The Leopard Woman by Stewart Edward White
page 46 of 295 (15%)
page 46 of 295 (15%)
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"My friend, at the close of the hard day I must have my comfort. There can be no fever here, for there are no people here. When in the fever country I have my 'rig'"--subtly she shaded the word--"just the same. But I have a net--a big net--like a tent beneath which I sit. Does that satisfy you?" She spoke with the obvious painstaking patience that one uses to instruct a child, but with a veiled irony meant for an older intelligence. Kingozi laughed. "I do appear to catechize you, don't I? But I am interested. It is difficult to realize that a woman alone can understand this kind of travel." He had thrown off his guarded abstraction, and smiled across at her as frankly as a boy. The gravity of his face broke into wrinkles of laughter; his steady eyes twinkled; his smile showed strong white teeth. In spite of his bushy beard he looked a boy. The woman stared at him, her cigarette suspended. "You have instructed me about my camp; you have instructed me about my men; you have instructed me about my marching; you have even instructed me about my clothes." She tallied the counts on her slender fingers. "Now I must instruct you." "Guilty, I am afraid," he smiled; "but ready to take punishment." "Very well." With a sinuous movement she turned on her elbow to face him. "Listen! It is this: you should not wear that beard." |
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