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〃Cut your throat！ why； that would kill you。〃
〃Not the way you done it。 Well； sir； you ain't the man you was；
that is clear； but you was a good friend to me； and there's my
hand。〃
〃Thank you； Dick；〃 said Staines； and took his hand。 〃I don't
remember YOU。 Perhaps you are one of the past。 The past is dead
wall to mea dark dead wall；〃 and he put his hands to his head
with a look of distress。
Everybody there now suspected the truth； and some pointed
mysteriously to their own heads。
Phoebe whispered an inquiry to the sick person。
He said a little pettishly； 〃All I know is； he is the kindest
attendant in the ward； and very attentive。〃
〃Oh； then； he is in the public hospital。〃
〃Of course he is。〃
The invalid； with the selfishness of his class； then begged Staines
to take him out of all this bustle down to the beach。 Staines
complied at once； with the utmost meekness； and said； 〃Good…by； old
friends； forgive me for not remembering you。 It is my great
affliction that the past is gone from megone； gone。〃 And he went
sadly away； drawing his sick charge like a patient mule。
Phoebe Falcon looked after him； and began to cry。
〃Nay； nay； Phoebe；〃 said Dick； 〃don't ye take on about it。〃
〃I wonder at you；〃 sobbed Phoebe。 〃Good people； I'm fonder of my
brother than he is of himself； it seems； for I can't take it so
easy。 Well； the world is full of trouble。 Let us do what we are
here for。 But I shall pray for the poor soul every night； that his
mind may be given back to him。〃
So then she bustled； and gave herself to getting the cattle on
shore； and the things put on board her wagon。
But when this was done； she said to her brother； 〃Dick； I did not
think anything on earth could take my heart off the cattle and the
things we have got from home； but I can't leave this without going
to the hospital about our poor dear doctor： and it is late for
making a start； any wayand you mustn't forget the newspapers for
Reginaldhe is so fond of themand you must contrive to have one
sent out regular after this； and I'll go to the hospital。〃
She went； and saw the head doctor； and told him he had got an
attendant there she had known in England in a very different
condition； and she had come to see if there was anything she could
do for himfor she felt very grateful to him； and grieved to see
him so。
The doctor was pleased and surprised； and put several questions。
Then she gave him a clear statement of what he had done for Dick in
England。
〃Well；〃 said the doctor； 〃I believe it is the same man； for； now
you tell me thisyes； one of the nurses told me he knew more about
medicine than she did。 His name； if you please。〃
〃His name； sir？〃
〃Yes； his name。 Of course you know his name。 Is it Christie？〃
〃Doctor；〃 said Phoebe； blushing； 〃I don't know what you will think
of me； but I don't know his name。 Laws forgive me； I never had the
sense to ask it。〃
A shade of suspicion crossed the doctor's face。
Phoebe saw it； and colored to the temples。 〃Oh； sir；〃 she cried
piteously； 〃don't go for to think I have told you a lie！ why should
I？ and indeed I am not of that sort； nor Dick neither。 Sir； I'll
bring him to you； and he will say the same。 Well； we were all in
terror and confusion； and I met him accidentally in the street。 He
was only a customer till then； and paid ready money； so that is how
I never knew his name； but if I hadn't been the greatest fool in
England； I should have asked his wife。〃
〃What！ he has a wife？〃
〃Ay； sir； the loveliest lady you ever clapped eyes on； and he is
almost as handsome； has eyes in his head like jewels； 'twas by them
I knew him on the quay； and I think he knew my voice again； said as
good as he had heard it in past times。〃
〃Did he？ Then we have got him；〃 cried the doctor energetically。
〃La； Sir。〃
〃Yes； if he knows your voice； you will be able in time to lead his
memory back； at least； I think so。 Do you live in Cape Town？〃
〃Dear heart； no。 I live at my own farm； a hundred and eighty miles
from this。〃
〃What a pity！〃
〃Why； sir？〃
〃Wellhum！〃
〃Oh； if you think I could do the poor doctor good by having him
with me； you have only to say the word； and out he goes with Dick
and me to…morrow morning。 We should have started for home to…
night； but for this。〃
〃Are you in earnest； madam？〃 said the doctor； opening his eyes。
〃Would you really encumber yourself with a person whose reason is
in suspense； and may never return？〃
〃But that is not his fault； sir。 Why； if a dog had saved my
brother's life； I'd take it home； and keep it all its days； and
this is a man； and a worthy man。 Oh； sir； when I saw him brought
down so； and his beautiful eyes clouded like； my very bosom yearned
over the poor soul； a kind act done in dear old England； who can
see the man in trouble here； and not repay itay； if it cost one's
blood。 But indeed he is strong and healthy； and hands are always
scarce our way； and the odds are he will earn his meat one way or
t'other； and if he doesn't； why； all the better for me； I shall
have the pleasure of serving him for nought that once served me for
neither money nor reward。〃
〃You are a good woman；〃 said the doctor warmly。
〃There's better； and there's worse；〃 said Phoebe quietly； and even
a little coldly。
〃More of the latter；〃 said the doctor dryly。 〃Well； Mrs。？〃
〃Falcon； sir。〃
〃We shall hand him over to your care： but firstjust for formif
you are a married woman； we should like to see Dick here： he is
your husband； I presume。〃
Ploebe laughed merrily。 〃Dick is my brother； and he can't be
spared to come here。 Dick！ he'd say black was white if I told him
to。〃
〃Then let us see your husband about itjust for form。〃
〃My husband is at the farm。 I could not venture so far away； and
not leave him in charge。〃 If she had said； 〃I will not bring him
into temptation；〃 that would have been nearer the truth。 〃Let that
fly stick on the wall； sir。 What I do； my husband will approve。〃
〃I see how it is。 You rule the roost。〃
Phoebe did not reply point…blank to that； she merely said； 〃All my
chickens are happy； great and small；〃 and an expression of lofty；
womanly； innocent pride illuminated her face and made it superb for
a moment。
In short； it was settled that Staines should accompany her next
morning to Dale's Kloof Farm； if he chose。 On inquiry； it appeared
that he had just returned to the hospital with his patient。 He was
sent for； and Phoebe asked him sweetly if he would go with her to
her house； one hundred and eighty miles away； and she would be kind
to him。
〃On the water？〃
〃Nay； by land； but 'tis a fine country； and you will see beautiful
deer and things running across the plains； and〃
〃Shall I find the past again； the past again？〃
〃Ay； poor soul； that we shall； God willing。 You and I； we will
hunt it together。〃
He looked at her； and gave her his hand。 〃I will go with you。
Your face belongs to the past； so does your voice。〃
He then inquired； rather abruptly； had she any children。 She
smiled。
〃Ay； that I have； the loveliest little boy you ever saw。 When you
are as you used to be； you will be his doctor； won't you？〃
〃Yes； I will nurse him； and you will help me find the past。〃
Phoebe then begged Staines to be ready to start at six in the
morning。 She and Dick would take him up on their way。
While she was talking to him the doctor slipped out； and to tell
the truth he went to consult with another authority； whether he
should take this opportunity of telling Staines that he had money
and jewels at the bank： he himself was half inclined to do so； but
the other； who had not seen Phoebe's face； advised him to do
nothing of the kind。 〃They are always short of money； these
colonial farmers；〃 said he； 〃she would get every shilling out of
him。〃
〃Most would； but this is such an honest face。〃
〃Well； but she is a mother； you say。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； what mother could be just to a lunatic； with her own sweet
angel babes to provide for？〃
〃That is true；〃 said Dr。 。 〃Maternal love is apt to modify the
conscience。〃
〃What I would do；I would take her address； and make her promise
to write if he gets well； and if he does get well then write to
HIM； and tell him all about it。〃
Dr。 acted on this shrewd advice； and ordered a bundle to be
made up for the traveller out of the hospital stores： it contained
a nice light summer suit and two changes of linen。
CHAPTER XVIII。
Next morning； Staines and Dick Dale walked through the streets of
Cape Town side by side。 Dick felt the uneasiness of a sane man；
not familiar with the mentally afflicted； who suddenly finds
himself alone with one。 Insanity turns men oftenest into sheep and
hares； but it does now and then make them wolves and tigers； and
that has saddled the insane in general with a character for
ferocity。 Young Dale； then； cast many a suspicious glance at his
comrade； as he took him along。 These glances were reassuring：
Christopher's face had no longer the mobility； the expressive
changes； that mark the superior mind； his countenance was
monotonous： but the one expression was engaging； there was a sweet；
patient；