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eventful day。 Hans； however； who arrived to help me put on my best
clothes for the ceremony； was for once consoling。
〃Don't look sick； baas；〃 he said； 〃for if there is storm in the morning；
there is shine at night。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； speaking more to myself than to him； 〃but what will
happen between the storm of the morning and the peace of the night？〃
It was arranged that the commission； which； counting the native
after…riders； consisted of over a hundred people； among them several
boys； who were little more than children； was to ride at one hour before
noon。 Nobody could get about to make the necessary preparations until
the heavy rain had passed away； which it did a little after eight
o'clock。 Therefore when I left the wagon to eat； or try to eat some
breakfast； I found the whole camp in a state of bustle。
Boers were shouting to their servants； horses were being examined； women
were packing the saddle…bags of their husbands and fathers with spare
clothes； the pack…beasts were being laden with biltong and other
provisions； and so forth。
In the midst of all this tumult I began to wonder whether my private
business would not be forgotten； since it seemed unlikely that time
could be found for marriages。 However； about ten o'clock when； having
done everything that I had to do； I was sitting disconsolately upon my
wagon box； being too shy to mix with that crowd of busy mockers or to go
to the Prinsloos' camp to make inquiries； the vrouw herself appeared。
〃Come on； Allan；〃 she said； 〃the commandant is waiting and swearing
because you are not there。 Also； there is another waiting； and oh！ she
looks lovely。 When they see her； every man in the camp will want her
for himself； whether he has got a wife or not； for in that matter；
although you mayn't think so just now； they are all the same as the
Kaffirs。 Oh！ I know them； I know them； a white skin makes no
difference。〃
While she held forth thus in her usual outspoken fashion； the vrouw was
dragging me along by the hand； just as though I were a naughty little
boy。 Nor could I get free from that mighty grip； or； when once her
great bulk was in motion； match my weight against it。 Of course； some
of the younger Boers； who； knowing her errand； had followed her； set up
a shout of cheers and laughter； which attracted everybody to the
procession。
〃It is too late to hang back now； Englishman。〃 〃You must make the best
of a bad business。〃 〃If you wanted to change your mind； you should have
done it before；〃 men and women roared and screamed with many other such
bantering words； till at length I felt myself turn the colour of a red
vlei lily。
So we came at last to where Marie stood； the centre of an admiring
circle。 She was clothed in a soft white gown made of some simple but
becoming stuff； and she wore upon her dark hair a wreath woven by the
other maidens in the camp； a bevy of whom stood behind her。
Now we were face to face。 Our eyes met； and oh！ hers were full of love
and trust。 They dazzled and bewildered me。 Feeling that I ought to
speak； and not knowing what to say； I merely stammered 〃Good morning；〃
whereon everyone broke into a roar of laughter； except Vrouw Prinsloo；
who exclaimed：
〃Did any one ever see such a fool？〃 and even Marie smiled。
Then Piet Retief appeared from somewhere dressed in tall boots and rough
riding clothes； such as the Boers wore in those days。 Handing the roer
he was carrying to one of his sons； after much fumbling he produced a
book from his pocket； in which the place was marked with a piece of
grass。
〃Now then；〃 he said； 〃be silent； all； and show respect； for remember I
am not a man just now。 I am a parson； which is quite a different thing；
and； being a commandant and a veld cornet and other officers all rolled
into one； by virtue of the law I am about to marry these young people；
so help me God。 Don't any of you witnesses ever say afterwards that
they are not rightly and soundly married； because I tell you that they
are； or will be。〃 He paused for breath； and someone said； 〃Hear； hear；〃
or its Dutch equivalent； whereon； having glared the offender into
silence； Retief proceeded：
〃Young man and young woman； what are your names？〃
〃Don't ask silly questions； commandant；〃 broke in Vrouw Prinsloo； 〃you
know their names well enough。〃
〃Of course I do； aunt；〃 he answered； 〃but for this purpose I must
pretend not to know them。 Are you better acquainted with the law than I
am？ But stay； where is the father； Henri Marais？〃
Someone thrust Marais forward； and there he stood quite silent； staring
at us with a queer look upon his face and his gun in his hand； for he；
too； was ready to ride。
〃Take away that gun；〃 said Retief； 〃it might go off and cause
disturbance or perhaps accidents；〃 and somebody obeyed。 〃Now； Henri
Marais； do you give your daughter to be married to this man？〃
〃No；〃 said Marais softly。
〃Very well； that is just like you； but it doesn't matter； for she is of
age and can give herself。 Is she not of age； Henri Marais？ Don't stand
there like a horse with the staggers； but tell me； is she not of age？〃
〃I believe so；〃 he answered in the same soft voice。
〃Then take notice； people all； that this woman is of age； and gives
herself to be married to this man； don't you； my dear？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Marie。
〃All right； now for it；〃 and； opening the book； he held it up to the
light； and began to read； or； rather； to stumble； through the marriage
service。
Presently he stuck fast； being； like most Boers of his time； no great
scholar； and exclaimed：
〃Here； one of you help me with these hard words。〃
As nobody volunteered； Retief handed the book to me； for he knew that
Marais would not assist him； saying：
〃You are a scholar； Allan； being a clergyman's son。 Read on till we
come to the important bits； and I will say the words after you； which
will do just as well and be quite according to law。〃
So I read； Heaven knows how； for the situation was trying enough； until
I came to the crucial questions； when I gave the book back。
〃Ah！〃 said Retief； 〃this is quite easy。 Now then； Allan； do you take
this woman to be your wife？ Answer； putting in your name； which is left
blank in the book。〃
I replied that I did； and the question was repeated to Marie； who did
likewise。
〃Well then； there you are；〃 said Retief； 〃for I won't trouble you with
all the prayers； which I don't feel myself parson enough to say。 Oh！
no； I forgot。 Have you a ring？〃
I drew one off my finger that had been my mother'sI believe it had
served this same purpose at the wedding of her grandmotherand set the
thin little hoop of gold upon the third finger of Marie's left hand。 I
still wear that ring to…day。
〃It should have been a new one；〃 muttered Vrouw Prinsloo。
〃Be silent； aunt；〃 said Retief； 〃are there any jewellers' shops here in