“The future is in your hands, Miss Hope. I have come here to-day to tell
you that I have never loved any one in all my life but you, and to ask
you if you will marry me.”
There was now a long pause--so long that he became hopeful of her
answer. Then he saw the blank look that was upon her face change--he saw
the flush that came over her white face when she had had time to realise
the import of his words.
She started up, and at the same instant the baboon came in front of the
window and raised his right hand to the salute.
“You are mad--mad!” she said, in a whisper that had something fierce
about it. Then she lay back in her chair with a laugh. “_I_ marry
you--_you_. I should as soon marry----”
She had pointed to the baboon before she had checked herself.
“You would as soon marry the baboon as me?” said he in a low and
laboured voice.
“I did not say that, although--Dr Koomadhi, what you have told me has
given me a shock--such a shock as I have never had before. I am not
myself--if I said anything hurtful to you I know that you will attribute
it to the shock--I ask your pardon--sincerely--humbly. I never thought
it possible that you--you--oh, you must have been mad! You----”
“Give me a cup of tea, my dearest, if you don’t want to see me perish
before your eyes.” The words came from outside a window behind Dr
Koomadhi, and in another second a man had entered from the verandah, and
had given a low whistle on perceiving that Miss Hope had a visitor.
“Come along,” said Miss Hope, when she had drawn a deep breath--“Come
along and be introduced to Dr Koomadhi. You have often heard of Dr
Koomadhi, I’m sure, Dick. Dr Koomadhi, this is Major Minton.”
“How do you do?” said the stranger, giving his hand to the doctor. “I’m
glad to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you, and how clever you are.”
“You flatter me,” said Dr Koomadhi, shaking hands with the new-comer.
“I must now rush away, Miss Hope,” he added. “I only called to tell your
father that I had forwarded some reports by the _Penguin_.”
“Jolly old tub, the _Penguin_--glad I’ve seen the last of her,” said
Major Minton.
“Major Minton arrived by the _Penguin_ this morning,” said Gertrude.
“Must you really go away, Dr Koomadhi?”
“Not even the prospect of a cup of your tea would make me swerve from
the path of duty, Miss Hope,” said the doctor, with a smile so chastened
as to be deprived of all its Ethiopian character.
He shook hands gracefully with her and Major Minton, and passed out by
the verandah, the baboon standing to one side and solemnly saluting. The
Major was the only one who laughed, and his laugh was a roar.