ng down on to her breast, surprised the warders. They regarded
me with stricken faces. One at last rallied. With his eyes still
fastened upon me, he called,

'Mister H-a-m-mond, Mister H-a-m-mond, your missis is here!' and my
husband came rapidly across the yard.

I went home to my bed. Dr. Murray came in charge.

'Poor little woman! There is nothing to prescribe but oblivion in a
case like this.' He ordered narcotics. Two weeks later I was told that
I had been dangerously ill. In that darkened room I had suspected my
jeopardy. Surely there is a special place in heaven for mothers who
die unwillingly.

From distant parts of the world kind letters came to me--and from
Johannesburg messages, sweet, with full-hearted sympathy--many of
these from people whom I had never seen, nor ever shall in this life.
I found friends in the days of my trouble, as precious as rare jewels,
whom I shall wear on my heart until it stops its beating.

The Government most generously allowed my husband to come to my
bedside. He was accompanied by the chief jailer, Du Plessis. He wore
some violets in his buttonhole, I remember, which the jailer's child
had given him. Mr. Du Plessis asked to see me. He had news to tell me
which would cheer me up, he said. Brought to my bedside, all he could
say, and he said it over and over again in his embarrassment, was:

'Don't be unhappy; your husband won't be many years in prison.'

This did not bring the cheer intended. Playing the part of guest was
irksome to Du Plessis. He went home to Pretoria the second
day--leaving Mr. Hammond, who was not on parole, or even under bail,
entirely free. No point in my husband's career has ever given me so
entire a sense of gratification as the confidence in his honour thus
manifested by the Boer Government. In my convalescence he returned to
Pretoria and gave himself up at the prison.

'You might have waited another day,' said the warder in charge; 'we
don't need you yet.'

XIV

One day the 'Star' (in a third edition) announced the great decision
was at last concluded. The sixty-three Reformers were to be divided
into four groups and sentenced in lots. Ten were to be liberated
because of ill-health. Some were to be imprisoned twelve months,
others five, and still others three months. The four leaders were
sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment, which, if carried out, was
equivalent to death. However, this sentence was provisional, and it
was underst