But those who thus condemned Sir Alfred did not understand the peculiar features of the situation.

He was credited with inspiring all the harsh measures which were employed on occasion by others, measures which he had stridently disapproved.

Rhodes, in his place, would have killed somebody or destroyed something; Sir Alfred went slowly on with his work, disdained praise as well as blame, and looked toward the future.

I leave it to the reader to decide which of the two showed himself the better patriot.
The refugees did not take kindly to the High Commissioner.

They had been full of illusions concerning the help they fondly imagined he would be glad to offer them, and when they discovered that, far from taking them to his bosom, he discouraged their intention of remaining in Cape Town until the end of the war, they grumbled and lied with freedom.