第32部分(第3/7 頁)

g　bright　sunny　weather；　just　the　right　sort　for　camping　out。

After　talking　of　our　losses　from　the　horse…sickness；　she　adds：

The　mill　is　now　finished　and　ready　to　start。　They　made　the　first　trial　of　it　the　other　day；　with　rather　disastrous　results　to　poor　George　Blomefield。　He　went　up　a　ladder　and　meddled　with　one　of　the　safety…valves　（the　mill　not　going　quite　right）；　whereupon　a　tremendous　noise　was　heard　and　a　rush　of　steam　and　water　came　out。　All　the　lookers…on　fled　for　their　lives　thinking　something　fearful　had　happened；　and　Mr。　B。　in　his　hurry　slipped　his　foot　and　came　down　with　a　crash　upon　his　head；　happily　however　without　hurting　himself　at　all。　I　am　sure　one　of　them　will　get　blown　up　in　the　end；　and　am　only　glad　Rider’s　talents　do　not　lie　in　the　machinery　line。　。　。　。　I　think　myself　that　if　we　can　get　a　good　price　for　the　farm　and　mill　it　will　be　wisest　to　leave　this　country　and　try　some　more　peaceful　colony；　and　I　find　that　a　good　many　of　the　Transvaal　landowners　are　already　on　the　move。

I　still　possess　the　agreement；　dated　April　6；　1881；　under　which　I　let　Hilldrop　“for　a　residence　for　H。E。　Sir　Hercules　Robinson　and　staff　and　for　the　use　and　service　of　the　Royal　mission　about　to　assemble　under　H。E。‘s　presidency”　for　a　period　of　two　weeks　certain　with　an　“option　of　renewal　for　a　further　period　to　plete　the　term　of　one　month；”　reserving　only　our　own　bedroom　for　my　wife’s　use。　No　doubt　as　thrifty　people　the　offer　of　50　pounds　a　week　rent　tempted　us；　also　the　domestic　event　which　has　been　alluded　to　was　not　expected　to　occur　until　later。　In　this；　however；　we　were　mistaken；　as　the　next　letter　shows。

If　I　remember　rightly　the　mission　occupied　the　house　for　about　five　weeks；　during　which　time　we　all　got　on　very　well　together；　and　of　course　I