The Henson Journals

[5]

Monday, March 26th, 1917.

966th day

My first business was to return to the City Templars the cheque for £15.15.0, which was handed to me enclosed in a letter last night. I did this politely, but peremptorily. Then I went to the Athenaeum. On my way I fell in with Sir Henry Craik, who assured me pleasantly that I had "given much pain to my friends" by my proceedings yesterday! I went on my way reflecting that I cd hardly pinch my liberty to the measure of a Scottish Tory's prejudices. I went to the barber, & (though the wind was mortally keen) I had my locks shorn. Then I joined Ella, and we went together to lunch with Sir John & Lady Struthers. Fleming & his wife were there. Our conversation turned on that most versatile of men,John Buchan. F. said that he was one of his elders, and that he retires at frequent intervals into "rest–cures", which, however, he uses for the composition of his romances. After lunch, we returned to Dean's Yard, "took up our carriages", and took our departure for Eastbourne, where we arrived soon after 5 p.m., & proceeded at once to the Park Gates Hotel, where we were to be the guests of Sir Peile & Lady Thompson. This is a new hotel, built by our own host a year ago, and furnished by the tasteful skill of the long lad, his son Miles, who is now a 2nd Lieut: somewhere in Essex. The furniture reflects credit on Miles, who deserves a larger sphere in his artistic efforts.

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