How much Inez ever learned of the true story of her adventures I do notknow to this hour, though my opinion is that it was but little. Tobegin with, everyone, including Thomaso, was threatened with the direstconsequences if he said a word to her on the subject; moreover in herway she was a wise woman, one who knew when it was best not to askquestions. She was aware that she had suffered from a fit of aberrationor madness and that during this time her father had died and certainpeculiar things had happened. There she was content to leave thebusiness and she never again spoke to me upon the subject. Of this I wasvery glad, as how on earth could I have explained to her about Ayesha'sprophecies as to her lapse into childishness and subsequent return to anormal state when she reached her home seeing that I did not understandthem myself?
Once indeed she did inquire what had become of Janee to which I answeredthat she had died during her sickness. It was another lie, at any rateby implication, but I hold that there are occasions when it is righteousto lie. At least these particular falsehoods have never troubled myconscience.
Here I may as well finish the story of Inez, that is, as far as I can.As I have shown she was always a woman of melancholy and religioustemperament, qualities that seemed to grow upon her after her return tohealth. Certainly the religion did, for continually she was engaged inprayer, a development with which heredity may have had something to do,since after he became a reformed character and grew unsettled in hismind, her father followed the same road.
On our return to civilisation, as it chanced, one of the first personswith whom she came in contact was a very earnest and excellent oldpriest of her own faith. The end of this intimacy was much what mighthave been expected. Very soon Inez determined to renounce the world,which I think never had any great attractions for her, and entered asisterhood of an extremely strict Order in Natal, where, added to hermany merits, her considerable possessions made her very welcome indeed.
Once in after years I saw her again when she expected before long tobecome the Mother-Superior of her convent. I found her very cheerful andshe told me that her happiness was complete. Even then she did not askme the true story of what had happened to her during that period whenher mind was a blank. She said that she knew something had happened butthat as she no longer felt any curiosity about earthly things, she didnot wish to know the details. Again I rejoiced, for how could I tellthe true tale and expect to be believed, even by the most confiding andsimple-minded nun?
To return to more immediate events. When we had been at Strathmuir fora day or two and I thought that her mind was clear enough to judge ofaffairs, I told Inez that I must journey on to Natal, and asked her whatshe wished to do. Without a moment's hesitation she replied that shedesired to come with me, as now that her father was dead nothing wouldinduce her to continue to live at Strathmuir without friends, or indeedthe consolations of religion.
Then she showed me a secret hiding-place cunningly devised in a sort ofcellar under the sitting-room floor, where her father was accustomed tokeep the spirits of which he consumed so great a quantity. In this holebeneath some bricks, we discovered a large sum in gold stored away,which Robertson had always told his daughter she would find there, inthe event of anything happening to him. With the money were his willand securities, also certain mementos of his youth and some love-letterstogether with a prayer-book that his mother had given him.
These valuables, of which no one knew the existence except herself, weremoved and then made our preparations for departure. They were simple;such articles of value as we could carry were packed into the waggon andthe best of the cattle we drove with us. The place with the store andthe rest of the stock were handed over to Thomaso on a half-profitagreement under arrangement that he should remit the share of Inez twicea year to a bank on the coast, where her father had an account. Whetheror not he ever did this I am unable to say, but as no one wished to stopat Strathmuir, I could conceive no better plan because purchasers ofproperty in that district did not exist.
As we trekked away one fine morning I asked Inez whether she was sorryto leave the place.
"No," she replied with energy, "my life there has been a hell and Inever wish to see it again."