human
I've had a letter from Renshaw,
gpt
A letter! cried Violet, suddenly interested.
human
Why, it isn't post-day! How did you get it?
gpt
Theunis Bezuidenhout brought it out from Fort Lamport. He says the drought up there is something fearful--
human
Who? Theunis Bezuidenhout?
gpt
went on his wife, clean ignoring this flippant remark.
human
There isn't a blade of grass left on the place, and hardly a drop of water. All the sheep and goats have died except about five hundred.
gpt
Poor chap! said Selwood.
human
What an unlucky dog he is! He'd better have cleared out of that dried-up Bushmanland place long ago, even if he had to give it away for a song. Well, he'll have to now, anyhow. Write and ask him to come down here when he does, Hilda. He might hit on something about here to suit him.
gpt
Oh yes, mamma--do!
human
But that isn't all, continued Mrs Selwood.
gpt
The poor fellow has been ill--fearfully ill--believes he would have died, but for a stranger who turned up quite unexpectedly, but just in the nick of time, and nursed him through it. It was a return of his old fever.
human
By Jove! said Christopher,
gpt
He doesn't say--only that he's a man from England. I'll write this very evening,