the family circle at Dykeman'sHollow, when it was found that she was not the only bride to whomcongratulations were due. George had taken an early opportunity ofexplaining to his mother and stepfather--to whom the former referredhim--the change that had taken place in his circumstances. He was now,or would shortly be, the owner of Pieter's Dorf and Vander Heyden'sother property, and, for a resident in that country, a very wealthy man.It was his wish to surrender all interest in his mother's estate infavour of Thyrza. At the same time he pleaded the cause of his friendRedgy Margetts. He had known, he said, for some time past that he wasdeeply attached to Thyrza, and had reason to believe that she was notindifferent to him. If that should prove to be the case, might not asecond marriage take place? Mr Rogers had been consulted, and haddeclared himself so well satisfied with Margetts, that he was willing toput him into the farm hitherto occupied by George--which was already ina thriving state, with every prospect of improvement. Here he andThyrza might live, until the time came when Umtongo would be their own.
Farmer Mansen heard his stepson to the end,--he had never, indeed, beenknown to interrupt any one,--and then answered that he and his wife hadalready spoken together on this subject, and had no fault to find withMr Margetts. But it would be impossible for them to accept him as asuitor for Thyrza, because Mynheer Rudolf Kransberg had been received inthat capacity, and no decisive answer had as yet been given him. Tothis George replied that he had had some conversation with Thyrza on thesubject, and she had informed him that young Kransberg had never visitedher since the day when he himself had left Umtongo, and as that wasfully nine months ago, Thyrza had concluded he had abandoned all idea ofseeking her as his wife.
"She is too hasty," remarked Ludwig. "Nine months are no unreasonabletime for a Dutch suitor to delay; we do not do things in this country ina hurry. She cannot allow the addresses of a new suitor, until the oldone has been formally dismissed."
"But, good gracious! how long is that to go on?" pleaded George. "Hemay pay another visit six months hence, and another a twelvemonth afterthat. And Thyrza may be an old maid before she has the opportunity ofrelieving herself from the attentions of her admirer by refusing him."
"You do not understand our customs," said Ludwig sedately. "We doeverything deliberately."
This reply George was obliged to transmit to Margetts, by whom, it needsnot to say, it was not received with much satisfaction. Redgy, in fact,propounded a variety of schemes for bringing Rudolf von Kransberg up tothe scratch, the mildest of which was lassoing him after the fashion ofthe South American hunters and conveying him in that condition toThyrza's presence, when she would avail herself of the opportunity ofgiving her inamorato his _conge_. All these were rejected by George andThyrza, and the dissatisfaction of the baffled suitor every day waxedmore grievous to behold, when one day he chanced to encounter Hardy inthe street at Newcastle, and learned from him that Rudolf Kransberg wasnot only paying his addresses to Gretchen Groetweld, the plump andcomely daughter of the Landrost of Lichtenberg, but, it was generallybelieved, had been accepted by her.
"I met him riding down the street," said Hardy, "dressed in his bestholiday suit, and a large nosegay in his buttonhole. He was mounted ona showy horse,--`the courting horse,' as they call it,--which he madeamble and prance down the street to the great admiration of thespectators. Presently he drew up at Mynheer Groetweld's door, when theworthy burgess greeted him with ceremonious politeness and requested himto enter. I heard from the Landrost, who delayed a few minutes to speakto me, that Mistress Gretchen is well satisfied with her sweetheart, andthe formal betrothal is straightway to take place."
This intelligence, which was presently confirmed by Mynheer Groetweldhimself, overcame even Ludwig Mansen's punctilio; and Reginald Margettsand Thyrza were allowed to plight their troth to one another.
Mr Rogers, who had always felt a warm interest in the Mansens, and wholatterly conceived a still warmer regard for Rivers and Margetts, wasmuch pleased at the course which events had taken. Notwithstanding therecent death of Henryk Vander Heyden, it was not thought advisable topostpone for more than a few weeks Rivers' and Annchen's wedding; andthe Mansens agreed that Redgy and Thyrza should be married on the sameday, the chapel attached to Mr Rogers' house being chosen as the placewhere both ceremonies were to be performed.
The guests were limited to the near relatives of the brides, the onlyexception being Hardy, who arrived on the wedding morning, bearing theintelligence that the terms between the English Government and the Boershad been finally arranged. The suzerainty of the Queen was to bemaintained, but, apart from this, the most complete independence wasconceded to the Transvaal Republic, all the terms for which they hadstipulated being fully granted.
"Well," said Mr Rogers, "I never thought I should live to regret thereversal of that most mischievous and ill-judged of measures, theannexation of the Transvaal, but I have lived to regret it nevertheless.It appears to me that every blunder that was possible has been made.First of all, advantage is taken of a temporary reverse to impose on anation a yoke which they are supposed to desire, but which they reallydislike. Then, when reasonable and respectful petitions are presented,pointing out that the step is to the injury of both countries, andpraying that it might be undone, they are curtly refused. Then, whenthe aggrieved citizens take up arms to compel the recognition of theirrights, an attempt is made to crush them by force of arms, but thecampaign is conducted in such a manner as to give them an easy andcertain victory. I don't suppose the Tenth Legion of Caesar, or the OldGuard of Napoleon, or Wellington's Peninsular veterans, could have doneanything but stand to be killed, if they had been led into action as oursoldiers were. And lastly, when the prestige of England has suffered soseriously that a victory (which could easily have been gained) hasbecome imperatively necessary for its restoration, all that had beenrefused to moderate entreaty is granted to defiant and almost insolentdemand! I don't suppose the injury that has been done to Britishascendancy in South Africa will be undone in less than fifty years, ifit is undone then! Well, things are at their worst now; and when theyhave come to the worst, then the proverb says they will begin to mend!That must be our comfort, for I am afraid we have no other!"
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THE END.
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