Part 2 (1/2)
”Ah, Marie,” said her father, speaking in Dutch, ”so you have found hi: ”You should be flattered, littlefor two hours in the sun waiting for you, although I told her you would not arrive much before ten o'clock, as your father the predicant said you would breakfast before you started Well, it is natural, for she is lonely here, and you are of an age, although of a different race”; and his face darkened as he spoke the words
”Father,” answered Marie, whose blushes I could see even in the shadow of her cap, ”I was not sitting in the sun, but under the shade of a peach tree Also, I orking out the sums that Monsieur Leblanc set me on my slate See, here they are,” and she held up the slate, which was covered with figures, so of my stiff hair and of her cap
Then Monsieur Leblanc broke in, speaking in French, of which, as it chanced I understood the sense, for ue, and I aes At any rate, I lais,” or English pig, whoed I must be, as my hair stuck up on my head--I had taken off 's back
This was too much for me, so, before either of the others could speak, I answered in Dutch, for rage made me eloquent and bold:
”Yes, I am he; but, mynheer, if you are to be s any amin” (that is, little scamp), ”and pray, ill happen if I am so bold as to repeat that truth?”
”I think, e at this new insult, ”the same that has happened to yonder buck,” and I pointed to the klipspringer behind Hans's saddle ”I mean that I shall shoot you”
”Peste! Au e, cet enfant” (At least the child is plucky), exclaimed Monsieur Leblanc, astonished Froain insultedin Dutch that I , Leblanc, not this boy, for, early as it is, you have been drinking Look! the brandy bottle is half e? Speak so again and I turn you out to starve on the veld Allan Quaterlish, I beg your pardon I hope you will forgive the words this sot spoke, thinking that you did not understand,”
and he took off his hat and bowed to ht have done to a king of France
Leblanc's face fell Then he rose and walked away rather unsteadily; as I learned afterwards, to plunge his head in a tub of cold water and s a pint of newdrink At any rate, when he appeared again, half an hour later, to begin our lesson, he was quite sober, and extre appeased, I presented the Heer Marais with my father's compliments, also with the buck and the birds, whereof the latter sees were taken to my room, a little cupboard of a place next to that occupied by Monsieur Leblanc, and Hans was sent to turn the horses out with the others belonging to the farhtly, so that they should not run away home
This done, the Heer Marais showed me the room in which ere to have our lessons, one of the ”sitka chambers, whereof, unlike most Boer stead, this house boasted two I rea”, that is, ant-heap earth , into which thousands of peach-stones had been throhile it was still soft, in order to resist footwear--a rude but fairly efficient expedient, and one not unpleasing to the eye For the rest, there was oneopening on to the veranda, which, in that bright cliht, especially as it always stood open; the ceiling was of unplastered reeds; a large bookcase stood in the corner containing many French works, most of them the property of Monsieur Leblanc, and in the centre of the rooh table made of native yelloood, that once had served as a butcher's block I recollect also a coloured print of the great Napoleon co at some battle in which he was victorious, seated upon a white horse and waving a field-marshal's baton over piles of dead and wounded; and near the , hanging to the reeds of the ceiling, the nest of a pair of red-tailed ss, pretty creatures that, notwithstanding the mess they made, afforded to Marie and me endless amusement in the intervals of our work
When, on that day, I shuffled shyly into this ho ht to a standstill by a curious choking sound which see as to its cause, I advanced cautiously to discover a pink-clad shape standing in the corner like a naughty child, with her head resting against the wall, and sobbing slowly
”Marie Marais, why do you cry?” I asked
She turned, tossing back the locks of long, black hair which hung about her face, and answered:
”Allan Quatermain, I cry because of the shame which has been put upon you and upon our house by that drunken French, but I think I have shown hi has tusks”
”Yes,” she replied, ”but it was not you he lish, whom he hates; and the worst of it is that lish, and, oh! I am sure that trouble will come of his hatred, trouble and death toto do with it, have we?” I replied with the cheerfulness of extreme youth
”What makes you so sure?” she said solemnly ”Hush!+ here comes Monsieur Leblanc”
CHAPTER II THE ATTACK ON MARAISFONTEIN