“Oh, did he? Did he indeed speak of me?” cried Trafford, with intense emotion. “He not only spoke warmly about his affection for you, but he showed pain and jealousy when he thought that some newer friends had robbed him of you--but perhaps you forget the Cape and all about it.” Trafford's face became crimson, and what answer he might have made to this speech there is no knowing, when Tom cried out, “We are going to have our coffee and cigar on the rocks, Lucy, but you will come with us.” “Of course; I have had three long days of my own company, and am quite wearied of it.” In the little cleft to which they repaired, a small stream divided the space, leaving only room for two people on the rocks at either side; and after some little jesting as to who was to have the coffee-pot, and who the brandy-flask, Tom and Cave nestled in one corner, while Lucy and Trafford, with more caution as to proximity, seated themselves on the rock opposite. “We were talking about the Cape, Major Trafford, I think,” said Lucy, determined to bring him back to the dreaded theme. “Were we? I think not; I think we were remembering all the pleasant days beside the Shannon.” “If you please, more sugar and no brandy; and now for the Cape.” “I 'll just hand them the coffee,” said he, rising and crossing over to the others. “Won't she let you smoke, Trafford?” said Tom, seeing the unlighted cigar in the other's fingers; “come over here, then, and escape the tyranny.” “I was just saying,” cried Cave, “I wish our Government would establish a protectorate, as they call it, over these islands, and send us out here to garrison them; I call this downright paradise.” “You may smoke, Major Trafford,” said Lucy, as he returned; “I am very tolerant about tobacco.” “I don't care for it--at least not now.” “You'd rather tell me about the Cape,” said she, with a sly laugh. “Well, I 'm all attention.” “There's really nothing to tell,” said he, in confusion. “Your father will have told you already what a routine sort of thing life is,--always meeting the same people,--made ever more uniform by their official stations. It's always the Governor, and the Chief-Justice, and the Bishop, and the Attorney-General.” “But they have wives and daughters?” “Yes; but official people's wives and daughters are always of the same pattern. They are only females of the species.” “So that you were terribly bored?” “Just so,--terribly bored.” “What a boon from heaven it must have been then to have met the Sewells!” said she, with a well-put-on carelessness. “Oh, your father mentioned the Sewells, did he?” asked Trafford, eagerly. “I should think he did mention them! Why, they were the people he was so jealous of. He said that you were constantly with him till they came,--his companion, in fact,--and that he grieved heavily over your desertion of him.” “There was nothing like desertion; besides,” added he, after a moment, “I never suspected he attached any value to my society.”