"Things are very much as usual. We see a good deal of Mr Kendrew, who comes over when he can and is a great help."--"Oh, the devil he is!" said I to myself at this point. "Just what I foresaw, confound it!"--"But we miss you very much, and are hoping soon to welcome you back after a thoroughly successful expedition." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This was more comforting, I thought to myself, laying down the letter and conjuring up a recollection of the writer's words, that last evening. She would look forward to my return, she had declared--would be disappointed if I did not go to see them immediately. Confound it, what was the matter with me, that I sat dreaming and building castles in the air? The rain fell upon the canvas of the waggon tent with monotonous drip, and a puff of raw air through the flap of the tied-down sail caused the light of the hanging lantern to flicker--but I was no longer in the gloomy wilds of Northern Zululand, on a rainy, chilly, and altogether abominable evening. I was again in the starlight glow as on that evening, listening to the sweet tones of the writer's voice, and gazing at the beautiful, highbred face. The letter went on, dealing now with everyday matter, in a bright, natural, chatty style. The Major was in great form and delighted with his garden and its development, thanks to some fine rains. The Scotts had been over to see them a couple of times--and here followed some banter at the expense of that worthy and neighbouring family, the head of which--originally a waggon-maker's journeyman--was, incidentally, addicted to too much grog, when he could get it--which wasn't often. At Major Sewin's he could get it, and became comical, but always harmlessly so. Things on the farm were going well, thanks to Ivondwe, who was worth his weight in gold, and--I could read between the lines--was practically running the place himself. Tyingoza had been over to see them too, and seemed completely to have forgotten Falkner's liberty with regard to his head-ring, for he had been exceedingly pleasant, and, through Ivondwe, had said a great many nice things about me--reading which I felt more than brotherly towards Tyingoza, and made up my mind then and there to present him with something of large and practical value when I should get up my next consignment of trade goods. This had covered some three sheets, closely written, and there were still quite as many more. Decidedly Miss Sewin was a good correspondent. I had been going through her letter grudgingly, as if the turning of every leaf should bring the end near. The sail was lifted, and Tom's honest black face appeared, to ask some question. I curtly told him to go to the devil, and resumed my reading. ------------------------------------------------------------------------