e you were here."

"So?"

He bent down and examined it intently. It represented a girl of about
nineteen or twenty. The idea of awkwardness conveyed by the other
portraits was no longer there, but in looks he failed to detect any
improvement Aletta De la Rey was plain, assuredly plain, he decided.

"_Oh, goeije_! here come a lot of people," exclaimed Condaas. "The
`Patriot,' I suppose."

A rumbling sound was audible, drawing nearer and nearer. Both made for
the window. A cavalcade of Boers was approaching the house, and in the
midst, as though escorted by it, moved the white tent of a Cape cart.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE CONVERSION OF STEPHANUS DE LA REY.

A striking contrast no less than a striking personality was offered by
the two leading figures in this group as Stephanus De la Rey advanced to
welcome his noted visitor. Both were fine types of their nationality
and class--the one calm-faced, reposeful, with the air of a thoroughly
contented and prosperous man; the other bright-eyed, restless, alert,
with the nervous rapidity of movement of one existing in a state of
chronic tension. The greeting between the two was cordial enough, and
there was much handshaking, as the others, to the number of a round
dozen, dropped in by twos and threes.

"Why, who is this?" exclaimed the delegate, a shade of distrust coming
into his face as he shook hands with Colvin Kershaw--for among Boers the
ceremony of introduction is but seldom performed. "An Englishman, I
believe?"

"That is so, Mynheer Botma. And one who is very proud to make the
acquaintance of so famous and gifted a man as yourself," replied Colvin,
who spoke the _taal_ very fairly well.

The delegate shot a keen glance at the speaker, then he became quite
cordial. He hated the English, but it suddenly occurred to him that
this particular Englishman had a look of one who might be turned to some
account. Accordingly he engaged him in conversation, during which
Colvin adroitly contrived to insinuate that his sympathies were all with
the Transvaal cause, and that for the person of Oom Paul in particular
he entertained feelings of the profoundest admiration.

"That is good," said Jan Grobbelaar, showing his tusks approvingly. "We
were having much talk about this only last evening, brother," Turning to
the delegate: "Colvin is a neighbour of mine. He is not like other
English."

Whether the object of this comment was gratified thereby or not, he made