1.I_was_always_a_little_in_awe_of_Greataunt_Stephina._Indeed,_as_children_we_were_all_frankly_terrified_of_her._The_fact_that_she_did_not_live_with_the_family,_preferring_her_tiny_cottage_and_solitude_to_the_comfortable_but_rather_noisy_household_where_we_were_brought_up—added_to_the_respectful_fear_in_which_she_was_held.
2.We_used_to_take_it_in_turn_to_carry_small_delicacies_which_my_mother_had_made_down_from_the_big_house_to_the_little_cottage_where_Aunt_Stephina_and_an_old_colored_maid_spent_their_days._Old_aunt_Sanna_would_open_the_door_to_the_rather_frightened_little_messenger_and_would_usher_him_or_her_into_the_dark_living_room,_where_the_shutters_were_always_closed_to_keep_out_the_heat_and_the_flies._There_we_would_wait,_in_trembling_but_not_altogether_unpleasant.
3.She_was_a_tiny_little_woman_to_inspire_so_much_veneration._She_was_always_dressed_in_black,_and_her_dark_clothes_melted_into_the_shadows_of_the_living_room_and_made_her_look_smaller_than_ever._But_you_felt._The_moment_she_entered._That_something_vital_and_strong_and_somehow_indestructible_had_come_in_with_her,_although_she_moved_slowly,_and_her_voice_was_sweet_and_soft.
4.She_never_embraced_us._She_would_greet_us_and_take_out_hot_little_hands_in_her_own_beautiful_cool_one,_with_blue_veins_standing_out_on_the_back_of_it,_as_though_the_white_skin_were_almost_too_delicate_to_contain_them.
5.Aunt_Sanna_would_bring_in_dishes_of_sweet,_sweet,_sticky_candy,_or_a_great_bowl_of_grapes_or_peaches,_and_Greataunt_Stephina_would_converse_gravely_about_happenings_on_the_farm,_and,_more_rarely,_of_the_outer_world.
6.When_we_had_finished_our_sweetmeats_or_fruit_she_would_accompany_us_to_the_step,_bidding_us_thank_our_mother_for_her_gift_and_sending_quaint,_oldfashioned_messages_to_her_and_the_Father._Then_she_would_turn_and_enter_the_house,_closing_the_door_behind,_so_that_it_became_once_more_a_place_of_mystery.
7.As_I_grew_older_I_found,_rather_to_my_surprise,_that_I_had_become_genuinely_fond_of_my_aloof_old_greataunt._But_to_this_day_I_do_not_know_what_strange_impulse_made_me_take_George_to_see_her_and_to_tell_her,_before_I_had_confided_in_another_living_soul,_of_our_engagement._To_my_astonishment,_she_was_delighted.
8.“An_Englishman,”_she_exclaimed._“But_that_is_splendid,_splendid._And_you,”_she_turned_to_George,_“you_are_******_your_home_in_this_country?_You_do_not_intend_to_return_to_England_just_yet?”
9.She_seemed_relieved_when_she_heard_that_George_had_bought_a_farm_near_our_own_farm_and_intended_to_settle_in_South_Africa._She_became_quite_animated,_and_chattered_away_to_him.
10.After_that_I_would_often_slip_away_to_the_little_cottage_by_the_mealie_lands._Once_she_was_somewhat_disappointed_on_hearing_that_we_had_decided_to_wait_for_two_years_before_getting_married,_but_when_she_learned_that_my_father_and_mother_were_both_pleased_with_the_match_she_seemed_reassured.
11.Still,_she_often_appeared_anxious_about_my_love_affair,_and_would_ask_questions_that_seemed_to_me_strange,_almost_as_though_she_feared_that_something_would_happen_to_destroy_my_romance._But_I_was_quite_unprepared_for_her_outburst_when_I_mentioned_that_George_thought_of_paying_a_lightning_visit_to_England_before_we_were_married._“He_must_not_do_it,”_she_cried._“Ina,_you_must_not_let_him_go._Promise_me_you_will_prevent_him.”_she_was_trembling_all_over._I_did_what_I_could_to_console_her,_but_she_looked_so_tired_and_pale_that_I_persuaded_her_to_go_to_her_room_and_rest,_promising_to_return_the_next_day._
12.When_I_arrived_I_found_her_sitting_on_the_step._She_looked_lonely_and_pathetic,_and_for_the_first_time_I_wondered_why_no_man_had_ever_taken_her_and_looked_after_her_and_loved_her._Mother_had_told_me_that_Greataunt_Stephan_had_been_lovely_as_a_young_girl,_and_although_no_trace_of_that_beauty_remained,_except_perhaps_in_her_brown_eyes,_yet_she_looked_so_small_and_appealing_that_any_man,_one_felt,_would_have_wanted_to_protect_her.
13.She_paused,_as_though_she_did_not_quite_know_how_to_begin.
14.Then_she_seemed_to_give_herself,_mentally,_a_little_shake._“You_must_have_wondered”,_she_said,_“Why_I_was_so_upset_at_the_thought_of_young_George’s_going_to_England_without_you._I_am_an_old_woman,_and_perhaps_I_have_the_silly_fancies_of_the_old,_but_I_should_like_to_tell_you_my_own_love_story,_and_then_you_can_decide_whether_it_is_wise_for_your_man_to_leave_you_before_you_are_married.”