He told me the other day that he had known you for twenty years," and she looked at him inquiringly.
This casual remark produced a strange effect on her visitor, who turned colour beneath his tanned skin.
"He lies, the black hound," he said, "and I'll put a bullet through him if he says it again! What should I know about him, or he about me?
Can I keep count of every miserable man-monkey I meet ?" and he muttered a string of Dutch oaths into his long beard.
"Really, _Meinheer!_" said Bessie.
"Why do you always call me '_Meinheer_' ?" he asked, turning so fiercely on her that she started back a step.

"I tell you I am not a Boer.

I am an Englishman.

My mother was English; and besides, thanks to Lord Carnarvon, we are all English now." "I don't see why you should mind being thought a Boer," she said coolly: "there are some very good people among the Boers, and besides, you used to be a great 'patriot.'" "Used to be--yes; and so the trees used to bend to the north when the wind blew that way, but now they bend to the south, for the wind has turned.

By-and-by it may set to the north again--that is another matter--then we shall see." Bessie made no answer beyond pursing up her pretty mouth and slowly picking a leaf from the vine that trailed overhead.
The big Dutchman took off his hat and stroked his beard perplexedly.
Evidently he was meditating something that he was afraid to say.