"CURTAIN."
The Nodwengu Hotel at Ezulwini was in such a state of turn-out and
general excitement as had never occurred within the walls of that not
very antique establishment. The big central room, ordinarily used for
concerts or dances or public meetings, was crammed with laid-out tables
wherever a plate and knife and fork could be crowded in, while the
smaller one, the dining-room under conditions of everyday life, was
entirely handed over to the bottle department. All this, however, did
not herald a royal visit--only a wedding.
"See here, Mrs Shelford," said Denham, looking in for a moment upon the
scene, where the pretty and popular hostess was seeing to this, that and
the other with all her characteristic thoroughness. "You'll have no
time to get into that exceedingly fetching frock I caught a glimpse of
the other day if you don't leave all this to somebody else."
"Oh yes, I shall. But you know what I told you the day you came--you
can't leave everything to Kafirs. By the way, I suppose you've had
enough of the Kafirs now?"
"For a time, yes. But--I think they're interesting. Sapazani, for
instance?" waggishly.
"The brute! Good thing he was shot. Well, I suppose we shall never see
you out here again."
"I'm not so sure about that. Didn't I find Verna here--right here, in
this very house? And isn't that why I in particular wanted her married
here, among the people she knows, and who know her, rather than in
Durban or some other strange place?"
"Yes, you did find her here, didn't you? Well, now, Mr Denham, you've
no business here yourself this morning--until you come back in state.
So go away now till then."
"No fear," said a jovial voice in the doorway. "Mr Denham's
coming round to have a glass with myself and some of his old
fellow-campaigners, round the corner."
"Look here, Mr Shelford, remember the serious business sticking out,"
said Denham merrily.
"And as for the campaigners, all the campaigning I seem to have done was
to slink away and hide."
"Yes, of course. But they've a different tale to tell. But if you
don't want to come you'll better do the same now, because these chaps
will get you there by force."
"Oh well, I can't afford to offer resistance to the police, so here
goes."
The bar was crowded, mostly with police. Denham's arrival was hailed
with a shout of acclamation, and he and his bride were duly toasted with
a good-fellowship which, if a bit noisy, was still genuinely sincere.
These fine fellows were all due to start for the seat of hostilities
again that evening, but, if some of them were a bit "wobbly" now, they
would be all right, and fit, and hard as ever, when the time came, never
fear.
From that lively scene to the quiet of the hospital was a strange
contrast. Denham slipped away opportunely and soon, for he had a visit
to make.
"How's Stride to-day, doctor?" meeting the District surgeon at the
entrance.
"Going on slowly, but well. Don't excite him, will you?"
"No; I think he'd like to say good-bye. What do you think?"
"As long as he doesn't get excited," was the rather dubious answer.
"Come along."
The hospital at Ezulwini was rather full just then with victims of the
rebellion, still in full swing, and the nurses were busy morning, noon
and night. Everything about the place was so bright and cheerful that
the casual visitor almost wanted to be an inmate for a time. Even the
operating-room looked inviting, and more suggestive of cool drinks than
of bloodshed. Not here was it, however, that they were to find Harry
Stride.
"Well, Stride, old chap, how are you getting on?" said Denham, taking
the sick man's listless hand.
"Oh, I don't know; they say I'll pull through, but I'm taking a darn
long time about it. And I wanted to go and pump some more lead into
those swine, and it'll be all over while I'm lying here."
"Well, better be lying here than lying _there_," said Denham,
"Right-oh! And that's where I should be lying if it hadn't been for
you," answered the other earnestly.
"Oh, that's all in the tug-of-war," rejoined Denham. "We don't count
that at all. You'd have done the same for me--we'd all have done the
same for each other, of course. But I couldn't clear out without saying
good-bye, and seeing how you were getting on."
"You're awfully good, Denham; but I don't believe I should have done the
same if the positions were reversed."
"Yes, you would. And look here, Stride, you needn't think that I
haven't sympathised with you all through. How could I have helped doing
so from the very circumstances themselves?"