"There is no peace!" she said. "Do you think I believe these lying cables? The Boers will _never_ yield. If you knew what I know, you would take these reports for what they are worth. I have been trying to think what it all can mean, and this is the conclusion I have come to. If it be true that peace has been proclaimed, then the Boers have preserved their independence, and this last fact has been excluded from the cables in view of the approaching Coronation. But my own conviction is that there is no peace at all, but that these cables have been sent to reassure the English public, and to make it possible to celebrate the crowning of the King in a splendour unclouded by the horrors of the South African war. Believe me, when the Coronation is over you will hear of a mysterious renewal of hostilities." The man was silent, troubled. He had not the heart to argue with the girl, perhaps he thought, and rightly thought, that this strange illusion of the brain, this confident belief in her own convictions, would help to tide her over the first days to follow. "I cannot understand," he said, "how Mrs. ---- could have asked you to shake hands with her." "Oh, I was wrong," Hansie said. "She meant it kindly. How could _she_ understand? I will apologise--to-morrow." * * * * * It had been arranged that Hansie should spend a few days in London to see some friends before proceeding to Holland. She found the mighty metropolis in the throes of preparation for an event of unparalleled magnificence. Every sign of splendour and rejoicing was a fresh sword through the heart of our sorely tried young patriot. The people with whom she stayed, old Pretoria friends, had not an inkling of what was passing in her mind. Their warm and loving greetings, their loud expressions of delight that the war had come to an end at last, were so many pangs added to her grief. "You will come with us to the Coronation?" her hostess said; "we have splendid reserved seats, and this event will be unparalleled in the history of England." Again the unfortunate girl found herself recoiling, taken by surprise; again she said: "Oh, I _could not_! Not to save my life!" "Not go to see the Coronation! I am surprised at you. Very few South African girls are lucky enough to benefit by such an opportunity. I must say I think it very narrow-minded of you. You disappoint me. The war is over now, and while we are all trying to promote a feeling of good-fellowship you nourish such an unworthy and narrow-minded spirit." Narrow-minded, unworthy! The iron entered deep into her soul; and when she looks back now and takes a brief survey of what she suffered throughout those years, that moment stands out as one into which all the fears, the hopes, the agonies of one short lifetime had been crowded. Sometimes the human heart, when tried beyond endurance, will reach a point where but a trifling incident, an unkind word, is needed to break down life's stronghold.