Part 9 (1/2)
Heedless of her malice and abuse, she headed off the ”Worn-out-old-Cow,”
whom she knew I detested, froes, as well as to the cooking of my food, over which matter she had several quarrels with the bastard, Scoho did not like her, for on hirew stronger, she sat with , since, by common consent, Mameena the fair was exempted from all the field, and even the ordinary household labours that fall to the lot of Kafir women Her place was to be the ornament and, I may add, the advertiseht do the work, and she saw that they did it
We discussed all sorts of things, froions and European policy down, for her thirst for knowledge seemed to be insatiable But what really interested her was the state of affairs in Zululand, hich she kneell acquainted, as a person who had played a part in its history and as received and trusted at the Great House, and as a white ns and plans of the Boers and of the Governor of Natal
Now, if the old king, Panda, should chance to die, she would ask me, which of his sons did I think would succeed him--Umbelazi or Cetewayo, or another? Or, if he did not chance to die, which of them would he name his heir?
I replied that I was not a prophet, and that she had better ask Zikali the Wise
”That is a very good idea,” she said, ”only I have no one to take o with Saduko, his ward”
Then she clapped her hands and added: ”Oh, Macumazahn, will you take me?
My father would trust me with you”
”Yes, I dare say,” I answered; ”but the question is, could I trust myself with you?”
”What do you mean?” she asked ”Oh, I understand Then, after all, I am more to you than a black stone to play with?”
I think it was that unlucky joke of , ”like a white ant in its tunnel,” as Saduko said At least, after it her ed; she becah they were all wisdoh I were quite an adan to talk to me of her difficulties, her troubles and her ambitions She asked me for my advice as to Saduko On this point I replied to her that, if she loved him, and her father would allow it, presuh, Macuh he wearies me at times; but love-- Oh, tell azed atwoman,” I replied, ”that is a ht you more competent to instruct me”
”Oh, Macu her head droop like a fading lily, ”you have never givenextreracious!”--or, rather, its Zulu equivalent--I answered, for I began to feel nervous ”What do you mean, Mameena? How could I--” There I stopped
”I do not knohat I mean, Macuh what you mean--that you are white as snow and I aether”
”No,” I answered gravely, ”snow is good to look at, and so is soot, but ly colour Not that you are like soot,” I added hastily, fearing to hurt her feelings ”That is your hue”--and I touched a copper bangle she earing--”a very lovely hue, Ma else about you”
”Lovely,” she said, beginning to weep a little, which upsetI hate, it is to see a woirl be lovely? Oh, Macuiven me the colour of my people and the heart of yours If I hite, nohat you are pleased to call this loveliness of mine would be of souess, Macumazahn?”
I shook my head and said that I could not, and nextto her knees--for ere quite alone in the big hut and there was no one else about, all the other woed on rural or domestic tasks, for which Mameena declared she had no time, as her business was to look after an to talk in a loeet voice that sometimes broke into a sob
”Then I will tell you--I will tell you; yes, even if you hate me afterwards I could teach you what love is very well, Macuht--because I love you” (Sob) ”No, you shall not stir till you have heard s and held thereat violence it was absolutely impossible for me to move ”When I saw you first, all shattered and senseless, snow seemed to fall upon my heart, and it stopped for a little while and has never been the sa in it, Macu” (Sob) ”I used to like Saduko before that, but afterwards I did not like hi chief who lives over the mountain, a very rich and powerful man, who, I believe, would like to er and bigger, and now you see it has burst” (Sob) ”Nay, stay still and do not try to speak You _shall_ hearthat you have caused me all this pain If you did not want me to love you, why did you not curse at irls?” She rose and went on:
”Now, hearken Although I am the colour of copper, I aher blood than ours in Zululand, both on my father's and my mother's side, and, Macureat, and I long for greatness Take me to wife, Macumazahn, and I swear to you that in ten years I will et your pale white women and wed yourself to that fire which burns in me, and it shall eat up all that stands between you and the Crown, as flarass More, I will make you happy If you choose to take other wives, I will not be jealous, because I know that I should hold your spirit, and that, coht--”
”But, Ma of the Zulus”
”Oh, yes, yes, you do, for every man wants power, and it is better to rule over a brave, black people--thousands and thousands of the the whites Think, think! There is wealth in the land By your skill and knowledge the aiments] could be iuns--yes, and 'by-and-byes' also with the throat of thunder” (that is, or was, the Kafir nado to ours, for a hundred thousand warriors would sleep on their spears, waiting for your word If you wished it even you could sweep out Natal and make the whites there your subjects, too Or perhaps it would be safer to let thereen water to help thereat lands as rich and fair, in which none would dispute our sovereignty--”