ind to the three room-mates of her husband in many ways.

XIII

My diary continues through May:

FIRST WEEK.--Petitions in favour of the Reformers are being signed all
over the country. All feeling against the Reform Committee has veered
round, and the strongest sympathy is now felt for them. Only the
extreme of the Boer and Hollander factions chant the old story of
their trying to subvert the Government--conniving with Jameson, and
then deserting him, &c., &c.

Landdrost Schutte and Captain Shields quarrel over who shall have
charge of the jail. Apparently it is an appointment of honour, or
large emolument.

Gregorowski is publicly hooted on his return to Bloemfontein. I hear
that as soon as Gregorowski had pronounced the death sentence, Judge
Morice dashed from the Court-room and ran hatless through the streets
of Pretoria to withdraw Gregorowski's name, which had been put up at
the Club, at his request. This is a sample of the feeling among
honourable men. Judge Morice is a Burgher and a prominent Judge of the
Transvaal Court. The Jury of Burghers called for the final trial,
which was never empanelled, were greatly surprised and affected by the
fearful sentence--some of them wept like children. And they were the
first to draw up a petition for commutation.

Prisoners are still wearing their own clothes, although it is said
that enough jumpers of prison sacking are waiting to breech the lot.
They suffer severely from cold and dampness, the prison accommodations
offering little or no protection from the weather. Many of them are
ill. There is talk of separating the Reformers and sending them to
jail in various districts--Barberton, Rustenburg, and Lydenburg. This
threat causes much apprehension, for their one solace is being
together.

Rumour of English troops gathering on the Border.

President Kruger and the High Commissioner exchanging opinion over the
uneasiness. Kruger calls out, 'I see Bugaboos in your front yard,' and
Sir Hercules responds, 'Oh no; that's our tame cat.'

Petitions come in from the country districts of the Transvaal. From
Durban and Pietermaritzburg, with over a thousand signatures, from
Lorenco Marques, a second from Durban, and one from the Orange Free
State, expressing sympathy and the hopes of President Steyn.

Natal sends a petition signed by 4,000 Burghers.

The sentences are commuted, but nobody knows to what.

General Joubert is sent off with a ten days' leave of ab