Jess

Chapter 25

MEANWHILE

John, it will be remembered, left Mooifontein for Pretoria towards the

end of December, and with him went all the life and light of the place.

"Dear me, Bessie," said old Silas Croft on the evening after he had

started, "the house seems very dull without John"--a remark in which

Bessie, who was weeping secretly in the corner, heartily concurred.

Then, a few days afterwards, came the news of the investment of

Pretoria, but no news of John. They ascertained that he had passed

Standerton in safety, but beyond that nothing could be heard of him. Day

after day passed, but without tidings, and at last, one evening, Bessie

broke into a passion of hysterical tears.

"What did you send him for?" she asked of her uncle. "It was

ridiculous--I knew that it was ridiculous. He could