A Kaffer studies all his life the
discerning of distant sounds; but he will never hear my step, when my love
hears it, coming to her window in the dark over the short grass.
At first Gregory's heart was sore when day by day the body grew lighter,
and the mouth he fed took less; but afterward he grew accustomed to it, and
was happy. For passion has one cry, one only--"Oh, to touch thee,
Beloved!"
In that quiet room Lyndall lay on the bed with the dog at her feet, and
Gregory sat in his dark corner watching.
She seldom slept, and through those long, long days she would lie watching
the round streak of sunlight that came through the knot in the shutter, or
the massive lion's paw on which the wardrobe rested. What thoughts were in
those eyes? Gregory wondered; he dared not ask.
Sometimes Doss where he lay on her feet would dream that they two were in
the cart, tearing over the veld, with the black horses snorting, and the
wind in their faces; and he would start up in his sleep and bark aloud.
Then awaking, he would lick his mistress' hand almost remorsefully, and
slink quietly down into his place.
Gregory thought she had no pain, she never groaned; only sometimes, when
the light was near her, he thought he could see contractions about her lips
and eyebrows.
He slept on the sofa outside her door.
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