illed the air, reaching their
height on April 12th, when the news of the Boer leaders' arrival at
the capital spread like wild-fire through the town.

Steyn, Botha, de Wet, de la Rey, Reitz, and a host of others were
amongst "their own" again, under circumstances of unique importance.
They were not allowed to mix freely with the crowd, but kept in a
state of highly honoured captivity in the beautiful double-storied
house known as "Parkzicht," opposite Burghers Park, well guarded night
and day by armed patrols, who kept the crowd at bay with a friendly
"Move on, please," when they touched the limit of their beat.

Mrs. van Warmelo and her two daughters, like so many other
citizenesses, lost no opportunity of walking in the neighbourhood of
"Parkzicht," and they were fortunate beyond their wildest hopes in
being greeted by the Generals on more than one occasion.

One day as they were passing they observed the familiar figure of
General Botha on the balcony.

They waved their handkerchiefs and there was no doubt about his
recognition, for he took off his hat and waved it, kissing both his
hands to them.

(General Botha it was who, after the war, said to Mrs. van Warmelo,
clasping her hand and looking earnestly into her eyes:

"You have done and risked what even I would not have dared.")

After six or seven days in Pretoria the Boer leaders left for their
commandos, to deliberate, with what result Hansie did not know until
nearly two months later in mid-ocean, where at a distant isle the news
of the declaration of peace was made known to her.

The three women at Harmony now turned their thoughts into another
channel.

The mother being far from well herself, arrangements had to be made to
leave her in the companionship of some suitable and congenial woman,
until her "boys" came home--one from the front, if he were still
alive, the other from captivity. A girl friend offered to take
Hansie's place at Harmony and promised not to leave Mrs. van Warmelo
until the country was in a settled state again.

This was Hansie's only crumb of consolation during those last days at
home.

Many difficulties were made about her permits when she applied for
leave to go to Holland, and many were the questions asked, her
interview with General Maxwell being the least unsatisfactory when she
told him of her approaching marriage.

"You may go with pleasure," he had said; but a few days afterwards
Hansie received a letter from the P