Jess | Page 4

will like it. I don't think," she added
slowly, "that it is a fit place for an English gentleman and an army
officer like you. You will find the Boer ways horrid, and then there will
only be my old uncle and us two for you to associate with."
John Niel laughed. "English gentlemen are not so particular nowadays,
I can assure you, Miss Croft, especially when they have to earn a living.
Take my case, for instance, for I may as well tell you exactly how I
stand. I have been in the army fourteen years, and I am now thirty-four.
Well, I have been able to live there because I had an old aunt who
allowed me 120 pounds a year. Six months ago she died, leaving me
the little property she possessed, for most of her income came from an
annuity. After paying expenses, duty, &c., it amounts to 1,115 pounds.
Now, the interest on this is about fifty pounds a year, and I can't live in
the army on that. Just after my aunt's death I came to Durban with my
regiment from Mauritius, and now they are ordered home. Well, I liked
the country, and I knew that I could not afford to live in England, so I
got a year's leave of absence, and made up my mind to have a look
round to see if I could not take to farming. Then a gentleman in Durban
told me of your uncle, and said that he wanted to dispose of a third
interest in his place for a thousand pounds, as he was getting too old to
manage it himself. So I entered into correspondence with him, and
agreed to come up for a few months to see how I liked it; and
accordingly here I am, just in time to save you from being knocked to
bits by an ostrich."
"Yes, indeed," she answered, laughing; "you've had a warm welcome at
any rate. Well, I hope you will like it."
Just as he finished his story they reached the top of the rise over which
the ostrich had pursued Bessie Croft, and saw a Kafir coming towards
them, leading the pony with one hand and Captain Niel's horse with the
other. About twenty yards behind the horses a lady was walking.
"Ah," said Bessie, "they've caught the horses, and here is Jess come to
see what is the matter."
By this time the lady in question was quite close, so that John was able

to gather a first impression of her. She was small and rather thin, with
quantities of curling brown hair; not by any means a lovely woman, as
her sister undoubtedly was, but possessing two very remarkable
characteristics--a complexion of extraordinary and uniform pallor, and
a pair of the most beautiful dark eyes he had ever looked on. Altogether,
though her size was almost insignificant, she was a striking-looking
person, with a face few men would easily forget. Before he had time to
observe any more the two parties had met.
"What on earth is the matter, Bessie?" Jess said, with a quick glance at
her sister's companion, and speaking in a low full voice, with just a
slight South African accent, that is taking enough in a pretty woman.
Thereon Bessie broke out with a history of their adventure, appealing to
Captain Niel for confirmation at intervals.
Meanwhile Jess Croft stood quite still and silent, and it struck John that
her face was the most singularly impassive one he had ever seen. It
never changed, even when her sister told her how the ostrich rolled on
her and nearly killed her, or how they finally subdued the foe. "Dear
me," he thought to herself, "what a very strange woman! She can't have
much heart." But just as he thought it the girl looked up, and then he
saw where the expression lay. It was in those remarkable eyes.
Immovable as was her face, the dark eyes were alight with life and a
suppressed excitement that made them shine gloriously. The contrast
between the shining eyes and the impassive face beneath them struck
him as so extraordinary as to be almost uncanny. As a matter of fact, it
was doubtless both unusual and remarkable.
"You have had a wonderful escape, but I am sorry for the bird," she
said at last.
"Why?" asked John.
"Because we were great friends. I was the only person who could
manage him."
"Yes," put in Bessie, "the savage brute would follow her about like a
dog. It was just the oddest thing I ever saw. But come on; we must be

getting home, it's growing dark. Mouti"--which, being interpreted,
means Medicine--she added, addressing the Kafir in Zulu--"help
Captain Niel on to his horse. Be careful that