ServiceNo。I。
　　TheboyWaldokissedthepagesofhisbookandlookedup。Farovertheflatlaythekopje，amerespeck；thesheepwanderedquietlyfrombushtobush；thestillnessoftheearlySundayrestedeverywhere，andtheairwasfresh。
　　Helookeddownathisbook。Onitspageablackinsectcrept。Helifteditoffwithhisfinger。Thenheleanedonhiselbow，watchingitsquiveringantennaeandstrangemovements，smiling。
　　"Evenyou，"hewhispered，"shallnotdie。EvenyouHeloves。EvenyouHewillfoldinHisarmswhenHetakeseverythingandmakesitperfectandhappy。"
　　WhenthethinghadgonehesmoothedtheleavesofhisBiblesomewhatcaressingly。Theleavesofthatbookhaddroppedbloodforhimonce；theyhadtakenthebrightnessoutofhischildhood；frombetweenthemhadsprungthevisionsthathadclungabouthimandmadenighthorrible。Adder—likethoughtshadliftedtheirheads，hadshotoutforkedtonguesathim，askingmockinglystrange，trivialquestionsthathecouldnotanswer，miserablechild：
　　WhydidthewomeninMarkseeonlyoneangelandthewomeninLuketwo？
　　Couldastorybetoldinoppositewaysandbothwaysbetrue？Couldit？
　　couldit？Thenagain：Istherenothingalwaysright，andnothingalwayswrong？CouldJaelthewifeofHebertheKenite"putherhandtothenail，andherrighthandtotheworkman’shammer？"andcouldtheSpiritoftheLordchantpaeansoverher，loudpaeans，highpaeans，setinthebookoftheLord，andnovoicecryoutitwasameananddastardlysintolie，andkillthetrustingintheirsleep？CouldthefriendofGodmarryhisownsister，andbebeloved，andthemanwhodoesittodaygoestohell，tohell？Wastherenothingalwaysrightoralwayswrong？
　　Thoseleaveshaddroppedbloodforhimonce：theyhadmadehisheartheavyandcold；theyhadrobbedhischildhoodofitsgladness；nowhisfingersmovedoverthemcaressingly。
　　"MyfatherGodknows，myfatherknows，"hesaid；"wecannotunderstand；Heknows。"Afterawhilehewhispered，smiling——"Iheardyourvoicethismorningwhenmyeyeswerenotyetopen，Ifeltyounearme，myFather。Whydoyoulovemeso？Hisfacewasilluminated。"Inthelastfourmonthstheoldquestionhasgonefromme。Iknowyouaregood；Iknowyouloveeverything；Iknow，Iknow，Iknow！Icouldnothaveborneitanymore，notanymore。"Helaughedsoftly。"AndallthewhileIwassomiserableyouwerelookingatmeandlovingme，andIneverknewit。ButIknowitnow。Ifeelit，"saidtheboy，andhelaughedlow；"Ifeelit！"helaughed。
　　Afterawhilehebeganpartlytosing，partlytochantthedisconnectedversesofhymns，thosewhichspokehisgladness，manytimesover。Thesheepwiththeirsenselesseyesturnedtolookathimashesang。
　　Atlasthelapsedintoquiet。Thenastheboylaytherestaringatbushandsand，hesawavision。
　　HehadcrossedtheriverofDeath，andwalkedontheotherbankintheLord’slandofBeulah。Hisfeetsankintothedarkgrass，andhewalkedalone。Then，faroverthefields，hesawafigurecomingacrossthedarkgreengrass。Atfirsthethoughtitmustbeoneoftheangels；butasitcamenearerhebegantofeelwhatitwas。Anditcamecloser，closertohim，andthenthevoicesaid，"Come，"andheknewsurelyWhoitwas。Herantothedearfeetandtouchedthemwithhishands；yes，heheldthemfast！Helaydownbesidethem。Whenhelookedupthefacewasoverhim，andthegloriouseyeswerelovinghim；andtheytwoweretherealonetogether。
　　Helaughedadeeplaugh；thenstarteduplikeonesuddenlyawakenedfromsleep。
　　"Oh，God！Hecried，"Icannotwait；Icannotwait！Iwanttodie；IwanttoseeHim；Iwanttotouchhim。Letmedie！"Hefoldedhishands，trembling。"HowcanIwaitsolong——forlong，longyearsperhaps？Iwanttodie——toseeHim。Iwilldieanydeath。Oh，letmecome！"
　　Weepinghebowedhimself，andquiveredfromheadtofoot。Afteralongwhileheliftedhishead。
　　"Yes；Iwillwait；Iwillwait。Butnotlong；donotletitbeverylong，JesusKing。Iwantyou；oh，Iwantyou——soon，soon！"Hesatstill，staringacrosstheplainwithhistearfuleyes。
　　ServiceNo。II。
　　InthefrontroomofthefarmhousesatTantSannieinherelbow—chair。Inherhandwashergreatbrass—claspedhymn—book，roundherneckwasacleanwhitehandkerchief，underherfeetwasawoodenstove。TheretoosatEmandLyndall，incleanpinaforesandnewshoes。TheretoowasthespruceHottentotinastarchedwhitekapje，andherhusbandontheothersideofthedoor，withhiswooloiledandverymuchcombedout，andstaringathisnewleatherboots。TheKafferservantswerenottherebecauseTantSannieheldtheyweredescendedfromapes，andneedednosalvation。ButtherestweregatheredfortheSundayservice，andwaitedtheofficiator。
　　MeanwhileBonaparteandtheGermanapproachedarminarm——Bonaparteresplendentintheblackclothclothes，aspotlessshirt，andaspotlesscollar；theGermanintheoldsalt—and—pepper，castingshyglancesofadmirationathiscompanion。
　　AtthefrontdoorBonaparteremovedhishatwithmuchdignity，raisedhisshirtcollar，andentered。Tothecentretablehewalked，puthishatsolemnlydownbythebigBible，andbowedhisheadoveritinsilentprayer。
　　TheBoer—womanlookedattheHottentot，andtheHottentotlookedattheBoer—woman。
　　TherewasonethingonearthforwhichTantSanniehadaprofoundreverence，whichexercisedasubduinginfluenceoverher，whichmadeherforthetimeabetterwoman——thatthingwasnew，shiningblackcloth。Itmadeherthinkofthepredikant；itmadeherthinkoftheelderswhosatinthetoppewofthechurchonSundays，withthehairsonicelyoiled，soholyandrespectable，withtheirlittleswallow—tailedcoats；itmadeherthinkofheaven，whereeverythingwassoholyandrespectable，andnobodyworetancord，andthelittlestangelhadablack—tailedcoat。Shewishedshehadn’tcalledhimathiefandaRomanCatholic。ShehopedtheGermanhadn’ttoldhim。Shewonderedwherethoseclotheswerewhenhecameinragstoherdoor。Therewasnodoubt，hewasaveryrespectableman，agentleman。
　　TheGermanbegantoreadahymn。AttheendofeachlineBonapartegroaned，andtwiceattheendofeveryverse。
　　TheBoer—womanhadoftenheardofpersonsgroaningduringprayers，toaddacertainpoignancyandfinishtothem；oldJanVanderlinde，hermother’sbrother，alwaysdiditafterhewasconverted；andshewouldhavelookeduponitasnoespecialsignofgraceinanyone；buttogroanathymn—time！
　　Shewasstartled。Shewonderedifherememberedthatsheshookherfistinhisface。ThiswasamanofGod。Theykneltdowntopray。TheBoer—womanweighedtwohundredandfiftypounds，andcouldnotkneel。Shesatinherchair，andpeepedbetweenhercrossedfingersatthestranger’sback。Shecouldnotunderstandwhathesaid；buthewasinearnest。Heshookthechairbythebackrailtillitmadequitealittledustonthemudfloor。
　　WhentheyrosefromtheirkneesBonapartesolemnlyseatedhimselfinthechairandopenedtheBible。Heblewhisnose，pulleduphisshirtcollar，smoothedtheleaves，strokeddownhiscapaciouswaistcoat，blewhisnoseagain，lookedsolemnlyroundtheroom，thenbegan。
　　"Allliarsshallhavetheirpartinthelakewhichburnethwithfireandbrimstone，whichistheseconddeath。"
　　HavingreadthisportionofScripture，Bonapartepausedimpressively，andlookedallroundtheroom。
　　"Ishallnot，mydearfriends，"hesaid，"longdetainyou。Muchofourprecioustimehasalreadyfledblissfullyfromusinthevoiceofthanksgivingandthetongueofpraise。Afew，averyfewwordsareallI
　　shalladdresstoyou，andmaytheybeasarodofirondividingthebonesfromthemarrow，andthemarrowfromthebones。
　　"Inthefirstplace：Whatisaliar？"
　　Thequestionwasputsopointedly，andfollowedbyapausesoprofound，thateventheHottentotmanleftofflookingathisbootsandopenedhiseyes，thoughheunderstoodnotaword。
　　"Irepeat，"saidBonaparte，"whatisaliar？"
　　Thesensationwasintense；theattentionoftheaudiencewasriveted。
　　"Haveyouanyofyoueverseenaliar，mydearfriends？"Therewasastilllongerpause。"Ihopenot；Itrulyhopenot。ButIwilltellyouwhataliaris。Iknewaliaronce——alittleboywholivedinCapeTown，inShortMarketStreet。HismotherandIsattogetheroneday，discoursingaboutoursouls。
　　"’Here，Sampson，’saidhismother，’goandbuysixpenceofmeibossfromtheMalayroundthecorner。’
　　"Whenhecamebackshesaid：’Howmuchhaveyougot？’
　　"’Five，’hesaid。
　　"Hewasafraidifhesaidsixandahalfshe’daskforsome。And，myfriends，thatwasalie。Thehalfofameibossstuckinhisthroatandhediedandwasburied。Andwheredidthesoulofthatlittleliargoto，myfriends？Itwenttothelakeoffireandbrimstone。Thisbringsmetothesecondpointofmydiscourse。
　　"Whatisalakeoffireandbrimstone？Iwilltellyou，myfriends，"saidBonapartecondescendingly。"Theimaginationunaidedcannotconceiveit：
　　butbythehelpoftheLordIwillputitbeforeyourmind’seye。
　　"IwastravellinginItalyonceonatime；IcametoacitycalledRome，avastcity，andnearitisamountainwhichspitsforthfire。ItsnameisEtna。Now，therewasamaninthatcityofRomewhohadnotthefearofGodbeforehiseyes，andhelovedawoman。Thewomandied，andhewalkedupthatmountainspittingfire，andwhenhegottothetophethrewhimselfinattheholethatisthere。ThenextdayIwentup。Iwasnotafraid；
　　theLordpreservesHisservants。Andintheirhandsshalltheybeartheeup，lestatanytimethoufallintoavolcano。ItwasdarknightwhenI
　　gotthere，butinthefearoftheLordIwalkedtotheedgeoftheyawningabyss，andlookedin。Thatsight——thatsight，myfriends，isimpresseduponmymostindeliblememory。Ilookeddownintotheluriddepthsuponanincandescentlake，ameltedfire，aseethingsea；thebillowsrolledfromsidetoside，andontheirfierycreststossedthewhiteskeletonofthesuicide。Theheathadburntthefleshfromoffthebones；theylayasalightcorkuponthemelted，fierywaves。Oneskeletonhandwasraisedupward，thefingerpointingtoheaven；theother，withoutstretchedfinger，pointingdownward，asthoughitwouldsay，’Igobelow，butyou，Bonaparte，maysoarabove。’Igazed；Istoodentranced。Atthatinstanttherewasacrackintheluridlake；itswelled，expanded，andtheskeletonofthesuicidedisappeared，tobeseennomorebymortaleye。"
　　HereagainBonaparterested，andthencontinued：
　　"Thelakeofmeltedstoneroseinthecrater，itswelledhigherandhigherattheside，itstreamedforthatthetop。Ihadpresenceofmind；nearmewasarock；Istooduponit。Thefierytorrentwasvomitedoutandstreamedoneithersideofme。AndthroughthatlongandterriblenightI
　　stoodtherealoneuponthatrock，theglowing，fierylavaoneveryhand——amonumentofthelong—sufferingandtenderprovidenceoftheLord，whosparedmethatImightthisdaytestifyinyourearsofHim。
　　"Now，mydearfriends，letusdeducethelessonsthataretobelearntfromthisnarrative。
　　"Firstly：letusnevercommitsuicide。Themanisafool，myfriends，thatmanisinsane，myfriends，whowouldleavethisearth，myfriends。
　　Herearejoysinnumerable，suchasithathnotenteredintotheheartofmantounderstand，myfriends。Hereareclothes，myfriends；herearebeds，myfriends；hereisdeliciousfood，myfriends。Ourpreciousbodiesweregivenustolove，tocherish。Oh，letusdoso！Oh，letusneverhurtthem；butcareforandlovethem，myfriends！"
　　Everyonewasimpressed，andBonaparteproceeded：
　　"Thirdly；letusnotlovetoomuch。Ifthatyoungmanhadnotlovedthatyoungwoman，hewouldnothavejumpedintoMountEtna。Thegoodmenofoldneverdidso。WasJeremiaheverinlove，orEzekiel，orHosea，orevenanyoftheminorprophets？No。Thenwhyshouldwebe？Thousandsarerollinginthatlakeatthismomentwhowouldsay，’Itwaslovethatbroughtushere。’Oh，letusthinkalwaysofourownsoulsfirst。
　　"’AchargetokeepIhave，AGodtoglorify；
　　Anever—dyingsoultosave，Andfititforthesky。’
　　"Oh，belovedfriends，rememberthelittleboyandthemeiboss；remembertheyounggirlandtheyoungman；rememberthelake，thefire，andthebrimstone；rememberthesuicide’sskeletononthepitchybillowsofMountEtna；rememberthevoiceofwarningthathasthisdaysoundedinyourears；
　　andwhatIsaytoyouIsaytoall——watch！MaytheLordaddhisblessings！"
　　HeretheBibleclosedwithatremendousthud。TantSannieloosenedthewhitehandkerchiefaboutherneckandwipedhereyes，andthecolouredgirl，seeingherdoso，sniffled。Thedidnotunderstandthediscourse，whichmadeitthemoreaffecting。
　　Therehungoveritthatinscrutablecharmwhichhoversforeverforthehumanintellectovertheincomprehensibleandshadowy。WhenthelasthymnwassungtheGermanconductedtheofficiatortoTantSannie，whograciouslyextendedherhand，andofferedcoffeeandaseatonthesofa。Leavinghimthere，theGermanhurriedawaytoseehowthelittleplum—puddinghehadleftathomewasadvancing；andTantSannieremarkedthatitwasahotday。
　　Bonapartegatheredhermeaningasshefannedherselfwiththeendofherapron。Hebowedlowinacquiescence。Alongsilencefollowed。TantSanniespokeagain。Bonapartegavehernoear；hiseyewasfixedonasmallminiatureontheoppositewall，whichrepresentedTantSannieasshehadappearedonthedaybeforeherconfirmation，fifteenyearsbefore，attiredingreenmuslin。Suddenlyhestartedtohisfeet，walkeduptothepicture，andtookhisstandbeforeit。Longandwistfullyhegazedintoitsfeatures；itwaseasytoseethathewasdeeplymoved。Withasuddenmovement，asthoughnolongerabletorestrainhimself，heseizedthepicture，looseneditfromitsnail，andhelditclosetohiseyes。Atlength，turningtotheBoer—woman，hesaid，inavoiceofdeepemotion：
　　"Youwill，Itrust，dearmadam，excusethisexhibitionofmyfeelings；butthis——thislittlepicturerecallstomemyfirstandbestbeloved，mydeardepartedwife，whoisnowasaintinheaven。"
　　TantSanniecouldnotunderstand；buttheHottentotmaid，whohadtakenherseatonthefloorbesidehermistress，translatedtheEnglishintoDutchasfarasshewasable。
　　"Ah，myfirst，mybeloved！"headded，lookingtenderlydownatthepicture。
　　"Oh，thebeloved，thebeautifullineaments！Myangelwife！Thisissurelyasisterofyours，madame？"headded，fixinghiseyesonTantSannie。
　　TheDutchwomanblushed，shookherhead，andpointedtoherself。
　　Carefully，intently，BonapartelookedfromthepictureinhishandtoTantSannie’sfeatures，andfromthefeaturesbacktothepicture。Thenslowlyalightbrokeoverhiscountenance，helookedup，itbecameasmile；helookedbackattheminiature，hiswholecountenancewaseffulgent。
　　"Ah，yes；Iseeitnow，"hecried，turninghisdelightedgazeontheBoer—
　　woman；"eyes，mouth，nose，chin，theveryexpression！"hecried。"HowisitpossibleIdidnotnoticeitbefore？"
　　"Takeanothercupofcoffee，"saidTantSannie。"Putsomesugarin。"
　　Bonapartehungthepicturetenderlyup，andwasturningtotakethecupfromherhand，whentheGermanappeared，tosaythatthepuddingwasreadyandthemeatonthetable。
　　"He’saGod—fearingman，andonewhoknowshowtobehavehimself，"saidtheBoer—womanashewentoutatthedoor。"Ifhe’sugly，didnottheLordmakehim？AndarewetolaughattheLord’shandiwork？Itisbettertobeuglyandgoodthanprettyandbad；thoughofcourseit’snicewhenoneisboth，"saidTantSannie，lookingcomplacentlyatthepictureonthewall。
　　IntheafternoontheGermanandBonapartesatbeforethedoorofthecabin。
　　Bothsmokedincompletesilence——Bonapartewithabookinhishandsandhiseyeshalfclosed；theGermanpuffingvigorously，andglancingupnowandagainatthesereneblueskyoverhead。
　　"Supposing——you——you，infact，madetheremarktome，"burstforththeGermansuddenly，"thatyouwerelookingforasituation。"
　　Bonaparteopenedhismouthwide，andsentastreamofsmokethroughhislips。
　　"Nowsupposing，"saidtheGerman——"merelysupposing，ofcourse——thatsomeone，someone，infact，shouldmakeanoffertoyou，say，tobecomeschoolmasterontheirfarmandteachtwochildren，twolittlegirls，perhaps，andwouldgiveyoufortypoundsayear，wouldyouacceptit？Justsupposing，ofcourse。"
　　"Well，mydearfriend，"saidBonaparte，"thatwoulddependoncircumstances。Moneyisnoconsiderationwithme。FormywifeIhavemadeprovisionforthenextyear。Myhealthisbroken。CouldImeetaplacewhereagentlemanwouldbetreatedasagentlemanIwouldacceptit，howeversmalltheremuneration。Withme，"saidBonaparte，"moneyisnoconsideration。"
　　"Well，"saidtheGerman，whenhehadtakenawhiffortwomorefromhispipe，"IthinkIshallgoupandseeTantSanniealittle。IgoupoftenonSundayafternoontohaveageneralconversation，toseeher，youknow。
　　Nothing——nothingparticular，youknow。"
　　Theoldmanputhisbookintohispocket，andwalkeduptothefarmhousewithapeculiarlyknowinganddelightedexpressionofcountenance。
　　"Hedoesn’tsuspectwhatI’mgoingtodo，"soliloquizedtheGerman；"hasn’ttheleastidea。Anicesurpriseforhim。"
　　Themanwhomhehadleftathisdoorwaywinkedattheretreatingfigurewithawinkthatwasnottobedescribed。
　　Chapter1。VI。BonaparteBlenkinsMakesHisNest。
　　"Ah，whatisthematter？"askedWaldo，stoppingatthefootoftheladderwithaloadofskinsonhisbackthathewascarryinguptotheloft。
　　ThroughtheopendoorinthegablelittleEmwasvisible，herfeetdanglingfromthehighbenchonwhichshesat。Theroom，onceastoreroom，hadbeendividedbyarowofmealiebagsintotwoparts——thebackbeingBonaparte’sbedroom，thefronthisschoolroom。
　　"Lyndallmadehimangry，"saidthegirltearfully；"andhehasgivenmethefourteenthofJohntolearn。HesayshewillteachmetobehavemyselfwhenLyndalltroubleshim。"
　　"Whatdidshedo？"askedtheboy。
　　"Yousee，"saidEm，hopelesslyturningtheleaves，"wheneverhetalksshelooksoutatthedoor，asthoughshedidnothearhim。TodaysheaskedhimwhatthesignsoftheZodiacwere，andhesaidhewassurprisedthatsheshouldaskhim；itwasnotafitandproperthingforlittlegirlstotalkabout。ThensheaskedhimwhoCopernicuswas；andhesaidhewasoneoftheEmperorsofRome，whoburnedtheChristiansinagoldenpig，andthewormsatehimupwhilehewasstillalive。Idon’tknowwhy，"saidEmplaintively，"butshejustputherbooksunderherarmandwalkedout；andshewillnevercometohisschoolagain，shesays，andshealwaysdoeswhatshesays。AndnowImustsithereeverydayalone，"saidEm，thegreattearsdroppingsoftly。
　　"PerhapsTantSanniewillsendhimaway，"saidtheboy，inhismumblingway，tryingtocomforther。
　　"No，"saidEm，shakingherhead；"no。LastnightwhenthelittleHottentotmaidwaswashingherfeet，hetoldherhelikedsuchfeet，andthatfatwomenweresonicetohim；andshesaidImustalwaysputpurecreaminhiscoffeenow。No；he’llnevergoaway，"saidEmdolorously。
　　Theboyputdownhisskinsandfumbledinhispocket，andproducedasmallpieceofpapercontainingsomething。Hestuckitouttowardher。
　　"There，takeitforyou，"hesaid。Thiswasbywayofcomfort。
　　Emopeneditandfoundasmallbitofgum，acommodityprizedbythechildren；butthegreattearsdroppeddownslowlyontoit。
　　Waldowasdistressed。Hehadcriedsomuchinhismorseloflifethattearsinanotherseemedtoburnhim。
　　"If，"hesaid，steppinginawkwardlyandstandingbythetable，"ifyouwillnotcryIwilltellyousomething——asecret。"
　　"Whatisthat？"askedEm，instantlybecomingdecidedlybetter。
　　"Youwilltellittonohumanbeing？"
　　"No。"
　　Hebentnearertoher，andwithdeepsolemnitysaid：
　　"Ihavemadeamachine！"
　　Emopenedhereyes。
　　"Yes；amachineforshearingsheep。Itisalmostdone，"saidtheboy。
　　"Thereisonlyonethingthatisnotrightyet；butitwillbesoon。Whenyouthink，andthink，andthink，allnightandallday，itcomesatlast，"
　　headdedmysteriously。
　　"Whereisit？"
　　"Here！Ialwayscarryithere，"saidtheboy，puttinghishandtohisbreast，whereabulging—outwasvisible。"Thisisamodel。Whenitisdonetheywillhavetomakealargeone。"
　　"Showitme。"
　　Theboyshookhishead。
　　"No，nottillitisdone。Icannotletanyhumanbeingseeittillthen。"
　　"Itisabeautifulsecret，"saidEm；andtheboyshuffledouttopickuphisskins。
　　Thateveningfatherandsonsatinthecabineatingtheirsupper。Thefathersigheddeeplysometimes。PerhapshethoughthowlongatimeitwassinceBonapartehadvisitedthecabin；buthissonwasinthatlandinwhichsighshavenopart。Itisaquestionwhetheritwerenotbettertobetheshabbiestoffools，andknowthewayupthelittlestairofimaginationtothelandofdreams，thanthewisestofmen，whoseenothingthattheeyesdonotshow，andfeelnothingthatthehandsdonottouch。
　　Theboychewedhisbrownbreadanddrankhiscoffee；butintruthhesawonlyhismachinefinished——thatlastsomethingfoundoutandadded。Hesawitasitworkedwithbeautifulsmoothness；andoverandabove，ashechewedhisbreadanddrankhiscoffee，therewasthatdelightfulconsciousnessofsomethingbendingoverhimandlovinghim。Itwouldnothavebeenbetterinoneofthecourtsofheaven，wherethewallsaresetwithrowsoftheKingofGlory’samethystsandmilk—whitepearls，thanthere，eatinghissupperinthatlittleroom。
　　Astheysatinsilencetherewasaknockatthedoor。Whenitwasopenedthesmallwoollyheadofalittleniggershoweditself。ShewasamessengerfromTantSannie：theGermanwaswantedatonceatthehomestead。Puttingonhishatwithbothhands，hehurriedoff。Thekitchenwasindarkness，butinthepantrybeyondTantSannieandhermaidswereassembled。
　　AKaffergirl，whohadbeengrindingpepperbetweentwostones，kneltonthefloor，theleanHottentotstoodwithabrasscandlestickinherhand，andTantSannie，neartheshelf，withahandoneachhip，wasevidentlylisteningintently，aswerehercompanions。
　　"Whatmaybeit？"criedtheoldGermaninastonishment。Theroombeyondthepantrywasthestoreroom。Throughthethinwoodenpartitiontherearoseatthatinstant，evidentlyfromsomecreatureensconcedthere，aprolongedandprodigioushowl，followedbyasuccessionofviolentblowsagainstthepartitionwall。
　　TheGermanseizedthechurn—stick，andwasabouttorushroundthehouse，whentheBoer—womanimpressivelylaidherhanduponhisarm。
　　"Thatishishead，"saidTantSannie，"thatishishead。"
　　"Butwhatmightitbe？"askedtheGerman，lookingfromonetotheother，churn—stickinhand。
　　Alowhollowbellowpreventedreply，andthevoiceofBonapartelifteditselfonhigh。
　　"Mary—Ann！myangel！mywife！"
　　"Isn’titdreadful？"saidTantSannie，astheblowswererepeatedfiercely。
　　"Hehasgotaletter；hiswifeisdead。Youmustgoandcomforthim，"saidTantSannieatlast，"andIwillgowithyou。Itwouldnotbethethingformetogoalone——me，whoamonlythirty—three，andheanunmarriedmannow，"saidTantSannie，blushingandsmoothingoutherapron。
　　Uponthistheyalltrudgedroundthehouseincompany——theHottentotmaidcarryingthelight，TantSannieandtheGermanfollowing，andtheKaffergirlbringinguptherear。
　　"Oh，"saidTantSannie，"Iseenowitwasn’twickednessmadehimdowithouthiswifesolong——onlynecessity。"
　　AtthedoorshemotionedtotheGermantoenter，andfollowedhimclosely。
　　OnthestretcherbehindthesacksBonapartelayonhisface，hisheadpressedintoapillow，hislegskickinggently。TheBoer—womansatdownonaboxatthefootofthebed。TheGermanstoodwithfoldedhandslookingon。
　　"Wemustalldie，"saidTantSannieatlast；"itisthedearLord’swill。"
　　Hearinghervoice，Bonaparteturnedhimselfontohisback。
　　"It’sveryhard，"saidTantSannie，"Iknow，forI’velosttwohusbands。"
　　BonapartelookedupintotheGerman’sface。
　　"Oh，whatdoesshesay？Speaktomewordsofcomfort！"
　　TheGermanrepeatedTantSannie’sremark。
　　"Ah，I——Ialso！Twodear，dearwives，whomIshallneverseeanymore！"
　　criedBonaparte，flinginghimselfbackuponthebed。
　　Hehowled，tillthetarantulas，wholivedbetweentheraftersandthezincroof，felttheunusualvibration，andlookedoutwiththeirwickedbrighteyes，toseewhatwasgoingon。
　　TantSanniesighed，theHottentotmaidsighed，theKaffergirlwholookedinatthedoorputherhandoverhermouthandsaid"Mow—wah！"
　　"YoumusttrustintheLord，"saidTantSannie。"Hecangiveyoumorethanyouhavelost。"