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Updated: May 2, 2025
Farewell," and turning round she made a sign to certain dwarf-mutes who were gathered behind her as though they awaited her commands. "Hast thou no last word for me, Mother?" asked Noie. "Aye, Child," she answered. "Thy heart is very bold, and thou also must follow it. Though thy sin should be great, perchance thy greater love may pay its price.
As Noie put it about her mistress and stepped back to see how it became her beauty, two of the dwarf-mutes appeared creeping up the cave, and squatting down before Nya began to make signs to her. "What is it?" asked Rachel nervously. "Eddo is without," answered the Mother, "and would speak with us." "I fear Eddo and will not go," exclaimed Rachel.
In that sleep he remained scarcely stirring for full four-and-twenty hours, while Rachel watched by his side, till at length her weariness overcame her, and she slept also. When she opened her eyes again they saw no other light than that which crept in from the mouth of the cave. The lamps which always burned there were out. Noie, who was seated near by, heard her stir, and spoke.
But of one thing she was sure, that Eddo the first priest, hated this Mother of the Trees, who was named Nya, and desired that "when her tree fell" the next mother should be his servant, which Nya was not. Perhaps, reflected Noie, it was in his mind that her lady would fill this part, and being mad, obey him in all things.
Thereon the trembling child began, and after the native fashion, suppressing no detail or circumstance, however small, narrated how the Zulus had surprised her and Noie while they were gathering flowers, and having bound their arms, had caused them to be hurried away unseen to some dense bush about four miles off. Here they had been kept hidden till in the night the embassy returned.
"Yes, Lady, that is true," said Noie heavily, "I am yours and no one else's," and taking Rachel's hand she pressed it to her forehead. Then together once more they swam the pool, and not too soon, for the tide was pouring into it.
"Before you begin to talk, Sister," broke in Noie, "let us go and see if we can close the cleft in the Wall, for otherwise how shall we sleep in peace? Eddo and the dwarfs might creep in by night and murder us." "I do not think they dare shed blood in their Holy Place," answered Rachel. "Still, let us see what we can do; it may be best."
"Why do you not kiss me, Noie?" asked Rachel. "How can I kiss you, Inkosazana," replied the girl humbly, "I who am but the dog at your feet, the dog whom twice it has pleased you to save from death." "Inkosazana!" exclaimed Rachel. "I weary of that name. I am but a woman like yourself, and I hate this part which I must play." "Yet it is a high part, and you play it very well.
Now let us go, your father is troubled for you." Again Rachel looked at her sideways, and Noie went on: "Lady, from henceforth I am your servant, am I not? and that service will not be light." "She thinks I shall make her dig," thought Rachel to herself, as the girl continued in her low, soft voice: "Now I ask you one thing when I tell you my story, let it be for your breast alone.
She could not answer these questions, and Noie could not answer them, and when she asked Nya the old Mother shook her head and could not, or would not answer. Only the dwarf-mutes seemed to know the answer, for when she passed them they nudged each other, and grinned and thrust their little woolly heads together staring, several of them, into one bowl.
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