- The weather continues beautifully clear and bright,
like the finest European spring. It seems so strange for the
floral season to be the winter. But as the wind blows the air is
quite cold to-day; nevertheless, I feel much better the last two
days. The brewing of the rain made the air very oppressive and
heavy for three weeks, but now it is as light as possible.
I must say good-bye, as the mail closes to-morrow morning. Easter
in autumn is preposterous, only the autumn looks like spring. The
consumptive young girl whom I packed off to the Cape, and her
sister, are about to be married - of course. Annie has had a touch
of Algoa Bay fever, a mild kind of ague, but no sign of chest
disease, or even delicacy. My 'hurrying her off', which some
people thought so cruel, has saved her. Whoever comes SOON ENOUGH
recovers, but for people far gone it is too bracing.
LETTER XIV
Capetown, Saturday, May 3d.
Dearest mother,
After five weeks of waiting and worry, I have, at last, sent my
goods on board the ship Camperdown, now discharging her cargo, and
about to take a small party of passengers from the Cape. I offered
to take a cabin in a Swedish ship, bound for Falmouth; but the
captain could not decide whether he would take a passenger; and
while he hesitated the old Camperdown came in.
