292 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



faithfully and tenderly nursed one of our sisters during 

 her last days, and had also been with one of the little 

 ones when it died. 



"When Gouga "differed" with our father she did 

 not take such an extreme measure as forsaking the 

 place. She merely dropped keshie and spade, and 

 hid herself in some corner till we coaxed her to forget 

 the trouble for our sakes. 



She was never disrespectful or disobedient to him 

 in his presence. If she objected to carrying out his 

 orders, she always waited till he had taken himself 

 off; and if he chanced to find her — even when her 

 sulky fit was at its height — he had but to speak, and 

 Gonga submissively obeyed. 



When the power of his presence was removed she 

 relapsed into sulks, and when assured that his eye 

 was off her she vanished ! 



If her quarrel was with the other servants she 

 "would simply abstain from sharing their meals and 

 room. 



I have known her sleep out of doors under shelter 

 of a hay rick rather than occupy her place beside a 

 fellow-servant who had offended her; and she would 

 take her meals for weeks in some neighbouring cottage 

 rather than associate with " Yon trooker Beina " or 

 " da vild carkeege o' Glawthin." She was hard 

 working and healthy, and made an excellent servant 

 notwithstanding her objections to methodical ways. 

 Eoutine was so irksome to her that she always contrived 

 to find excuse for a change of employment. 



