“I dare say,” I answered, not wishing to enter into a legal argument with the vrouw. “But you see, Tante, I solemnly promised her father that I would not marry her until she was of age, and if I broke my word I should not be an honest man.”
“An honest man!” she exclaimed with the utmost contempt; “an honest man! Well, are Marais and Hernan Pereira honest men? Why do you not cut your stick the same length as theirs, Allan Quatermain? I tell you that your verdomde honesty will be your ruin. You remember my words later on,” and she marched off in high dudgeon.
When she had gone I went to my wagons, where Hans was waiting for me with a detailed and interminable report of everything that had happened in my absence. Glad was I to find that, except for the death of one sickly ox, nothing had gone wrong. When at length he had ended his long story, I ate some food which Marie sent over for me ready cooked, for I was too tired to join any of the Boers that night. Just as I had finished my meal and was thinking of turning in, Marie herself appeared within the circle of the camp-fire’s light. I sprang up and ran to her, saying that I had not expected to see her that evening, and did not like to come to the house.
“No,” she answered, drawing me back into the shadows, “I understand. My father seems very much upset, almost mad, indeed. If the Vrouw Prinsloo’s tongue had been a snake’s fang, it could not have stung him worse.”
“And where is Pereira?” I asked.
“Oh! my cousin sleeps in the other room. He is weak and worn out. All the same, Allan, he wanted to kiss me. So I told him at once how matters stood between you and me, and that we were to be married in six months.”
“What did he say to that?” I asked.
“He turned to my father and said: ‘Is this true, my uncle?’ And my father answered: ‘Yes, that is the best bargain I could make with the Englishman, seeing that you were not here to make a better.’”
“And what happened then, Marie?”
“Oh, then Hernan thought a while. At last he looked up and said: ‘I understand. Things have gone badly. I acted for the best, who went away to try to find help for all of you. I failed. Meanwhile the Englishman came and saved you. Afterwards he saved me also. Uncle, in all this I see God’s hand; had it not been for this Allan none of us would be alive. Yes, God used him that we might be kept alive. Well, he has promised that he will not marry Marie for six months. And you know, my uncle, that some of these English are great fools; they keep their promises even to their own loss. Now, in six months much may happen; who knows what will happen?’”