I sprang up and ran to her, saying that I had not expected to see her that evening, and did not like to come to the house.
"No," she answered, drawing me back into the shadows, "I understand.
My father seems very much upset, almost mad, indeed.

If the Vrouw Prinsloo's tongue had been a snake's fang, it could not have stung him worse." "And where is Pereira ?" I asked.
"Oh! my cousin sleeps in the other room.

He is weak and worn out.

All the same, Allan, he wanted to kiss me.

So I told him at once how matters stood between you and me, and that we were to be married in six months." "What did he say to that ?" I asked.
"He turned to my father and said: 'Is this true, my uncle ?' And my father answered: 'Yes, that is the best bargain I could make with the Englishman, seeing that you were not here to make a better.'" "And what happened then, Marie ?" "Oh, then Hernan thought a while.