The Henson Journals

[43]

Wednesday, May 29th, 1918.

1395th day

I prepared a speech in defence of Deans, & in due course fired it off in the Committee, where it was well received. Indeed, all through the day I was on good terms with the Committee, & got more of my way than I might have expected. I lunched with Ernest, and called on Lady Londonderry. I found her at home, & the Rogersons with her. I dined with Ker at the United Universities Club in Suffolk Street. We were alone, & talked with more than ordinary intimacy of friendship. What a good fellow he is, so vastly learned & withal so modest, one of the very best men the world contains. We walked as far as the Palace, & back, & there parted. My letters today include a loving epistle from George, who sails for America next Monday: another rhapsodical letter from Ernest, whose marriage to the Greek beauty has been postponed: a letter from J. G. Wilson in which he laments my absence from the Chapter–meetings, & one from Cruickshank, saying that they were beginning to groan under the Archidiaconal régime. The rest were appeals for preaching which I shall have to refuse.

I called on Linetta who was out. Incidentally I discovered that she lives in 15 Palace Street, not Bridge St. as I absurdly supposed. So my affectionate note of yesterday will go astray! The news from the front continues to be grave. The Germans are still advancing, & have now gained about 15 miles. This is rather all ill beginning to Foch's supreme command. The experiment of mingling British with French troops appears to be rather a dangerous one.

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