All day long she had been forcing the picture that Mrs.Merston had painted for her into the background of her thoughts.

All day long it had been pressing forward in spite of her.

It seemed to be burning her brain, and now she could not ignore it any longer.

Sitting there exhausted in mind and body, she had to face it in all its crudeness.

She had to meet and somehow to conquer the sickening sensation of revolt that had come upon her.
She sat there for a long time, till the sun sank low in the sky and a wondrous purple glow spread across the _veldt_.