She was
very stout and ungainly. She moved with elephantine clumsiness,
but her desire to please was so evident that Sylvia could not
regard her as wholly without charm. Her dog-like amiability
outweighed her hideousness. She found it somewhat difficult to
understand Mary Ann's speech, for it was more like the chattering
of a monkey than human articulation, and being very weary she did
not encourage her to talk.
There was so much to think about, and for a while her tired brain
revolved around Guy and all that his departure meant to her. She
tried to take a practical view of the situation, to grapple with
the difficulties that confronted her. Was there the smallest
chance of his return? And even if he returned, what could it mean
to her? Would it help her in any way? It was impossible to evade
the answer to that question. He had failed her finally. She was
stranded in a strange land and only her own efforts could avail her
now.
She wondered if Burke would urge her to return to her father's
house. If so, he would not succeed. She would face any hardship
sooner than that. She was not afraid of work. She would make a
living for herself somehow if she worked in the fields with Kaffir
women. She would be independent or die in the attempt. After all,
she reflected forlornly, it would not matter very much to anyone if
she did die.
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