The Henson Journals

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Wednesday, October 29th, 1913.

I travelled from Durham to Cardiff, changing trains at Gloucester, where also was a wait of half an hour, which I utilized in getting a cup of tea from a very uncivil maiden in the "First Class Refreshment" room. Just before the train left for Cardiff, a pleasant–faced young railway porter thrust his head into the carriage window, & thus addressed me: "Beg pardon, Sir, but haven't I heard you preach in Westminster Abbey?" I replied that he might have enjoyed that privilege any time during recent years. He said that his father had been one of the vergers at the Abbey, & died in 1900 – the year when I was appointed to a Canonry.

Henderson met me on the platform at Cardiff. There was a pleasant little domestic dinner party. Eileen, Alan's sister, has grown into a young woman: indeed she is now nearly 26 years old, and it is 9 years since I saw her. James, Arthur Shadwell's brother in law, & a friend of W. P. Ker, was of the party; & a pleasant looking parson, named, I think, Davies.

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