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HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, JOHANNESBURG.
May: 17: 1903
My dear old Nan
You will be home now again and I hope you have had a very pleasant holiday. I got your letter this week from Tours. You are a lucky person to have gone so far in life without sea sickness. I had no letter from Glasgow this week. I hope nothing is wrong. This day last year I saw my venerable parents & said farewell
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at that beastly little Port Elizabeth house.
Lord M. informed me last week that Walrond and I must take charge of the place between us while he goes home. Walrond went home a fortnight ago and is not expected back before the end of August, so I am afraid I shall not get away till the last week of August, which would land me home about the end
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of the second week of September. I am particularly anxious for you to take Altarstone, as I have already told you, as I want to come back to the country & not to Glasgow. I propose taking William & the Bird for a walking or fishing tour at the beginning of October. But I shall not be able to go far afield, as I may have to go to London at any moment, and I shall have
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to be with Lord M. sometime during the time in London. With any luck Lord M. should be able to get away in July from here. I anticipate a beastly time till he goes, as I have to do most of the work of the staff now. Last night I sat up till goodness knows when at despatches. Then in June I shall have to go down to Bloemfontein and the new Council. After he goes I hope John Edgar will
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come up and stay for a little time with me. Hugh I expect will go in July. He spends his whole time now taking places in Scotland by cable, & changes his mind at least once a week. My amazing knowledge of Scots topography comes in useful.
Those old rascals, the Dutch Reformed Church, give me a great deal of trouble just now. They lie just like the Scots ministers in
