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the aperture in the windpipe； and the action of the lungs
delicately aided by this primitive but effectual means。
He showed Phoebe how to do it； tore a leaf out of his pocket…book；
wrote a hasty direction to an able surgeon near； and sent his wife
off with it in the carriage。
Phoebe and he never left the patient till the surgeon came with all
the instruments required； amongst the rest； with a big； tortuous
pair of nippers； with which he could reach the glottis； and snip
it。 But they consulted； and thought it wiser to continue the surer
method； and so a little tube was neatly inserted into Dick's
windpipe； and his throat bandaged； and by this aperture he did his
breathing for some little time。
Phoebe nursed him like a mother； and the terror and the joy did her
good； and made her less desolate。
Dick was only just well when both of them were summoned to the
farm； and arrived only just in time to receive their father's
blessing and his last sigh。
Their elder brother； a married man； inherited the farm； and was
executor。 Phoebe and Dick were left fifteen hundred pounds apiece；
on condition of their leaving England and going to Natal。
They knew directly what that meant。 Phoebe was to be parted from a
bad man； and Dick was to comfort her for the loss。
When this part of the will was read to Phoebe； she turned faint；
and only her health and bodily vigor kept her from swooning right
away。
But she yielded。 〃It is the will of the dead；〃 said she； 〃and I
will obey it； for； oh； if I had but listened to him more when he
was alive to advise me； I should not sit here now； sick at heart
and dry…eyed； when I ought to be thinking only of the good friend
that is gone。〃
When she had come to this she became feverishly anxious to be gone。
She busied herself in purchasing agricultural machines； and stores；
and even stock； and to see her pinching the beasts' ribs to find
their condition； and parrying all attempts to cheat her； you would
never have believed she could be a love…sick woman。
Dick kept her up to the mark。 He only left her to bargain with the
master of a good vessel； for it was no trifle to take out horses
and cows； and machines； and bales of cloth； cotton； and linen。
When that was settled they came in to town together； and Phoebe
bought shrewdly； at wholesale houses in the city； for cash； and
would have bargains： and the little shop in … Street was turned
into a warehouse。
They were all ardor； as colonists should be； and what pleased Dick
most； she never mentioned Falcon； yet he learned from the maid that
worthy had been there twice； looking very seedy。
The day drew near。 Dick was in high spirits。
〃We shall soon make our fortune out there；〃 he said； 〃and I'll get
you a good husband。〃
She shuddered； but said nothing。
The evening before they were to sail； Phoebe sat alone； in her
black dress； tired with work； and asking herself； sick at heart；
could she ever really leave England； when the door opened softly；
and Reginald Falcon； shabbily dressed； came in； and threw himself
into a chair。
She started up with a scream； then sank down again； trembling； and
turned her face to the wall。
〃So you are going to run away from me！〃 said he savagely。
〃Ay； Reginald；〃 said she meekly。
〃This is your fine love； is it？〃
〃You have worn it out； dear；〃 she said softly； without turning her
head from the wall。
〃I wish I could say as much； but； curse it； every time I leave you
I learn to love you more。 I am never really happy but when I am
with you。〃
〃Bless you for saying that； dear。 I often thought you MUST find
that out one day； but you took too long。〃
〃Oh； better late than never。 Phoebe！ Can you have the heart to go
to the Cape； and leave me all alone in the world； with nobody that
really cares for me？ Surely you are not obliged to go。〃
〃Yes； my father left Dick and me fifteen hundred pounds apiece to
go： that was the condition。 Poor Dick loves his unhappy sister。
He won't go without meI should be his ruinpoor Dick； that
really loves me； and he lay a…dying here； and the good doctor and
meGod bless himwe brought him back from the grave。 Ah； you
little know what I have gone through。 You were not here。 Catch
you being near me when I am in trouble。 There； I must go。 I must
go。 I will go； if I fling myself into the sea half way。〃
〃And； if you do； I'll take a dose of poison； for I have thrown away
the truest heart； the sweetest； most unselfish； kindest； generous
oh！ oh！ oh！〃
And he began to howl。
This set Phoebe sobbing。 〃Don't cry； dear；〃 she murmured through
her tears； 〃if you have really any love for me； come with me。〃
〃What； leave England； and go to a desert？〃
〃Love can make a desert a garden。〃
〃Phoebe； I'll do anything else。 I'll swear not to leave your side。
I'll never look at any other face but yours。 But I can't live in
Africa。〃
〃I know you can't。 It takes a little real love to go there with a
poor girl like me。 Ah； well； I'd have made you so happy。 We are
not poor emigrants。 I have a horse for you to ride； and guns to
shoot； and me and Dick would do all the work for you。 But there
are others here you can't leave for me。 Well； then； good…by； dear。
In Africa； or here； I shall always love you； and many a salt tear I
shall shed for you yet； many a one I have； as well you know。 God
bless you。 Pray for poor Phoebe； that goes against her will to
Africa； and leaves her heart with thee。〃
This was too much even for the selfish Reginald。 He kneeled at her
knees； and took her hand； and kissed it； and actually shed a tear
or two over it。
She could not speak。 He had no hope of changing her resolution；
and presently he heard Dick's voice outside； so he got up to avoid
him。 〃I'll come again in the morning； before you go。〃
〃Oh； no！ no！〃 she gasped。 〃Unless you want me to die at your feet。
I am almost dead now。〃
Reginald slipped out by the kitchen。
Dick came in； and found his sister leaning with her head back
against the wall。 〃Why； Phoebe；〃 said he； 〃whatever is the
matter？〃 and he took her by the shoulder。
She moaned； and he felt her all limp and powerless。
〃What is it； lass？ Whatever is the matter？ Is it about going
away？〃
She would not speak for a long time。
When she did speak； it was to say something for which my male
reader may not be prepared。 But it will not surprise the women。
〃O Dickforgive me！〃
〃Why； what for？〃
〃Forgive me； or else kill me： I don't care which。〃
〃I do； though。 There； I forgive you。 Now what's your crime？〃
〃I can't go。 Forgive me！〃
〃Can't go？〃
〃I can't。 Forgive me！〃
〃I'm blessed if I don't believe that vagabond has been here
tormenting of you again。〃
〃Oh； don't miscall him。 He is penitent。 Yes； Dick； he has been
here crying to meand I can't leave him。 I can'tI can't。 Dear
Dick！ you are young and stout…hearted； take all the things over；
and make your fortune out there； and leave your poor foolish sister
behind。 I should only fling myself into the salt sea if I left him
now； and that would be peace to me； but a grief to thee。〃
〃Lordsake； Phoebe； don't talk so。 I can't go without you。 And do
but think； why； the horses are on board by now； and all the gear。
It's my belief a good hiding is all you want； to bring you to your
senses； but I han't the heart to give you one； worse luck。 Blessed
if I know what to say or do。〃
〃I won't go！〃 cried Phoebe； turning violent all of a sudden。 〃No；
not if I am dragged to the ship by the hair of my head。 Forgive
me！〃 And with that word she was a mouse again。
〃Eh； but women are kittle cattle to drive；〃 said poor Dick
ruefully。 And down he sat at a nonplus； and very unhappy。
Phoebe sat opposite； sullen； heart…sick； wretched to the core； but
determined not to leave Reginald。
Then came an event that might have been foreseen； yet it took them
both by surprise。
A light step was heard； and a graceful； though seedy； figure
entered the room with a set speech in his mouth： 〃Phoebe； you are
right。 I owe it to your long and faithful affection to make a
sacrifice for you。 I will go to Africa with you。 I will go to the
end of the world； sooner than you shall say I care for any woman on
earth but you。〃
Both brother and sister were so unprepared for this； that they
could hardly realize it at first。
Phoebe turned her great； inquiring eyes on the speaker； and it was
a sight to see amazement； doubt； hope； and happiness animating her
features； one after another。
〃Is this real？〃 said she。
〃I will sail with you to…morrow； Phoebe； and I will make you a good
husband； if you will have me。〃
〃That is spoke like a man；〃 said Dick。 〃You take him at his word；
Phoebe； and if he ill…uses you out there； I'll break every bone in
his skin。〃
〃How dare you threaten him？〃 said Phoebe。 〃You had best leave the
room。〃
Out went poor Dick； with the tear in his eye at being snubbed so。
While he was putting up the shutters； Phoebe was making love to her
pseudo penitent。 〃My dear；〃 said she； 〃trust yourself to me。 You
don't know all my love yet； for I have never been your wife； and I
would not be your jade； that is the only thing I ev