1 Dear Laddie
2
3 I’ve been feeling very weak & unfit since Saturday, & am leaving
4tonight for Matjesfontein. I’m sorry to see thee looking so tired. I
5wish you could have a good long rest soon.
6
7 Dear Laddie I know you won’t mention me to any one unless I am spoken
8of: but, in case ?anyone ?offers old unreadable a any one were to
9mention my name & & Rhodes in your presence or to you, you might say
10that I have not spoken to him for 10 months, & that we are not in any
11way friends beyond that I admire his genius. He came up very cordially
12to speak to me at Government House that night, but I did not answer
13him, & walked away with Sir John Williams. I could of course never
14have anything to do with him again after it had been said I wished to
15make him marry my ^me^. One’s self-respect demands that; & all beauty is
16gone from our relation for me. It is strange how a certain class of
17natures can never understand that the strongest & deepest feeling
18which one human being can have for another may not lead them to a wish
19to take their freedom from them in marriage or to share their property.
20
21 I’m so tired I can’t write more now dear old Laddie. I send you a
22little story I wrote as a wedding present for Ellis. I have to revise
23it still. I’ve not read it over. Do you think it would be worth
24printing.
25
26 Your little sis
27 Olive
28
29 ^My land lady & Mrs Innes & all my friends have been so kind to me the
30last days since I’ve been ill, but I feel I shall pull together better
31at Matjesfontein than I could here in spite of the cold there. I want
32to finish my books.^
33