Her age--she was in the sixties--gave an almost maternal character to the tenderness with which she viewed him.

He had made her his confidante, telling her all that he meant to do for the welfare of the land which she loved so dearly.
She thought he looked upon South Africa with the same feelings of admiration as she did.
The strength of her belief led Mrs.van Koopman to interest all her friends in the career of the young Englishman, who appealed to her imagination as the embodiment of all that was great and good.

Her enthusiasm endowed him with many qualities that he did not possess, and magnified those which he really had.

When he consulted her as to his future plans she entered closely into their details, discussed with him their chances of success, advised him and used all her influence, which was great, in winning him friends and adherents.

She trusted him fully, and, on his part, whenever he returned to Cape Town after one of his yearly visits to Kimberley, or after a few months spent in the solitudes of Rhodesia, his first visit was always to the old and gentle lady, who welcomed him with open arms, words of affection, and sincere as well as devoted sympathy.