If the letter had been posted in London as she intended, and not at Basingstoke, I might have sought in vain for her from then till Doomsday.
Ten days later, I was afloat on the Channel, bound for South Africa.
I always admired Hilda's astonishing insight into character and motive; but I never admired it quite so profoundly as on the glorious day when we arrived at Cape Town.

I was standing on deck, looking out for the first time in my life on that tremendous view--the steep and massive bulk of Table Mountain,--a mere lump of rock, dropped loose from the sky, with the long white town spread gleaming at its base, and the silver-tree plantations that cling to its lower slopes and merge by degrees into gardens and vineyards--when a messenger from the shore came up to me tentatively.
"Dr.Cumberledge ?" he said, in an inquiring tone.
I nodded.

"That is my name." "I have a letter for you, sir." I took it, in great surprise.

Who on earth in Cape Town could have known I was coming?
I had not a friend to my knowledge in the colony.
I glanced at the envelope.

My wonder deepened.