Without a doubt, indeed, it would have
done so--for she was but a woman, and an untutored one--had it not been
for a simple fact which dominated her whole nature. She loved Nahoon,
and there was no room in her heart for any other man, white or black. To
Hadden she was courteous and kindly but no more, nor did she appear
to notice any of the subtle advances by which he attempted to win a
foothold in her heart. For a while this puzzled him, but he remembered
that the Zulu women do not usually permit themselves to show feeling
towards an undeclared suitor. Therefore it became necessary that he
should speak out.
His mind once made up, he had not to wait long for an opportunity. He
was now quite recovered from his hurts, and accustomed to walk in the
neighbourhood of the kraal. About two hundred yards from Umgona's huts
rose a spring, and thither it was Nanea's habit to resort in the evening
to bring back drinking-water for the use of her father's household.
The path between this spring and the kraal ran through a patch of bush,
where on a certain afternoon towards sundown Hadden took his seat under
a tree, having first seen Nanea go down to the little stream as was her
custom.
Pages:
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70