And they will come
riding again, as soon as ever they know that the time's up that the
Englishman made me agree not to marry in."
The Boer-woman smirked complacently.
"Where are you going to?" asked Tant Sannie presently, seeing that
Bonaparte rose.
"Ha! I'm just going to the kraals; I'll be in to supper," said Bonaparte.
Nevertheless, when he reached his own door he stopped and turned in there.
Soon after he stood before the little glass, arrayed in his best white
shirt with the little tucks, and shaving himself. He had on his very best
trousers, and had heavily oiled the little fringe at the back of his head,
which, however, refused to become darker. But what distressed him most was
his nose--it was very red. He rubbed his finger and thumb on the wall, and
put a little whitewash on it; but, finding it rather made matters worse, he
rubbed it off again. Then he looked carefully into his own eyes. They
certainly were a little pulled down at the outer corners, which gave them
the appearance of looking crosswise; but then they were a nice blue. So he
put on his best coat, took up his stick, and went out to supper, feeling on
the whole well satisfied.
"Aunt," said Trana to Tant Sannie when that night they lay together in the
great wooden bed, "why does the Englishman sigh so when he looks at me?"
"Ha!" said Tant Sannie, who was half asleep, but suddenly started, wide
awake.
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