingatherfeet。Gregoryliftedhimandlaidhimatherside。ShemadeGregoryturnopenthebosomofhernightdress，thatthedogmightputhisblackmuzzlebetweenherbreasts。Shecrossedherarmsoverhim。Gregoryleftthemlyingtheretogether。
Nextday，whentheyaskedherhowshewas，sheanswered"Better。"
"Someoneoughttotellher，"saidthelandlady；"wecan’tlethersoulgooutintoeternitynotknowing，especiallywhenIdon’tthinkitwasallrightaboutthechild。Yououghttogoandtellher，doctor。"
So，thelittledoctor，edgedonandon，wentinatlast。Whenhecameoutoftheroomheshookhisfistinthelandlady’sface。
"Thenexttimeyouhaveanydevil’sworktodo，doityourself，"hesaid，andheshookhisfistinherfaceagain，andwentawayswearing。
WhenGregorywentintothebedroomheonlyfoundhermoved，herbodycurledup，anddrawnclosetothewall。Hedarednotdisturbher。Atlast，afteralongtime，sheturned。
"Bringmefood，"shesaid，"Iwanttoeat。Twoeggs，andtoast，andmeat——
twolargeslicesoftoast，please。"
Wondering，Gregorybroughtatraywithallthatshehadaskedfor。
"Sitmeup，andputitclosetome，"shesaid；"Iamgoingtoeatitall。"
Shetriedtodrawthethingsnearherwithherfingers，andre—arrangedtheplates。Shecutthetoastintolongstrips，brokeopenbotheggs，putatinymorselofbreadintoherownmouth，andfedthedogwithpiecesofmeatputintohisjawswithherfingers。
"Isittwelveo’clockyet？"shesaid；"IthinkIdonotgenerallyeatsoearly。Putitaway，please，carefully——no，donottakeitaway——onlyonthetable。WhentheclockstrikestwelveIwilleatit。"
Shelaydowntrembling。Afteralittlewhileshesaid：
"Givememyclothes。"
Helookedather。
"Yes；Iamgoingtodresstomorrow。Ishouldgetupnow，butitisratherlate。Putthemonthatchair。Mycollarsareinthelittlebox，mybootsbehindthedoor。"
Hereyesfollowedhimintentlyashecollectedthearticlesonebyone，andplacedthemonthechairasshedirected。
"Putitnearer，"shesaid，"Icannotseeit；"andshelaywatchingtheclothes，withherhandunderhercheek。
"Nowopentheshutterwide，"shesaid；"Iamgoingtoread。"
Theold，oldtonewasagaininthesweetvoice。Heobeyedher；andopenedtheshutter，andraisedherupamongthepillows。
"Nowbringmybookstome，"shesaid，motioningeagerlywithherfingers；
"thelargebook，andthereviewsandtheplays——Iwantthemall。"
Hepiledthemroundheronthebed；shedrewthemgreedilycloser，hereyesverybright，butherfaceaswhiteasamountainlily。
"Nowthebigoneoffthedrawers。No，youneednothelpmetoholdmybook，"shesaid；"Icanholditformyself。"
Gregorywentbacktohiscorner，andforalittletimetherestlessturningoverofleaveswastobeheard。
"Willyouopenthewindow，"shesaid，almostquerulously，"andthrowthisbookout？Itissoutterlyfoolish。Ithoughtitwasavaluablebook；butthewordsaremerelystrungtogether，theymakenosense。Yes——so！"shesaidwithapproval，seeinghimflingitoutintothestreet。"ImusthavebeenveryfoolishwhenIthoughtthatbookgood。"
Thensheturnedtoread，andleanedherlittleelbowsresolutelyonthegreatvolume，andknitherbrows。ThiswasShakespeare——itmustmeansomething。
"Iwishyouwouldtakeahandkerchiefandtieittightroundmyhead，itachesso。"
Hehadnotbeenlonginhisseatwhenhesawdropsfallfrombeneaththehandsthatshadedtheeyes，ontothepage。
"Iamnotaccustomedtosomuchlight，itmakesmyheadswimalittle，"shesaid。"Gooutandclosetheshutter。"
Whenhecameback，shelayshrivelledupamongthepillows。
Heheardnosoundofweeping，buttheshouldersshook。Hedarkenedtheroomcompletely。
WhenGregorywenttohissofathatnight，shetoldhimtowakeherearly；
shewouldbedressedbeforebreakfast。Nevertheless，whenmorningcame，shesaiditwasalittlecold，andlayalldaywatchingherclothesuponthechair。Stillshesentforheroxeninthecountry；theywouldstartonMondayandgodowntotheColony。
Intheafternoonshetoldhimtoopenthewindowwide，anddrawthebednearit。
Itwasaleadenafternoon，thedullrain—cloudsrestedclosetotheroofsofthehouses，andthelittlestreetwassilentanddeserted。Nowandthenagustofwindeddyingroundcaughtupthedriedleaves，whirledthemhitherandthitherunderthetrees，anddroppedthemagainintothegutter；
thenallwasquiet。Shelaylookingout。
Presentlythebellofthechurchbegantotoll，andupthevillagestreetcamealongprocession。Theywerecarryinganoldmantohislastresting—
place。Shefollowedthemwithhereyestilltheyturnedinamongthetreesatthegate。
"Whowasthat？"sheasked。
"Anoldman，"heanswered，"averyoldman；theysayhewasninety—four；
buthisnameIdonotknow。"