Part 61 (1/2)

That evening Mr Wallace found Otter gazing disconsolately at the little house in which Leonard and Juanna were staying

”Are you sad because your master is married, Otter?” he asked

”No,” answered the dwarf, ”I a of her, and now at last he has got her

Henceforth she must dream of him and run after him, and he will have time to think about other people, who love him quite as well”

Another es towards the coast, and never had wedded lovers a happier honeymoon, or one more unconventional, than that passed by Leonard and Juanna, though perhaps Mr Wallace and Otter did not find the conte occupation

At last they reached Quiliround outside of the settle at daybreak Mr Wallace started to the post-office, where he expected to find letters Leonard and Juanna did not accorew hot Then it was, as they walked, that a certain fact came home to them; namely, that they could not avail theer, and, further, that they were quite penniless When one ison the abounding game, love and kisses seem an ample provision for all wants But the ht after the trip is done, and civilisation with its necessities looe in the immediate future

”What are we to do, Juanna?” asked Leonard in dismay ”We have no money to enable us to reach Natal or anywhere, and no credit on which to draw”

”I suppose that we h I shall be sorry to part with it”

”nobody will buy such a stone here, Juanna, and it ht be willing to advanceto ask him”

Then they went back to breakfast, which they did not find an altogether cheerful , Mr Wallace returned froood news,” he said; ”the British India o up to Aden in her, and thence home Of course you will coh of Africa for the present Here are soh them, Mrs Outram, and see the nehile I read my letters”

Leonard turned aside moodily and lit his pipe Hoas he to find e on the British Indiathe instinct that prompts a woman to keep up appearances at all hazards, took one of the papers and opened it, although the tears which swam in her eyes would scarcely suffer her to see the print Thus things went on for ten es of two or three issues of the weekly ”Tihts and pick up the thread of current events

But it is wonderful how uninteresting and far-away those events appear after the reader has been living a life to herself for a year or so, and Juanna, preoccupied as she ith her own thoughts, was about to give up the attempt as a failure, when the name of _Outram_ started to her eyes

A minute later her two companions heard a sharp exclamation and turned round

”What is the matter, Mrs Outraainst Ger much more important than that Listen to this advertisement, Leonard:--

”'If Leonard Outram, second son of Sir Thomas Outram, Bart, late of Outram Hall, as last heard of in the territory to the north of Delagoa Bay, Eastern Africa, or, in the event of his death, his lawful heirs, will coned, he or they will hear of soe Thomson & Turner, 2 Albert Court, London, EC'”

”Are you joking, Juanna?” said Leonard after a pause

”Look for yourself,” she answered

He took the paper, and read and reread the notice

”Well, there is one thing certain,” he said, ”that no one ever stood in greater need of hearing soe than I do at thisthe ruby, which may not be a true stone, we haven't a stiver to bless ourselves with in the world Indeed, I don't kno I am to avail myself of Messrs Thomson & Turner's kind invitation, unless I write theo to live in a Kaffir hut till the answer comes”

”Don't let that trouble you, et plenty of cash here, and it is very much at your service”

”I ae of your kindness,” answered Leonard, flushi+ng ”This advertiseacy of fifty pounds, though I am sure I don't knoould leave me even that sum And then, how should I repay you?”