2110-1-11-4

High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg.

Sept: 20: 1902

My dear old Nan

Many thanks for your last letter and for the white heather. I am distressed to hear of the condition of my rooms, & have written to Harold Baker, asking if he does not wish to give the rooms up, in which case I shall make

arrangements to have my books and pictures stored. I hope William gets successfully through his fiery trial. When do the nuptials of my Aunt take place. I hope my present was in time. So far the cigarette-case has not dawned on my horizon.

I had long letters from Richard

Brown [a cousin] & Dougie Malcolm this week. The Malcolms are in Glen Bare, which is next door to Ronald Macdonald. The Gathorne-Hardys have taken the place on the other side. I had also a belated letter from C. Dick, very ministerial and affected.

The old Presbyterians have gone. They came to lunch with me last Sunday, and I took them over afterwards to

see Sir Arthur Lawley. Old Dr Scott solemnly gave me his blessing before he departed. There was a little man, Duncan Maclaren wit them, whom the others did not seem to get on well with, the reason being that he had bought a terrible wife along with him & was always babbling about missions - a subject that failed to interest the others.

The Lawleys are adding a

curious domestic element to Johannesburg, as they walk about in the afternoon hand in hand with a string of little children.

I had people called the Sandersons to dinner last night. Mrs Sanderson is a very nice person who sings Scots songs and comes from Galloway. Hugh Wyndham &