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to be seen hastening towards it from the various houses. An air of excitement prevailed and bursts of laughter and cheering issued from the crowd. Speculating on the reason for this abrupt transformation in the sleepy little township, Wickener was moving forward to make enquiries, when he was startled by a loud clash of cymbals close behind him, and the Maori band, bare-footed and in rags, their eyes rolling, marched past to the stirring strain of The Soldiers of the Queen.

Great news had come to hand. A New Zealand contingent, after heroic forced marches, had seized Pretoria. The British army, with the baggage, was believed to be somewhere in the immediate neighbourhood.

CHAPTER XXII.

IT was Christmas Eve, and the boys on the station were getting the big shed ready for a dance, The wool, gum, and lumber had been shifted out the day before, and buckets of hot lime, boiled with chopped hide, brushed on the roof and walls. The shed had a solid floor of narrow planks, well laid on heavy blocks, and was spacious enough to accommodate the largest band of dancers likely to be drawn together in the district. The whitening and scrubbing being over, a stable-lad was busy suspending large kerosene lamps from the rafters, while another young man, under the direction of Eve, was engaged in looping up garlands of waiwaikoko, or owl's-foot moss, together with branches of Christmastree aflame with their blood-red flowers. An air of mirth prevailed in the building; jests and laughter passed from lip to lip, and echoed from the walls of the hollow shell. Geoffrey stood by Eve, now holding her in conversation, now encouraging

the man on the ladder to renewed efforts.

"It's all very fine, Mr. Hernshaw," said the latter at last; "but when you've got to prop the stuff up with your head and hammer it in with your teeth, you can't get an artistic effect every time."

"You're doing first-rate," replied Geoffrey. "That's magnificent if you can manage to keep it like that; don't spare the nails." Then he resumed his low-toned conversation with Eve.

A large heap of greenery was piled in the centre of the room, and a number of well-dressed Maori girls were rapidly twisting it into garlands. The floor had been powdered with ground rice and was already becoming slippery from the constant tramping of the workers as they moved to and fro. Also Charlie Welch and Jack Wilson, the best dancers of the station, locked in each other's arms, were waltzing slowly and elegantly round the building, and had been. doing so without intermission for the last twenty minutes. When they passed the girls they addressed one another languishingly in ladylike tones. Occasionally one of them would back his companion solemnly down the room and pound him heavily against the wall; then, with a fresh grip, they would circle gracefully and largely for a further five minutes.

"Look at those two," said Eve, her eyes twinkling.

Geoffrey watched the couple benevolently for a few moments, then he turned to the girl, the blood quickening in his veins. "The first waltz and the last, and how many in between?"

"I shall have to dance with every one so far as I am able; and I have other duties to perform. All you have to do is look about for pretty partners."

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Certainly," said Geoffrey, and at once accompanied his employer to the office.

The two young men looked reproach fully at one another, to an accompaniment of tittering from the girls. "Why couldn't you look where you were going?" Miss Welch enquired in deep masculine tones.

"Ah, well," said Jack Wilson, recovering himself, "the boss took it in good part, so it's all right. We'll have to get those sheep in; they want two up at the house. I'll give you

a race to the stables."

At the stable they provided themselves with horses, and opening the yard gate, took the dry, slippery hills at a rush, the dogs scouring ahead of them. The speed and dash of their horsemanship recalled to their minds the thoughts which at that time engrossed the youth of New Zealand, and they began speaking of the latest reported exploit of their countrymen in South Africa.

"Our chaps are doing great things over there," Charlie Welch began.

You can't

Milward's a holy terror. beat the New Zealanders; they're just on top the whole time. The Boers can't shake 'em off."

"And they're good men too, the Boers," Jack reflected. "If our boys can beat them they can lick anything."

Mr. Welch signified his assent. "What beats me," he said, "is the cheek of our chaps. They don't take more account of a Boer than they would of a bullock. The way that they seized this Pretoria fair lays me over. Here was the place fair bristling with guns, a reg'lar Gibraltar, so they say, and Boers inside thick as fleas in a bush whare. Then our chaps come along. 'Surrender! says they. 'Surrender be damned,' says Kruger. 'Who are you 'First New Zealand Mounteds,' says our boys, grinning a bit. Then Kruger turns to Steyn, De Wet, and them. Its all up, chaps,' he says. Get along out of the back; these men have got to come in.' And in they did, right enough."

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They're a rare lot," Mr. Wilson agreed enthusiastically. "The British army wouldn't be much without them."

Not but

"You bet it wouldn't. what it must be a bit encouraging to know that there's a couple of hundred thousand men close behind you, even though they may know more about piano tunes than straight shooting," Mr. Welch allowed magnanimously.

Geoffrey was a little surprised at Major Milward's request, because of late that gentleman had shown a tendency to avoid private intercourse with him. His daily visits to the store were hurried and, whether by accident or design, it usually hap pened that Sandy was present at the time. This change in manner had followed on the return of the ledger,

"They are that. I reckon old Kruger's feeling pretty sick now. You mark my word, the boys 'll nab him sure as eggs." "Shouldn't wonder. That Captain accompanied by a list of the out

standing debts, and the persons from whom they were due. Major Milward had glanced through the list at the time, paused sharply, and closing the book gone away without remark. He had not since alluded to the subject and, indeed, manifested some uneasiness when the conversation seemed to trend in that direction. Now, however, he had the paper in his hand, and as he seated himself at the desk, he passed it to Geoffrey with instructions to apply for payment of the various amounts.

"I see you have struck out some accounts," Geoffrey said, running his eye down the list.

The Major was reading the correspondence before him and did not immediately reply. "Eh? Yes, that is so. There are one or two that it would be useless to apply for, and others that should not have been included.—' Trust that in consideration of this payment you will-’’

"There is one here, sir," Geoffrey said quietly, "which can hardly be included in the former category." "Then no doubt it belongs to the latter, my boy-to the latter; yes." 66 Will you allow me to discuss that point, sir?"

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"This was no debt; it was a gift." "As it happened. Originally, I think, the ledger proves otherwise."

"You are persistent, Mr. Hernshaw," the Major said somewhat stiffly.

"Not impertinently so, I hope, sir. No one could be more fully conscious of your generosity than I am, but I would ask you to allow me to remove this blot from my father's good name.

Major Milward shrugged his shoulders and paced up and down the little office, evidently a prey to strong feelings. His was a fine, deep-chested figure for all his great age, and Geoffrey, watching him with kindly eyes, did not wonder at the love and honour in which the county held him.

"There never was a woman for whom I had a greater respect than Mrs. Hernshaw," the Major said abruptly at last, and in his tones there was the ring of something greater unsaid. "Robert, I think, would understand the reluctance I feel in reopening that page of the account-book after all these years. But you have put your case so forcibly that I do not well see how I can dispute your right to do as you please." The Major paused and looked frowningly out of the window.

And," he resumed briskly at last, "there is another matter we had better clear up while we are about it. I have been in correspondence with your uncle for some time past, since before you came here, in fact, and he

has finally made me a proposal I am half disposed to consider."

Geoffrey, suddenly enlightened as to the origin and intention of many chance remarks dropped by his employer during the past few months, which had hitherto puzzled him not a little, looked with interest at Major Milward as he returned and seated himself at the table.

you

"Your uncle, in the first place, asked me to acquaint him with your movements and assist you in any way I might find possible so long as you were determined to stay in the country. His general idea was that I should take an interest in you, and I did so gladly. I was able to assure him that life was supportable even here, and that a man might do worse, from an educational point of view, than pass a few years in a British colony. Finding that had no desire to return home, I suggested that he should make an effort to establish you here in such a manner as would give you a chance of earning a good income, and among other more or less feasible propositions, he has proposed to buy an interest for you in Wairangi." The Major paused and smiled drily. "Now, Wairangi's not "Now, Wairangi's not exactly short of capital," he resumed; "there may be a matter of a hundred pounds or so that I can't squeeze into it any way I try, but I've been thinking the thing over, and, yes, there are points about it I rather like."

Geoffrey's thoughts leapt quickly ahead, and his heart beat more rapidly.

"It's getting fully time," the Major went on, "that I stepped aside and let the next generation have a try, and that being admitted, the only point to consider is the terms on which the next generation are to come in. All my sons, except Sandy, are amply provided for elsewhere, and to him the homestead will fall naturally, and

with the homestead goes the business as a matter of course. It has grown into a good business and will go on growing, and I have always found it various enough to be interesting. could employ all the activities of two masters, and so my idea, in the rough, is that Mr. Hernshaw should buy you a half share, and that you and Sandy should run the business in common."

"It would cost a good deal of money, I suppose?" Geoffrey said.

"It would cost money, but the money's worth would be there. The good will would be only trifling, because the business depends mainly on the brains and determination that are put into it, and those you would have to provide yourselves. The secret in business is to let no man pass you, and to achieve that you must keep moving. But, yes, it means money, --money in timber, money in sheep, money in gum, and money ready to go in if required; but I gather your uncle is fully aware of what is needed and is prepared to find it. I have mentioned the matter to Sandy and he raises no obstacles; now the question is, how does it strike you?"

"It is very good of you, Major Milward, to consider it."

"Not at all. This, if it is anything-is a business deal and in that light you have to look at it. I may be more kindly disposed towards you than to those who have gone before you, and it's not every man, certainly, to whom I would make such an offer, but I propose to sell at full value and if possible a trifle over." Geoffrey felt a little foolish. "Well," said the "there is no hurry. over, and let me mind is made up. Thrash it out with Sandy, if you like, or take the books and go into it for yourself. Draw out a balance-sheet, and see what the profit has been under the present

Major, rising, Turn the thing know when your

management for the last four or five years; that will give you an idea and me too. You might have to thank me for advice now and again, but for the rest, it would be, as I say, a business deal, even though your uncle were indisposed to find the whole amount and I had to lend you a part of it myself."

The Major turned suddenly at the sound of a step in the store beyond, and Eve stood in the doorway. Her face was cold and white, with but a spot of colour in either cheek; her eyes shone with an unnatural brilliance. She looked only at her father, though her attitude indicated subtly a knowledge of the other man's presence. Geoffrey, watching her in startled silence, was conscious of a chill of apprehension at his heart.

"Father, Mr. Fletcher is waiting in the house to see you."

"Fletcher? Tut, tut! I thought the boys had set fire to the shed with their pranks," and vastly relieved, Major Milward accompanied his daughter to the beach.

Geoffrey, every vestige of interest in the late conversation struck from his mind, followed them to the doorway. Major Milward had his arm round the girl's waist, and was looking at her smilingly. Suddenly he loosed his hold and they both came to a standstill. There was a sharp exclamation from the man, a lowtoned reply from the girl; a moment of silence and they resumed their way to the house, Major Milward talking eagerly, the girl moving forward with downcast face. They passed through the gateway and disappeared.

CHAPTER XXIII.

His mind in a whirl, the young man turned back into the office and closed the door. The instinct of disaster was upon him, though he would

have found it difficult to define its exact origin. Less than half an hour ago he had seemed to read for the first time surrender in the girl's eyes. Her voice had held a lingering tenderness. She had shown him that she understood the uncompleted speech, the questioning glance. Her eyes

had fallen in embarrassment; once they had dwelt on his for seconds, wherein his blood was tuned to music. There was a sweet homeliness in her manner, that self-revelation which is only for our nearest and dearest. And surely the thought of the coming night was in her mind as in his,— the dances they were to have together, the talks, alternated with tenser silences, the question he was to ask her. Then the dreamy delirium that followed her consent, for consent she would,-in the intimacy of the morning he had read his answer in her eyes-the first love-kiss down on the sands, or in the scented garden, the times their eyes would meet thereafter, their hands go out to one another in passing. Heaven! Was it not to be after all? What had happened? He rose to his feet in keen nervous distress and walked aimlessly about the room. She had never once looked at him. There had been something deadly in her manner. Why? He heard his name called from the other side of the beach, and made his way back to the shed. The man at the decorations had finished the work of hanging garlands round the walls, and wanted to know what next.

"Where is Miss Milward?" Geoffrey asked.

"Went away with Mr. Fletcher somewhere. What price some stuff round the tie beams?"

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