290 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



notion into her head nothing short of " blood and 

 thunder" could have caused her to change her mind. 

 Being so good-looking and lively, Gonga had many 

 sweethearts, but she seems to have acted in a very in- 

 dependent and gipsy-fashion towards them. The more 

 wise of the men drew back in time, and well for them 

 that they did so, for Gonga would have been a thorn 

 in the flesh of any man. One fellow, who must have 

 been fifteen years her junior, was her devoted slave for 

 a decade or more. She usually spoke of him with a 

 contemptuous pity ; but when news of his death came, 

 though she strove to appear indifferent, Gonga felt it. 

 His constancy had touched a tender chord ; and long 

 afterwards she admitted that " though Tammy was a 

 fiile, he was to be depended till ; and that could no' 

 be said o' them that thoucht themselves his betters." 



She was not made for domestic life, although 

 passionately devoted to us, and unwearied in her 

 watching over the infancy of more than one of our 

 father's children. 



Notwithstanding her roving and unsettled tastes, 

 she had the feline instinct of clinging to locality, and 

 loved the old hut at Colvidale, although affection for 

 us held her bound to Halligarth. 



She could never be brought to obey rules, or adapt 

 herself to the ways of civilized life ; and she was for 

 ever rebelling against our mother's jurisdiction. 



The hot wild nature could not brook restraint, and 

 when a " flare-up " came, Gonga would rush away to 

 Colvidale, and remain away for weeks and months, 



