Part 21 (1/2)
”That makes the charm of the study”
”Do you paint, then, Mr Denham, in addition to your other scientific accoht I could dabble in it at one tiiven to drawing mental pictures, and this is one of theoing to be kind enough to act as uide this afternoon Is that so?”
”Oh yes We were talking about it before you cao?”
”That I leave entirely to you By the way, yes Will you show me the spot where you shot the record head?”
”It's rather far, I'm afraid, for one afternoon However, we'll see
Well, I'h with this job now I'll put it inside Look! there are so to the store, I expect Yes, they are Come and see h into the kitchen, and returned in a second with so Verna unlocked the door, and, as he entered, Denham looked curiously around and above at the oods The atmosphere was inclined to be s, not over-fragrant
The natives entered, rather shyly, giving the salute They stared curiously at Denha impressed theht him there
He had come to offer U' Ben _lobola_ for the _Inkosazana_ But they would make a fine pair! This they told each other afterwards
”Well, what is wanted?” Verna asked
”Tobacco S tobacco such as white people use,” answered one of the wo in white men's customs? Ah, ah!”
answered Verna, with a shake of the head The woed to convey that it was a thing they did not wish talked about
The while Denha in the whole scene, keenly interested
Never had the liquid Zulu sounded so melodious as when it flowed fros were requisitioned Yards of calico were unfolded, and critically exa purchaser He watched the deftness and patience hich Verna handled the things and bore with the intending purchasers, ould look at the articles and then go and squat in a corner of the room and talk over the transaction with each other in an undertone The boy was looking at hi eyeballs
”That's their way,” said Verna, with a lance at him ”You can't rush these people If you did you'd lose all your trade”
”By Jove! but I never thought there could be so s out over a counter,” he burst forth
”Thanks But remember what I told you just now, also on a for with fun ”You must not pay me compliments, especially ironical ones I ahter, who helps her father, up to her little best”
”Uponironical about it,” he replied somewhat veheain and nodded; then turning to the native wo up their minds They took the hint, and the deal was concluded
Denhairls situated as she ould have rather tried to keep hi this phase of their everyday home life--in other words, would have tried all they knew to ”sink the shop” This one, on the contrary, had actually invited hiht have invited hiarden
”Well, Mr Denham,” said Verna, as the red-painted top-knots of the tomen vanished round the doorpost, ”and what do you think of irl?”
”If I were to tell you I should lay h in his eyes
”Have I been so hard on you as that? I didn'tTry so fro at the bullet hole in the wall
”Oh, that's nothing,” she answered rather shamefacedly ”At least, you heard all about it down at Ezulwini Anyway, it's nothing to brag about Let's go outside”