Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand

residence there. Perhaps, by and by, when she has married andgone away--"

  "There is but little chance of her marrying any one, unless it isyourself, George," interposed Mrs Mansen.

  "That may be so--I cannot say. But as our wishes can never befulfilled, it is unwise--indeed, it would be cruel in me, were I toreside where my continual presence must needs be continually thrust uponher."

  "Only one word more, George. Is your scruple founded on your want ofmoney? Do you know that Umtongo is my property, not my husband's, andthat it will of course one day come to you? I have already said that wewould provide you with a house and an income at once. But the futurealso would be provided for. Mr Vander Heyden could not allege--"

  "My scruples, as you term them, have no connection with money. You musturge me no more. I must go, and at once. I shall speak to Margettswithout delay," he continued. "He, too, will be sorry to leave Umtongo.But I shall be much surprised if he does not fall in with my suggestionat once."

  Meanwhile Thyrza, who had joined her stepfather in the garden, washaving an interview with him which altogether took her by surprise. OldLudwig Mansen--he was always called _old_ Ludwig, though he wanted ayear or two of fifty--was a man very generally respected and beloved.To the shrewdness of the Dutchman and his placid temper, he added agenerosity and unselfishness which are not so common with that people.He was particularly fond of his stepdaughter, and was just now greatlypleased at a piece of information imparted to him a few days before,which he considered to be the best possible thing for her, and of whichhe was now going to apprise her.

  On the previous Monday he had ridden into Zeerust, to attend a meetingconvened for the purpose of protesting against the annexation of theTransvaal, which had taken place several years previously, but which hadbecome every year more odious in the eyes of the Boers. At Zeerust, tohis great surprise, he had met old Kransberg, who also had ridden infrom Malopo's Kloof. Mansen knew that his neighbour cared no more aboutthe annexation than he did himself. Influenced probably by his Englishconnections, he did not regard the rule of Queen Victoria with anyaversion, and knew that, although the English might administer the lawwith little regard to Boer prejudices, they would at least administer itjustly. As for old Kransberg, he had seen too many changes ofgovernment to care much who governed the country, so long as theymaintained law and order. This was so well known to Ludwig, that hecould hardly believe his eyes, when, on turning from a bridle path intothe road near Zeerust, he fell in with Kransberg leisurely riding alongin the same direction.

  Zeerust is one of the loveliest spots in the whole of the Transvaal. Itlies in a valley nearly surrounded by hills, which rise to aconsiderable height on the north, east, and south, while towards thewest the level plain extends into the far distance, beyond the range ofhuman vision. It differs from many other valleys of the same country inbeing supplied abundantly with water throughout the entire year. Thevegetation is in consequence always of the freshest green, and everykind of tropical fruit and grain is cultivated, and yields a richreturn.

  The town, into which the neighbours rode, is not large, but consists ofsolid, substantial houses, with the great Dutch Presbyterianmeeting-house towering in its centre. In the market place adjoining,the horses and waggons of the Boers from the neighbourhood were groupedtogether, while their owners were flocking in to take part in themeeting. Mansen and Kransberg did not join them. At the request of thelatter they betook themselves to the principal inn, where, with muchsolemnity, but no unnecessary expenditure of words, he made hiscommunication to his neighbour. His nephew Rudolf, it appeared, hadarrived at the conclusion that a marriage between himself and Ludwig'sstepdaughter would be a desirable arrangement, if it could be arrivedat, and he desired permission to pay formal addresses to her ifagreeable to her parents. Old Ludwig replied, with equal gravity, thathe would inform his wife of the proposal, and answer to it should besent in due season. The two Gerontes then adjourned to the Town Hall,and listened with imperturbable stolidity to the speeches delivered.

  Ludwig rode home, as has been intimated, much pleased with what he hadheard; but he did not proceed, immediately on his arrival at Umtongo, topass on the news, as an English parent would probably have done. Hetook an opportunity, a day or two afterwards, when there was nothing ofimportance to attend to, of communicating it to his wife. A debate washeld, at which it was agreed that a message should be sent to Malopo'sKloof, inviting young Rudolf Kransberg to pay a visit at Umtongo on thefollowing Monday, and that, shortly before his arrival, Thyrza should beapprised of his visit and its purport.

  Mrs Mansen therefore had had a twofold object in sending her out of theroom: first, to stop her malapropos remarks about Annchen Vander Heyden,and secondly, that she might be informed respecting Rudolf's visit.Thyrza herself, however, did not anticipate any more importantcommunication than that possibly her stepfather had purchased a newdress for her in Zeerust. She was a good deal surprised when heinquired of her what might be her exact age.

  "Nineteen last December, father," she answered.

  "Nineteen," he repeated gravely; "it is an early age at which to marry."

  "I daresay it would be," she answered, somewhat startled; "but then, Iam not going to marry."

  "You do not know that," he observed gravely. "An offer of marriage hasbeen made for you--in most respects a suitable one."

  "An offer of marriage to me!" repeated Thyrza in astonishment.

  "I did not say _to_ you, but _for_ you," he replied; "the offer will notbe made to you just yet."

  "And who is to make it?" inquired the damsel hastily.

  "You know my neighbour, Mynheer Kransberg of Malopo's Kloof?"

  "Yes, but I suppose _he_ doesn't want to marry me?" cried Thyrza.

  "Why, no, my daughter," returned Ludwig with a broad smile; "he issomewhat past the age of matrimony. Nay, it is his nephew Rudolf."

  "Rudolf Kransberg!" again exclaimed Thyrza; "_he_ wishes to marry me!"

  "Even so," rejoined Ludwig. "Does the idea surprise you?"

  "I should as soon have expected the wooden soldier outside yoursummer-house to make love to me!"

  "Nay, Thyrza," said Mansen in a displeased tone, "this does not becomeyou. He is a worthy youth, and deserves due consideration."

  "Well, but I may tell him, as soon as he comes--I suppose he _is_coming?"

  "He comes to-day," answered Ludwig.

  "Well, then, I may tell him I can't marry him, and there will be an endof it."

  "By no means; matters cannot be settled so hastily. Do you rememberthat he came over here about three months ago?"

  "Oh yes, when we found out that George was at his uncle's house. Iremember that quite well."

  "Well, it appears that he came over with credentials from his unclethen, intending to address you. But Mr Margetts, not suspecting hispurpose, insisted on riding back with him at once. If he had known theobject of his visit, Mr Margetts would not have so taken him away."

  Not feeling quite so sure of that, Thyrza remained silent for a minuteor two, and then rejoined--

  "But if he has put off any renewal of his visit for more than threemonths, he cannot be very much in earnest about this."

  "You do not understand our ways. We do not do things in a hurry. No,Thyrza, you must receive him with all consideration, and must not, atall events, reject him before he makes his offer."

  "And how long will it be before he makes it?"

  "I cannot say; probably some months. He will come over occasionally, atintervals, and then you will receive him in the proper manner."

  "And what is the proper manner?" inquired Thyrza, who was growing moreand more discomposed at every fresh detail.

  "Why, when he arrives, you will of course shake hands with him, and thenhe will probably say no more to you till after supper. Then he willremain in the parlour; and then you will wait till we are gone to bed,and then go to him--"

  "Gracious, father, you are not serious!"

 
"Perfectly so, Thyrza. The room will be dark, but you will take a pieceof candle with you, which you will light; and the interview between youwill last until the candle has burned out. Then you will retire to bed,and he will ride home. That is the usual custom."

  "And who is to provide the piece of candle?"

  "You must do that. But stop a moment, Thyrza. The candle must besufficiently long to allow of a proper interview. I have heard of youngwomen taking not more than half an inch of candle--"

  "I shouldn't have taken a quarter of an inch--" muttered under herbreath--"if it had rested with me."

  "I must insist that a proper-sized candle is used--not less than