“The Witch’s Head” were sold in a cheap edition； besides others at a higher price； which； as these works were written about twenty…eight years ago； is not a total to be despised。
To return： had it not been for a curious chance my literary efforts would have ended with the publication of “The Witch’s Head；” and probably by now my labours at the Bar in this or some other land would almost have obliterated them from my memory。 But； as it happened； I read in one of the weekly papers a notice of Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” so laudatory that I procured and studied that work； and was impelled by its perusal to try to write a book for boys。
Outside of this matter of my attempts at fiction I have little to add as to our life at Ditchingham before we migrated to London when I began to practise at the Bar。 We lived very quietly； for we were not well off； and an estate which used to produce sufficient to support a country place of the smaller sort and those who dwelt on it； began to show greatly lessened returns。 The bad years were upon us； and rents fell rapidly； moreover the repairs required were legion。 Also； from one cause； and another； little or nothing came out of the African property； which shared in the depression that followed on the giving back of the Transvaal。
Under these circumstances； outside members of my own family our visitors were few； and in the main we had to rely on ourselves and our little children for pany。 I should add that in 1884 another daughter was born to us； who is now Mrs。 Cheyne。 She was named Dorothy； after the heroine of “The Witch’s Head；” or in full； Sybil Dorothy Rider。 My recollection of this period is that it was rather lonely； at any rate for me； since my friends were African； and Africa was far away。 However； I worked very hard； as indeed I have done without intermission since I was a rather idle boy at school； both at writing and the study of the Law。 Between the intervals of work I took walks with a dear old bulldog I had； named Caesar； who appears in “Dawn；” and a tall Kaffir stick made of the black and white umzimbeet wood； which I still have； that reminded me of Africa。 At times； too； I got a day’s shooting on our own land or elsewhere。
However； I had so many resources in my own mind； and so much more to do than I could possibly pass； that all these matters troubled me not at all。 I was determined to make a success in the world in one way or another； and that of a sort which would cause my name to be remembered for long after I had departed therefrom； and my difficulty was to discover in which way this could best be done — in short； to search out the line of least resistance。 So I possessed my soul in patience and worked and worked and worked。 Often I wonder what estimate those who lived about me； and whom I met from time to time； formed of the studious young man who was understood to have been somewhere in Africa。 I imagine that it was not plimentary； for if I understood them they did not understand me。
Some pleasures I had； however。 My journeys to London to eat my dinners at Lincoln’s Inn were a change。 So were the examinations； though these I faced with fear and trembling； having read up for them entirely by myself； which I imagine few people do。 Occasionally some of my old African friends came to see me when they were on visits to England。 Thus Sir Theophilus Shepstone came； and with what delight did I wele him！ Here is an extract from a letter of his； in which he alludes to his proposed visit； dated from London on May 26； 1883：
I have only just received your note of the 23rd。 I see that you sent it to the Colonial Office； but I have not yet been there； for I don’t think they care much for me； except perhaps a few personal friends； and with the same exception the feeling is mutual as far as I am concerned。 I think I shall make my number there about noon on Monday for the purpose of seeing those I care for； but for nothing else。 I shall be very glad indeed to have a look at you again。 How is your good wife？ I hope well and strong。
Another letter from Sir Theophilus in this year has some allusions of more general interest； so I ost of it：
1 Charles Street； London： August 21； 1883。
My dear Rider； — Your warm…hearted and to me most touching farewell letter reached me last night on my return from a few days’ rushing about the country to say some good…byes。
I am sure I need not say； although it is pleasant to me to say it； that all the affectionate feeling which I know you entertain for me fills a warm place in my heart for you and for your dear wife。 May God bless and prosper you both！ Of course no one can tell what may happen in the future； or whether this is a permanent or only a temporary parting。 At the dinner which was given me by the Empire Club Sir Robert Herbert spoke of me and of my services in the most remarkable language； and said plainly that I was still a young man so far as capacity for work went； and that he hoped soon to see me discharging some high function； etc。 for the good of the country； and so on。 It appeared as if he spoke from some intention of which he had knowledge； but my friend W。 Sergeaunt； who sat next to me； said that if such a speech had been made by anyone else it would have meant a good deal； as it was it meant nothing； perhaps so。 Of course every day I have in England adds to my consciousness of the influence that I could exert if I tried； but what is the use of it with such an abject Government as now rules and will for years to e； I fear； rule England？
I am glad that my speech did not wholly disgust you； I had no idea that the dinner was to be what it was； still less did I expect that reporters would be there； so I congratulated myself when I sat down。 I shall look forward to the publication of your book with a great deal of interest； the trouble is that the real merits of a book are not the measure by which it is meted； as crushed strawberry is preferred to the beautiful natural colour of the fruit because it happens to be the fashion of the season； so with books： even they must pander to the taste of the hour whether it be good or bad； or they will not be read and therefore not bought。 I hope； however； that the taste will be good when your book es out； because； if it is； I have no doubt of its success 。 。 。 。
Always affectionately yours；
T。 Shepstone。
Towards the end of this letter Sir Theophilus says he is sailing in a few days for South Africa。 I do not think that he ever saw the shores of England again。 It is needless to add that Sir William Sergeaunt was right in his estimate of the value of Sir Robert Herbert’s speech。 No further permanent employment was ever offered to him。 Indeed； it was after this date that the persecution of him began； of which I have already written。
In 1883 Osborn wrote me a letter concerning some imantophyllum12 plants that he had collected for me in Zululand； which at this moment； twenty…eight years afterwards； are blooming in the greenhouse； in the course of which letter he makes some rather interesting remarks。
12 One of these plants was still blooming in Sir Rider’s bedroom in 1925。 — Ed。
Zulu Reserve； via Stanger； Natal：
August 2； 1883。
。 。 。 The place I am living at now is about a h