s no longer speechless。 Indeed the offenders fled before her。
Of course these Zulus gave everybody a native name。 My wife they called by a word which meant “a pretty white bead with a pink eye；” while Gibbs was designated by a descriptive title； anglice “a worn…out old cow who would have no more calves。” I cannot recollect whether anyone； even Stephen； dared to give to her an unBowdlerised rendering of this not too plimentary appellation。 Certainly I avoided doing so。 Poor Gibbs！ Her trials in that strange land were many。 Still we brought her safe home to England； where she remained in our service for a year or two； then left and vanished away as modern domestics do。 I wonder whether she still lives； and if so； where she is spending her old age！
Before we left Hilldrop we had a great sale of our imported furniture； of which the catalogue survives to this day。 It was a highly successful sale； since such articles were then rare at Newcastle。 Thus I think a grand piano； which I had bought second…hand for 40 pounds in England； fetched 200 pounds； and the other things went at proportionately good prices。 Only the “pany” got hold of all the stock of wine which was exposed upon the verandah and therein drank our healths； whereon the watchful auctioneers knocked it down to the drinkers at a high price per dozen。
So at last we bade farewell to Hilldrop； which neither of us ever has； nor I suppose ever will； see again except in dreams。 I remember feeling quite sad as we drove down the dusty track to Newcastle； and the familiar house； surrounded by its orange trees； grew dim and vanished from our sight。
There my son had been born； there I had undergone many emotions of a kind that help to make a man； there I had suffered the highest sort of shame； shame