The Henson Journals

[45]

Saturday, November 17th, 1917.

1202th day

I wrote to George, & received from him a cheerful letter, posted from Durban. He really expresses himself in a very manly intelligent way, & seems to be enjoying his life. Then I added a few final corrections to the Article, & walked to the Post Office, where I registered & despatched it. Then I presided at a meeting of the Chapter, where I submitted the plan of Lady Londonderry's Cross, & obtained approval of it, & of the inscription to be placed on the staff. Hadow went off about noon to spend the week–end at Lumley. Mr Mayhew, the Vicar of Redcar, came to lunch. He was formerly one of Lang's curates, & has a curious facial resemblance to him. He is also a member of the Committee of the 'Life & Liberty' movement. He said in the course of our conversation that in his opinion "The Loom of Youth" was a faithful portrait of public school life. I attended Evensong, & afterwards walked for an hour with Meade Falkner, who was pleased to volunteer expressions of regret at the prospect of my going to Hereford!! I told him there was no occasion for him to be distressed on that score, for the talk about my departure was all so much penny–a–living gossip! There came to dinner the High Sheriff, Wilson, & Mrs Quirk with her daughter in law. After dinner divers came in to join the party viz. Cruickshank & his wife, Culley & his wife, Knowling & Fearne, & Mrs Lillingston. Miss Liddell & Hughes were staying in the house. We had some singing, in which the younger Mrs Quirk showed great proficiency. Thus we spent the evening pleasantly enough, were it not for the fearful spectre of the War which looks in mockingly at every juncture, when the shadow of death seems for a moment to be lifted!

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