Once or twice she was moved to glance up at the brown face of the man who leaned between herself and the objectionable visitor.  His attitude was one of complete ease, and yet something told her that he desired Piet’s departure quite as sincerely as she did.

He must have given a fairly broad hint at last, she decided; for Piet moved somewhat abruptly and knocked out the ashes of his pipe on the floor with a noisy energy that made her start.  Then he got up and addressed her in his own language.  She did not understand in the least what he said, but she gave him a distant smile realizing that he was taking leave of her.  She was somewhat surprised to see Burke take him unceremoniously by the shoulder as he stood before her and march him off the stoep.  Piet himself laughed as if he had said something witty, and there was that in the laugh that sent the colour naming to her cheeks.

She quivered with impotent indignation as she sat.  She wished with all her heart that Burke would kick him down the steps.

The sunset-light faded, and a soft dusk stole up over the wide spaces.  A light breeze cooled her hot face, and after the lapse of a few minutes she began to chide herself for her foolishness.  Probably the man had not meant to be offensive.  She was certain Burke would never permit her to be insulted in his presence.  She heard the sound of hoof-beats retreating away into the distance, and, with it, the memory of her dream came back upon her.  She felt forlorn and rather frightened.  It was only a dream of course; it was only a dream!  But she wished that Burke would come back to her.  His substantial presence would banish phantoms.

He did not come for some time, but she heard his step at last.  And then a strange agitation took her so that she wanted to spring up and avoid him.  She did not do so; she forced herself to appear normal.  But every nerve tingled as he approached, and she could not keep the quick blood from her face.

He was carrying a tray which he set down on a rough wooden table near her.

“You must be famished,” he said.

She had not thought of food, but certainly the sight of it cheered her failing spirits.  She smiled at him.

“Are we going to have another picnic?”

He smiled in answer, and she felt oddly relieved, All sense of strain and embarrassment left her.  She sat up and helped him spread the feast.

The fare was very simple, but she found it amply satisfying.  She partook of Mary Ann’s butter with appreciation.

“I can make butter,” she told him presently.  “And bake bread?” said Burke.

She nodded, laughing.  “Yes, and cook joints and mend clothes, too.  Who does your mending?  Mary Ann?”

“I do my own,” said Burke.  “I cook, too, when Mary Ann takes leave of absence.  But I have a Kaffir house boy, Joe, for the odd jobs.  And there’s a girl, too, uglier than Mary Ann, a relation of hers—­called Rose, short for Fair Rosamond.  Haven’t you seen Rose yet?”