Interior glow weirdly with colour. Because they were both nervous they

held hands as they stood in the aisle.

There's no one here, whispered Garrick. There must be, Anna whispered

back. Try through that door there. What shall I say? Just tell him we

want to get married.

Garrick hesitated. Go on. Anna still whispered, pushing him gently

towards the door of the vestry. You come with me, said Garrick. I

don't know what to say. The priest was a thin men with steel-rimmed

spectacles. He looked over the top of them at the nervous pair in the

doorway and shut the book on the desk in front of him. We want to get

married, Garrick said and blushed crimson. Well, said the priest drily,

you have the right address.

come in.

He was surprised at their haste and they argued a little, then he sent

Garrick down to the Magistrates Court for a special licence. He married

them, but the ceremony was hollow and unreal. The drone of the priest's

Voice was almost lost in the immense cavern of the Cathedral as they

stood small and awed before him. Two old ladies who came in to pray

stayed on gleefully to witness for them, and afterwards they both kissed

Anna and the priest shook Garrick's hand. Then they went out again into

the sunlight. The pigeons still strutted on the lawn and a mule wagon

rattled down Church Street with the coloured driver singing and cracking

his whip. It was as though nothing had happened.

We're married, said Garrick doubtfully. Yes, agreed Anna, but she

sounded as though she didn't believe it either.

They walked back to the hotel side by side. They didn't talk or touch

each other. Their luggage had been taken up to their room and the

horses had been stabled. Garrick signed the register and the clerk

grinned at him.

I've put you in Number Twelve, sir, it's our honeymoon suite. One of

his eyelids drooped slightly and Garrick stammered in confusion.

After dinner, an excellent dinner, Anna went up to the room and Garrick

sat on in the lounge drinking coffee. It was almost an hour later that

he mustered the courage to follow her. He crossed the drawing-room of

their suite, hesitated at the bedroom door then went in. Anna was in

bed. She had pulled the bedclothes up to her chin and she looked at him

with her inscrutable cat's eyes. I've put your nightshirt in the

bathroom, on the table, she said.

Thank you, said Garrick. He stumbled against a chair as he crossed the

room. He closed the door behind him, undressed quickly and leaning

naked over the basin splashed water onto his face; then he dried and

pulled the nightshirt over his head. He went back into the bedroom:

Anna lay with her face turned away from him. Her hair was loose on the

pillow, shining in the lamplight.

Garrick sat on the edge of the chair. He lifted the hem of his

nightshirt above his knee and unfastened the straps of his leg, laid,

the peg carefully beside the chair and massaged the stump with both

hands. It felt stiff. He heard the bed creak softly and he looked up.

Anna was watching him, staring at his leg. Hurriedly Garrick pulled

down his nightshirt to cover the protruding slightly enlarged end with

its folded line of scar-tissue. He stood up, balancing, and then hopped

one-legged across to the bed. He was blushing again.

He lifted the edge of the blankets and slipped into the bed and Anna

jerked violently away from. him.

Don't touch me, she said hoarsely. Anna. Please don't be scared, I'm

pregnant, you mustn't touch me. I won't. I swear I won't. She was

breathing hard, making no attempt to hide her revulsion.

Do you want me to sleep in the drawing-room, Anna?

I will if you say so. Yes, she said, I want you to. He gathered his

dressing-gown from the chair and stooping picked up his leg. He hopped

to the door and turned back to face her. She was watching him still.

I'm sorry, Anna, I didn't mean to frighten you She did not answer him

and he went on. I love you. I swear I love you more than anything in

the world. I wouldn't hurt you, you know that, don't you?

You know I wouldn't hurt you? Still she did not answer and he made a

small gesture of appeal, the wooden leg clutched in his hand and the

tears starting to fill his eyes. Anna. I'd kill myself rather than

frighten you! He went quickly through the door and closed it behind

him. Anna scrambled out of the bed and with her nightdress flurrying

around her legs she ran across the room to the door and turned the key

in the lock.

In the morning Garrick was bewildered to find Anna in a mood of girlish

gaiety. She had a green ribbon in her hair and her green frock was

faded but pretty. She chattered happily through breakfast and while

they were having there coffee she leaned across the table and touched

Garrick's hand.

What shall we do today, Garry?

Garrick looked surprised, he hadn't thought that far ahead. I suppose

we'd better catch the afternoon train back to Lady-burg, he said.

oh, Garry Anna pouted effectively. Don't you love me enough to give me

a honeymoon? I suppose - Garrick hesitated and then of course, I didn't

think of it He grinned excitedly. Where can we go?

We could take the mail boat down the coast to capetown, Anna suggested.

Yes! Garrick adopted the idea immediately. It'll be fun. But, Garry -

Anna's eagerness faded. I only have two Old dresses with me. She

touched her clothes. Garrick sobered also while he grappled with this

new problem.

Then he found the solution. We'll buy you some more! Oh, Garry, could

we? Could we really?

We'll buy you all you can use, more than you can use.

Come on, finish your coffee and we'll go into town and see what they

have. I'm finished. Ann, stood up from the table ready to go.

They had a stateroom on the Dunottax Castle from Port Natal to Capetown.

There were other young people aboard. Anna, in her elegant new clothing

and sparkling with excitement, formed the centrepiece of a gay little

group that played deck games, dined, danced and flirted as the mailboat

drove south through the sunny, golden days of early autumn.

At first Garrick was content to stay unobtrusively close to Anna. He

was there to hold her coat, fetch a book or carry a rug. He watched her

fondly, revelling in her success, hardly jealous when she almost

disappeared behind a palisade of attentive young men, not resenting the

sofa which formed his uncomfortable bed in the drawing-room of their

suite.

Then gradually there came a realization among their travelling

companions that Garrick was paying for most of the refreshments and

other little expenses that came up each day. They became aware of him

and of the fact that he appeared to be the richest of the group. From

there it needed only a small adjustment to their thinking to admit

Garrick to the circle. The men addressed remarks directly at him and

some of the other girls flirted with him openly and sent him on small

errands. Garrick was at once overjoyed and appalled by these

attentions, for he could not cope with the lightning exchange of banter

that flickered around him and left him stammering and blushing. Then

Garrick found how easy it really was. Have a dram, old chap? No,

really. I don' t, you knowNonsense, everybody does. Steward, bring my

friend here a whisky. Really, no really I won't. And of course Garrick

did. It tasted foul and he spilt a little on Anna's evening dress;

while he wiped it up with his handkerchief she whispered a barbed

reprimand and then laughed gaily at a joke from the moustached gentleman

on her right. Garrick shrank miserably back in his chair and forced down

the rest of the whisky. Then slowly and exquisitely the glow came upon

him, starting deep down inside him and spreading out warmly to the very

tips of his fingers.

Have another one, Mr Courtney? Yes, thanks. I'll have the same again,

but I think it's my round He had the next drink. They were sitting in

deck-chairs on the upper deck in the shelter of the superstructure,

there was a moon and the night was warm Someone was talking about

Chelmsford's Zulu campaign.

You're wrong on that point, Garrick said clearly.

There was a small silence.

I beg your pardon! the speaker glanced at him with surprise. Garrick

leaned forward easily in his chair and began talking. There was a

stiffness at first but he made a witticism and two of the women laughed.

Garrick's voice strengthened. He gave a quick and deep-sighted resumi

of the causes and effects of the war. One of the men asked a question.

It was a sharp one but Garrick saw the essence of it and answered

neatly. It was all very clear and he found the words without effort.

YOU must have been there, one of the girls hazarded. My husband was at

Rorke's Drift, said Ann, quietly, looking at him as though he were a

stranger. Lord Chelmsford has cited him for the award of the Victoria

Cross. We are waiting to hear from London The party was silent again,

but with new respect. I think it's my round, Mr Courtney. Yours is

whisky, isn't it? Thank you. The dry musty taste of the whisky was

less offensive this time; he sipped it thoughtfully and found that there

was a faint sweetness in the dry.

As they went down to their staterooms later that night Garrick put his

arm around Anna's waist.

What fun you were tonight! she said. Only a reflection of your charm,

my darling, I am your mirror. He kissed her cheek and she pulled away,

but not violently. You're a tease, Garry Courtney. Garrick slept on

his back on the sofa with a smile on his face and no dreams, but in the

morning his skin felt tight and dry and there was a small ache behind

his eyes.

He went through to the bathroom and cleaned his teeth; it helped a

little but the ache behind his eyes was still there. He went back to

the drawing-room and rang for the cabin steward. Good morning, sir.

Can you bring me a whisky and soda? Garry asked hesitantly. Certainly,

sir. Garry did not put the soda into it but drank it neat, like

medicine. Then afterwards miraculously the glow was L there again,

warming him. He had hardly dared to hope for it.

He went through to Anna's cabin. She was rosy with sleep, her hair a

joyous tangle on the pillow. Good morning, my darling. Garrick stooped

over her and kissed her, and his hand moved to cover one of her breasts

through the silk of her gown. Garry, you naughty boy. She slapped his

wrist, but jokingly.

There was another honeymoon couple aboard returning to their farm near

Capetown, seventy-five acres of the finest vines on the whole of the

Cape Peninsula, the man's own words. Anna and Garrick were forced by

sheer persistence to accept their invitation to stay with them.

Peter and Jane Hugo were a delightful pair. Very much in love, rich

enough, popular and in demand with Capetown society.

With them Anna and Garrick spent an enchanted six weeks.

They went racing at Milnerton.

They swam at Muizenberg in the warm Indian Ocean.

They picnicked at Clifton and ate crayfish, fresh caught and grilled

over open coals. They rode to hounds with the Cape Hunt and caught two

jackals after a wild day's riding over the Hottentots Holland. They

dined at the Fort and Anna danced with the Governor.

They went shopping in the bazaars that were filled with treasures and

curiosities from India and the orient, Whatever Anna wanted she was

given. Garry bought himself something as well, a silver flask,

beautifully worked and set with comelians. It fitted into the inside

pocket of his coat without showing a bulge. With its help Garrick was

able to keep pace with the rest of the company.

Then the time came for them to leave. The last night there were only

the four of them for dinner and it was sad with the regret of present

parting, but happy with the memory of shared laughter.

Jane Hugo cried a little when she kissed Anna goodnight. Garry and

Peter lingered on downstairs until the bottle was finished and then they

walked upstairs together and shook hands outside Garry's bedroom. Peter

spoke gruffly. Sorry to see you two go. We've got used to having you

round. I'll wake you early and we can go out for a last early morning

ride before the boat leaves.

Garry changed quietly in the bathroom and went through to the bedroom.

His peg made no sound on the heavily carpeted floor. He crossed to his

own bed and sat down to unstrap his peg.

Garry, Anna whispered. Hullo, I thought you were asleep. There was a

stirring and Anna's hand came out from under the bedclothes, held

towards him in invitation. I was waiting to say goodnight to you.

Garry crossed to her bed, suddenly awkward again. Sit down for a

minute, said Anna and he perched on the edge of her bed. Garry, you

don't know how much I've enjoyed these last weeks. They've been the

happiest days of my whole life. Thank you so much, my husband. She

reached up and touched his cheek. She looked small and warm curled up

in the bed. Kiss me goodnight, Garry. He leaned forward to touch her

forehead with his lips but she moved quickly and took it full on her

mouth. You can come in, if you like, she whispered, her mouth still

against his. She opened the bedclothes with one hand.

So Garry came to her when the bed was warm, and the wine still sang a

little in her head and she was ready in the peculiar passion of early

pregnancy. it should have been so wonderfully good.

Impatient now, ready to lead him, she reached down to touch and then

stilled into surprised disbelief. Where there should have been

hardness, male and arrogant, there was slackness and uncertainty.

Ann, started to laugh. Not even the shotgun blast had hurt as deeply as

that laugh. Get out, she said through the cruel laughter. Go to your

own bed. Anna and Garrick had been married two full months when they

came back to Theunis Kraal. Garrick's arm was out of plaster, Peter

Hugo's doctor had fixed that for him.

They took the road that by-passed the village and crossed the Baboon

Stroorn bridge. At the top of the rise Garry pulled the horses to a

halt and they looked out across the farm. I can't understand why Ma

moved into town, said Garrick. She didn't have to do that. There's

plenty of room for everybody at Theunis Kraal. Ann, sat silently and

contentedly beside him. She had been relieved when Ada had written to

them at Port Natal after they had telegraphed her the news of their

marriage.

Young as she was Anna was woman enough to recognize the fact that Ada

had never liked her. Oh, she was sweet enough when they met, but Anna

found those big dark eyes of hers disconcerting. They looked too deep

and she knew they found the things she was trying to hide. We'll have

to go and see her as soon as we can. She must come back to the farm,

after all Theunis Kraal is her home too, Garrick went on. Annn moved

slightly in her seat, let her stay in the house in Lady-burg, let her

rot there, but her voice was mild as she answered, Theunis Kraal belongs

to you now, Garry, and I'm your wife. Perhaps your stepmother knows

what's best. Anna touched his arm and smiled at him, Anyway we'll talk

about it some other time. Let's get home now, it's been a long drive

and I'm very tired. Immediately concerned, Garrick turned to her. I'm

terribly sorry, my dear. How thoughtless of me. He touched the horses

with the whip and they went down the slope towards the homestead.

The lawns of Theunis Kraal were green and there were cannas in bloom,

red and pink and yellow.