Simon's Bay is too far to go and
come in a day, as one cannot go out before ten or eleven, and must
be in by five or half-past.
Those hours are gloriously bright and
hot, but morning and night are cold.
I am so happy in the thought of sailing now so very soon and seeing
you all again, that I can settle to nothing for five minutes. I
now feel how anxious and uneasy I have been, and how I shall
rejoice to get home. I shall leave a letter for A-, to go in
April, and tell him and you what ship I am in. I shall choose the
SLOWEST, so as not to reach England and face the Channel before
June, if possible. So don't be alarmed if I do not arrive till
late in June. Till then good-bye, and God bless you, dearest
mother - Auf frohes Wiedersehn.
LETTER XII
Capetown, Sunday, March 23d.
It has been a REAL hot day, and threatened an earthquake and a
thunderstorm; but nothing has come of it beyond sheet lightning to-
night, which is splendid over the bay, and looks as if repeated in
a grand bush-fire on the hills opposite. The sunset was glorious.
That rarest of insects, the praying mantis, has just dropped upon
my paper. I am thankful that, not being an entomologist, I am
dispensed from the sacred duty of impaling the lovely green
creature who sits there, looking quite wise and human.
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