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hem since in this connection； and how we came to have them I do not quite know。 I can see them now in their gay dress and velvet caps touching up the grey steeds with their short whips。 We made quite a sensation on our thirteen…mile journey to and through Norwich； but oh！ were we not glad when it was all over。
In a letter recently found at Bradenham； headed Ditchingham House； Bungay； December 21； 1879； and addressed to my brother William； who was then attached to the British Embassy at Teheran； I find the following estimate of my future wife’s character； and expression of my feelings towards her。
Next； my dear Will — je vais me marier — to such a brick of a girl； Louie Margitson。 They are certain to have told you all about her in their letters from home； so I will only say that I love her sincerely； as I think she does me； and that； unless something untoward occurs to dash the cup from my lips； I think we have as good a prospect of happiness as most people。 She is good and sensible and true…hearted； and every day I see her I love and respect her more。 She is a woman who can be a man’s friend as well as his lover； and whom I would trust as I would very few。 She is willing to e to Africa； so we propose returning there shortly； i。e。 as soon as we can get satisfactorily married。 There is property concerned； and trustees； who； as I dare say you know； are gentry difficult to deal with。 They want us to postpone the marriage till she es of age next October； but we don’t see the force of it in any way。 I want to get married next April — whether I shall manage or not is another matter 。 。 。 。
Good…bye； old fellow。 God bless you。
Your loving brother；
H。 Rider Haggard。
In fact； as I have said； we did not succeed in marrying until August 11； 1880。
The circumstance of my marriage gave me pause as to my plan of leading a farmer’s life in South Africa； and as my father and family were very anxious that I should re…enter the Colonial Service； I made some attempt to do so。 It is； however； one thing to give up a billet and quite another to get it back again。 Had Sir Theophilus Shepstone or even Sir Owen Lanyon still been in power in the Transvaal； doubtless there would have been little difficulty。 But a new Pharaoh had arisen in the shape of Sir Gar Wolseley who knew not Joseph； and probably wished to keep any available patronage in his own hands。 At any rate； on the matter being referred to him； he replied “that arrangements are in contemplation which prevent your reinstatement in the office of Master of the High Court in the Transvaal。”
Those “arrangements” were indeed a blessing in disguise； since； had I been reinstated； we should have had the pleasure； as I have shown； of going through the siege of Pretoria； and on the Retrocession I should have been dismissed from my office without pensation； as I believe happened to the gentleman who succeeded me。 It was one of the peculiar cruelties of that act that Englishmen who had taken service under the British Government in the Transvaal were treated thus； since； of course； even if the opportunity had been given； they could scarcely transfer their allegiance from the Queen to a Boer Republic。 But； after all； they suffered no worse things than scores of British subjects whose farms were looted； and who in practice were left to send in their bill to their new Dutch masters — with results that may be imagined。
When I went home in 1879 Mr。 （or； as he afterwards became； Sir Melmoth） Obsorn entrusted me with the guardianship of his son Jack； a boy of about sixteen； whom he asked me to send to whatever school I might select in England。 So it es about that he wrote me a good many letters； a few of which survive and contain items of interest as to public affairs in Africa at this period。
Poor Jack Osborn after a course of education in England returned to South Africa and was appointed to some office in Zululand。 There； a few years later； he died of abscess of the liver。
In a letter dated Pretoria； October 10； 1879； Osborn says：
I have your letter 23rd August in which you give account of your stewardship regarding Jack。 Accept my sincere thanks for all you have done and the care you took of the boy； who I fear must have been a great bother to you。 Your father’s kind note to me I need not tell you how greatly I appreciate； and I will write to him by this mail。 Jack wrote me several letters since his arrival in England。 He is loud about all the kindness shown him by you and your people； your father especially； whom he seems to swear by。 。 。 。 Sir Gar Wolseley is here。 He would not take up his abode in Government House； but had a house hired for his occupation； and is now in Koch’s new residence near Melville’s； together with his staff。 I have a very hard time of it just now； having to serve two masters who； between us； do not seem to pull together very well。 Sir Gar seems to disapprove entirely of Sir Bartle Frere’s policy with Kaffirs and Boers 。 。 。 。
With regard to your returning to the Colonial Service your father is quite right； and I think you should return。 The business between you and Cochrane could be easily arranged； although I dare say to you there seems a difficulty about it。 If you start again fairly in any other colony but this you are sure to succeed； and I strongly advise you to do so — it would simply be following a pursuit for which you are eminently suited and abandoning one for which you are not。 I think I told you that I did the same thing some years ago： resigned my appointment in the Service and invested in a sugar estate； but soon found that trying to do that which I did not understand involved nothing but loss； and by advice of a friend I re…entered the Service； tho’ in a low grade。 Well； by steady perseverance and without one…half the advantages you have； here I am today。 Perhaps you will say it is not much after all； but if you had to encounter all the uphill work that fell to my lot of which you have no conception； and when you are a little older； you will be able to appreciate matters as I do。
I have but little news to send you this time。 Two regiments are expected here in a few days I believe； so that we will have a lot of troops at hand to cope with the Amabull ＇a slang name for the Boers。 — H。 R。 H。＇ or any other obstreperous bulls who might trouble us。 Last evening I heard from Middelburg that the Boers there are very violent and the Landdrost Scoble was anticipating serious results。 All these things happening so continually worry me a good deal； and I am heartily sick of it all 。 。 。 。
Ever your affectionate friend；
M。 Osborn。
The next letter is headed Zululand； April 14； 1880。
My post runner brought me your very wele letter of 3 February yesterday。 I was very glad to get it and to hear that all was well with you。 Before proceeding to business matters I must offer you my sincere and hearty congratulations on the prospect of happiness before you。 Depend upon it you are doing the right thing。 A man is nothing in this life who has no wife to love or be loved by； and I feel certain that you have not erred in your selection and that the young lady will prove not only worthy of your affection but a great stay and support through life。
I write this from the heart of Zululand； where I hold the office of British Resident。 My duties are chiefly to supervise the action of the thirteen chiefs to whom the country has been given； their government and the way they fulfil the treaty obligations。 I am entirely on my own responsibility and have to do just as appears right to me。 And a proper responsibility I find it。 Indeed it is no joke。 I am not hard worked； but my brain is continually on the stretch to prevent the wily Zulu getting the better of me。 Any mistake might cause endless plications。 My pay is 1300 pounds； and a suitable Residency is to be built at once for me by the Government。 I correspond only with the High missioner direct。 I had not forgotten you when the appointment was made； but there was nothing at all beyond an ordinary clerkship which I could offer you； and this was certainly not in your line。 There is however a good prospect of something worth having turning up in six months from this； and then you will hear from me again。 Between us I have to