The Henson Journals

[658]

Easter Eve, April 22nd, 1916.

628th day

The sun shone brightly through oppugnant clouds when I went to the Cathedral at 8 a.m. I received the Holy Communion; May was the celebrant, that vast, vacant man, whose career is an insoluble problem.

I worked at the Windsor Sermon but made little progress. Cummings re–appeared, so lamentably deaf that I could not converse with him. Here emerges another problem to be solved. What is my duty towards complete, though innocent, incompetence? So deaf a man could never be trusted to drive a motor–car: yet to cast him adrift with wife & 4 children has an ill aspect. After lunch, I walked with Linetta.

Gilbert Darwin & a friend named Taylor came to tea, & afterwards viewed the House, Library, and Cathedral. On our way towards the Shrine of S. Cuthbert (i.e. its site) I picked up two young men, of whom one was in khaki. He looked a mere boy, but he had been at the front for many months, going through tremendous experiences. Hugh Lyon arrived to spend Easter Day here, but he has a bad cold, & went to bed early. I completed the reading of 'King Lear' to my family.

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