Part 16 (1/2)
”A bishop----”
”I !” she went on confusedly
”No, Dorcas, they have not I could scarcely expect proht--but never er service I have, however, been honoured with a most responsible duty”
”Indeed, dear What duty?”
”I have been noe of the Sisa Station”
”O-oh! and where is that? Is it anywhere near Durban, or perhaps Maritzburg?”
”I don't exactly know at present, though I understand that it is about six days' trek frouese territory Indeed, I am not sure that one can trek all the way, at least when the rivers are in flood Then it is necessary to cross one of the upon a rope, or if the river is not too full, in a punt At this season the basket is most used”
”Great Heavens, Thomas! do you propose to put me and Tabbie in a basket, like St Paul, and did you remember that we have just taken on this house for another year?”
”Of course I do The families of missionaries must expect to face hardshi+ps, from which it is true circumstances have relieved you up to the present It is therefore only right that they should begin nohen Tabitha has becoe that I know As for the house, I had forgotten all about it Itthat we must bear the loss, which fortunately we can well afford”
Dorcas looked at hi because words failed her, so he went on hurriedly
”By the way, love, I have taken a slight liberty with your name It appears that the church at Sisa, which I understand was quite a nice one built with subscriptions obtained in England by one of my predecessors who chanced to have influence or connections at hoether with the mission-house Now the house can wait, since, of course, we can make shi+ft for a year or two in some native huts, but obviously we must have a church, and as the Society is overdrawn it cannot help in the ift of 1,000 pounds, which it is estimated will cover the re-erection of both church and house”
He paused awaiting a reply, but as Dorcas still said nothing, continued
”You will remember that you told me quite recently that you found you had 1,500 pounds to your credit, therefore I felt quite sure that you would not grudge 1,000 pounds of it to enable me to fulfil this duty--this semi-divine duty”
”Oh!” said Dorcas ”As a matter of fact I intended to spend that 1,000 pounds, or much of it, otherwise There are some people here whom I wanted to help, but fortunately I had not mentioned this to them, so they will have to do without the money and their holiday; also the children cannot be sent to school And, by the way, how is Tabbie to be educated in this far-away place?”
”I a that of benevolence, ive way to sacred needs, so I rite to the Dean that thewhen it is needed As for Tabitha's education, of course ill undertake it between us, at any rate for the next few years”
”Yes, Thomas, since you have passed your word, or ratherBut est that I should stay here with Tabbie, who could continue to attend the college as a day-scholar, while you get us soes, the Sneezers, or whatever they are called”
”My dear,” answered Thomas, ”consider what you ask You are in perfect health and so is our child Would it not, then, be a downright scandal that you should stop here in luxury while your husband went out to confront grave difficulties a the Sisas--not the Sneezers--for I rave? There is a noted witch-doctor ast this people na burned down the mission-house, and probably the church also, because he said that it was ridiculous that an une a dwelling to live alone
This, of course, was but a cunning excuse for his savage ht repeat the argument and its application Also often these barbarians consider that a man who is not married _must_ be insane! Therefore it is absolutely necessary that you and the child should be present withvery pink ”Well, I am sorry to say that just now it is absolutely necessary that I should be absent from you, since I have a tennis party this afternoon--the officers of the garrison are coe about the tea”
”A tennis party! A tennis party to those Godless officers and probably equally Godless girls,” exclaimed her husband ”I aher things”
Then at last the wor up, ”that I am inclined to be asha your teeme, you have propeople to play tennis and stop to supper It is unchristian, it is uncharitable, it is--too bad!”
and sitting down again she burst into tears
The Rev Tho what to say or do, glared about hiarettes that stood upon thehere?” he asked ”I do not s pardon--your money which is sosuch unnecessaries--for officers and--idle girls? Oh--bless it all,” and seizing the offending cigarettes he hurled theh the open , a scattered shower of white tubes which some Kaffirs outside instantly proceeded to collect