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"DEAR LADY SARAH,
"I am so distressed about you. You must have been having an
awful time of it, and I can't help feeling very much to blame;
but I had hoped to save you the unpleasantness of the siege.
"However, I trust now that your troubles are nearly over at
last, and that General Snyman will pass you in here.
"We are all very well, and really rather enjoying it all.
"I wrote last night asking for you to be exchanged for Mrs.
Delpoort, but had no answer, so have written again to-day, and
sincerely hope it will be all right.
"Hope you are well, in spite of your troubles.
"Yours sincerely,
"R. BADEN-POWELL."
I then learnt from another letter that Mrs. Delpoort, who had originally
expressed the wish to leave Mafeking, where she was residing with many
other friends in the women's laager, had changed her mind, or her
relatives did not encourage her to leave the shelter of the town; for
the Staff had experienced some difficulty in persuading her to agree to
the exchange, even if General Snyman allowed the same. I asked if an
answer had been returned to the Colonel's letter, and Mr. Brink replied
in the negative. Very indignant, I said that I did not mean to be kept
in my present wretched quarters indefinitely, and that, if no exchange
could be effected, I would request a pass to return to Setlagoli, and
risk the scarcity of food.
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