Part 9 (2/2)
At this Brian threw back his head and roared, while I, puzzled, grinned idiotically
”What I mean is,” he went on, ”in the first place it's not likely I'd take any re hand Even if you hadn't saved irl's life, as a friend of Brian's you're heartily welcoive you Wait a bit--” interrupting the protest I was trying to stammer forth ”In the next place, we don't as a rule take pre a fellow to farenerally just the ones who can't teach hi at all And, finally, every word I said to you the other day I meant So if you're inclined to stay on here and pick up your knowledge of the life and experience of the country by helping us, why this place is your ho as ever you like to make it so”
”Rather,” appended Brian in his quietly e out a hand for the paternal pouch
I have but a confused idea of what I said in reply, probably soenuinely moved, possibly because that is a o Anyhow, the matter was settled to the satisfaction of all parties, which was the
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE OBJECTIONABLE TRASK
Now as I sat there, that still and radiant afternoon, in the sylvan wildness of our shaded resting-place, whose cool glooht beyond, I was rather , and the subjectof foreboding that should tarnish its brightness I was realising Beryl's presence, and all that it meant to me There she ithin a couple of yards ofI was contrasting, too, this wondrous change which had co to its possibilities It seeh life in a neutral-tinted sort of way, content to exist fros, with, as I thought hitherto, a happy immunity froical wave of a wizard wand, I had been transported to this fair land, to sunlight fro from a drab slumbrous acquiescence in a bovine state of existence, which supplied the physical wants, leaving all others untouched And the ht this upheaval--
”Well? A penny for your thoughts”
I turned to the speaker It was perhaps as well that the child ith us, or I don't knohat I , probably preht castles in the air
”He's thinking of his pipe,” said Iris ets into a brown study too when he's plunged in smoke Beryl, I think we must make him put it out”
”Don't be a little barbarian, Iris,” I answered, knocking the ashes out of the offending i of what a blessed instrument of Providence was the prow of the _Kittiwake_ when it knocked htyou'd like to be back in that smoky old London of yours, and hoe all are,” retorted Iris ”Trask's always crowding London down our throats I hate the very sound of its name It o back there if he's so fond of it”
”I should say _Mr_ Trask, Iris,” I said, with a sly glance at Beryl
”Ach!” exclairass stalks ata lazy Sunday afternoon, talking nonsense, as people will at such ti in no rational conversation worth chronicling And Beryl and I would engage in a playful argument on some unimportant trifle, and Iris, with child-like restlessness, would wander about, now throwing a stone into a water-hole to scare awith its head on the surface, or peer about fro to discover a bird's nest; and at last as the afternoon wore on we started to retrace our steps hoer in mywheel of the westering sun was drawing down to the farther ridge as we caht of the tree-e up into the still air The bleat of the returning flocks was borne to us fro a bush path which should converge with ours, cale file, the red ochre colouring their blankets and persons harreen of the surroundings, while the full tones of their e--the deep bass of theinflection of women's voices as they conversed--added an additional note of co beauty of a typical African day And within ht that this day was but the beginning of many such; that the next, and the htened and illuminated by the same sweet companionshi+p--even that of her as now beside me; that each day's occupation would be sweetened and hallowed by the thought that ere dwellers beneath the same roof--and then--and then--who could tell? Ah, it was one of those periods that coination is fresh, and heart and all of latter days not even sosight of a third figure strolling beside Brian and his father, ”Who's that? Looks like Trask”
”Yes, it is,” assented Beryl
The appearance of the stranger seemed to mar the harmony of the situation to my mind I did not like Trask He was one of those ive any one a chance of forgetting their presence; no, not even for a moment When Trask appeared at Gonya's Kloof--which, by the as the name of the Mattersons' far the fact, for he simply monopolised the whole conversation He was a ht and build, and three or four yearsabout that amount of colonial experience, he chose to assuood-hu manner, which to me was insufferable Not infrequently, too, he would try his hand at ly forced and laboured hich is a thing I don't take He was a neighbour of twelve miles or so, where he farmed--or was supposed to farm--his own place, and was reputed well off To crown his other offences in my eyes, he was a bachelor, and was a precious deal too fond of co fro to my mind dashed with a perfectly unwarrantable tone of fa s now, I suppose? You'll soon know your way about Things take a little getting into at first-- ha-ha!”
This in a sort of bray, acco Brian's eye, I discerned a killing twinkle therein
”Why, Trask,” he said in his quiet way, ”Holt's got into the way of things about twice as quick as any imported man I ever knew”
”Yes Twice as quick,” repeated Beryl, in emphatic assent
I fancy Trask didn't like this--he looked as if he didn't; but I did, though of course I n either way Now all this was petty, and by every rule I ought to have been superior to any such trivial annoyances But bear in mind that I make no claim to be a hero; indeed, I propose in this narrative to set down my oeaknesses with a candid and impartial hand And I intensely disliked Trask