The Henson Journals

[9]

Saturday, April 27th, 1918.

1363rd day

Still the glorious weather continues. The morning post brought me a letter from Ella enclosing two telegrams. One from Alice gave the welcome information that our "missing" Gilbert is a prisoner in Germany. The other, from Ernest, was sufficiently alarming. It ran thus:–

"Will you marry me Salonica June first Await letter following."

There must be a displacement of the words. "Salonika" should come after "await". But, even so, how can I answer such a question? The telegram was sent from Salonika on the 23rd : it comes into my hands on the 27th. He can hardly be waiting there still.

Lady L. motored me to the station, where we parted. I went to Edinburgh without incident, and arrived at 16 Moray Place abot 5 p.m. Sir James & Lady Ewing received me with much kindness. He was one of the recipients of degrees in Durham in May 1913, when the Duke of Northumberland was inaugurated as Chancellor. After tea I walked the length of Prince's Street. The sauntering crowd was mostly in petticoats or in uniforms! Miss Nelson came to dinner, a prim spinster rather deaf & a friend of Raleigh. Macrae, one of the clergy of the U.F. S. George's Church, came in to ascertain what I wished about tomorrow's service. After he had taken his departure, I talked with mine host for an hour before going to bed. He appears to be an eminent authority on mechanics, & as such to be actively employed by the Admiralty. I found his conversation informing & full of interest.

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