Esigodini Nga Kia Mal-Mai

23rd June 1938 Dear Reggie, I cannot say when I shall be down your home, but I hope it will be between the 16th July and the 24th July. I have to go to Lourenco Marques on the 8th July and be back on the 11th, and then irc CO prepare to go down for a fortnight. My brother cannot manage the trip as he has to be here all july, in view of the Inspector's departure to Cape town. I am not sure whether I'll make the trip by Car or Train. - smuch as it is possible I would like to take the trip by Car, so that I could came back just when I like and also visit as many places as is possible during this short holiday. Every thing however depends on my Principals granting me the desired leave of absence. You know I am all alone and until I have found an assistant it will be impossible for me to budge. I am trying to harness my cousin and I hope he will be game, but he is also engaged in his other work and may not be able to spare the time. Tell me when you intend going out to Zululand, so that I may make my time coincide with your plans. I am not going to bother about your cheeky remarks to me as your letter. You have to learn a lot of manners and polite language. Fancy telling me not to pay for your stockings and stop making any arrangements for you ! What do you mean ? Are you asking for another divorce within a divorce ? Well, you have to count your words when you write to me. I'm sure this is not your monthly date, and you must be in your sober senses now. Why therefore this impudence ? Are you trying to teach me so early what kind of a mother you will be ? Thank you for your cheeks - my cheeks are quite smooth and need no surpluses of cheeks from you. When I asked you to tell me all you need, I meant it advance to enable you to provi require for our comfort, and I am afraid by the time I come back I will be as poor as a church mouse.

You did not expect me to transport you home only to neglect you and get rid of you ? Just as it was my responsibility to help sou to hide your shame, it is my bounden duty to see after your welfare until I am certain you are out of danger and have regained some sort of independence. But you do not see this, your conceited-little self ! If I have enough time, I will bring down with me all the little requirements I wish you to have, and charge you dearly for the trouble - Do you hear ?

I am very sorry I mentioned that episode of Mrs Gubevu and yourself, for I can see that it has only made you to hate me more. I thought I could confide in you and tell you my secrets, but I feel that the more you know the more you get hurt. So you will hear nothing serious or gossip-like from me - No, no more. I was going to tell you a little joke about Bella & me, but have decided not to hurt you

I have just spoken to Basner and he has asked me to come and see him again. He is just from Basutoland, and has had no time to look into the office and arrange his business. As soon as I hear from him I'll let you know. Yes, a clever lawyer should be able to make your

sband pay, but I'm afraid the poor boy has no means of paying for his liabilities, as he is already entangled in many other cases. A Lawyer 1s always keen to know what assets a man has before he takes the attack . why I am not keen on the Basner's is just that they leave everything to Samuel Radebe, and from this man you cannot have implicit trust to disclose any of your secrets. I would have interefered long ago, but one has to be tactful and diplomatic so that when the news spread out they may be less harmful to the act you are trying to pursue. That is why it is important to have a White Lawyer, who will handle the matter himself and get it out of gossip as much as is possible. I like Basner as a Lawyer, but dare not go to his office to take this

advance to enable you to prou require for our comfort, and I am afraid by the time I come back I will be as poor as a church mouse.

case away from him, for fear of unnecessary gossip from his native clerk. You must write to Basher and inform him that you are much perturbed about your case, and you feel the matter is not handled confidentially enough. You would like him to handle the case himself and communicate with me about the plans he w111 adopt to effect divorce. He will then write to me and I will disclose to him views and fears about the whole business. Failing this, you can do youfold plan of handing the case to the Native Affairs Dept, out

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Is it possible that a day will come when you will finish with my love and then choose another man ? Is that the meaning of your letter to me ? God forbid, that such a day should come, for I will be the sorriest man, and will lose all faith in your ser. I take it yout wrote under a strain of anger or fear, you were not normal, when you said you do not change men about as a flirt, but you finish with one first and then go to the other, in rotation, until you find perhaps your Mr. Right. If that is your life, then I am certain it will be as easy to change from me to the other, as it has been in the past. But God Forbid - I do not want to dwell on this aspect too much, as I'm sure to go crazy.