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She had not really prayed since that terrible journey to Brennerstadt when she had poured out her whole soul in supplication and had met only failure. She felt in a fashion cut off, forgotten in this land of strangers. The very effort to bridge the gulf seemed but to emphasize her utter impotence.
"When are you going to take me to Ritzen?" she asked instead. "To Ritzen!" He glanced up again in surprise. "Do you want to go to Ritzen?" "Or Brennerstadt," she said, "Whichever is the best shopping centre." "Oh!" He began to smile. "You want to shop, do you? What do you want to buy?" She looked at him severely. "Nothing for myself, I am glad to say." "What! Something for me?"
He had not intended to prolong his visit over two days, and he proposed to conclude it now; for his leisure was limited, and he had undertaken to be back in Brennerstadt for the occasion of the diamond draw which he himself had organized, and which was to take place at the end of the week.
"You've been having a strenuous time at Brennerstadt, I'm told. I wondered if you were going in for Kelly's diamond that he was so full of the other day. How the fellow did talk to be sure! He's a walking advertisement. I should think he must have filled Wilbraham's coffers for him. And you didn't hear who won it?" It was Burke who answered. "No, we didn't stop for that. We wanted to get away."
Had he followed her like a wandering outcast now that his master Kieff was gone? If so, but no but no! Surely it was a dream. Guy was far away. This was but the fantasy of her own brain. Guy could never have come to her thus. And yet, was it not Guy's voice that had called her from her sleep? A great quiver went through her. What if Guy had died in the night far away in Brennerstadt?
Merston who seemed half-afraid of her own action. "You must get your husband to take you to Brennerstadt for the races," she said. "It would make a change for you. It's a shame for a girl of your age to be buried in the wilderness." "I really haven't begun to be dull yet," Sylvia said. "No, perhaps not. But you'll get nervy and unhappy.
It's too much for her." "I know that," Burke said shortly. "I've told her so. She is to take it easy for a bit. The climate is affecting her." Kelly looked at him with his kindly, curious eyes. "Can't you get things fixed up here and bring her along to Brennerstadt for the races and the diamond gamble? It would do you both good to have a change."
"Man, is it the truth you're giving me?" "Not much point in lying," said Kieff coldly, "when there is nothing to be gained by it! Mrs. Burke Ranger has gone to Brennerstadt by way of Ritzen, in the company of Guy Ranger. Piet Vreiboom will tell you the same thing if you ask him. He is going to Brennerstadt too to-morrow, and I with him. Perhaps we can travel together.
By the afternoon, when she had hoped to be on her way back, tardy help arrived, and they crawled into Brennerstadt station, parched and dusty and half-starved, some three hours later. Hope revived in her as at length she left the train. Anything was better than the awful inactivity of that well-nigh interminable journey.
He's a fine chap to be friendly with, but a divil to cross." "Yes. I've heard that before," Sylvia said, with a valiant little smile. "I should prefer to be friendly with him myself." "Ah, sure and you're right," said Kelly. "But is it yourself that could be anything else? Why, he worships the very ground under your feet. I saw that clear as daylight that time at Brennerstadt."
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