The Henson Journals

[90]

Tuesday, July 16th, 1918.

A fine morning after the rain, but with heavy clouds in the sky, portending a renewal of showers. I wrote to Ernest. After breakfast I started in the motor for Staunton on the Wye, but scarcely a mile beyond the City, there was a loud report, which brought us sharply to a standstill. William went back to Hereford to fetch out another motor, while I kept watch over the damaged car, & read the book on Leominster, which Mr Nield lent me. (The name is properly Leofric's minster, not Leonis monasteruim as the medieval legend affirms.) William arrived with the relief car, & carried us out to the Jarvis meeting in time to preside over the meeting of the Trustees. Both Sir John Cotteril, and Sir Geoffrey Cornwall were present. The latter has rather a severe aspect : he is practically the owner of Bredwardine. (William told me that his father was dead : that his mother kept lodgings : that he had a younger brother & sister : that they were all Baptists. Why is it that, whenever I am impressed by a young man as rather more than usually trustworthy & intelligent, he almost always turns out to be a Dissenter of one sort or another?)

After lunch I went back to the Palace & wrote letters. Ella and I walked together as far as S. Martin's. I wrote to my Godson Alfred, & to Dicey. The news from the battle–field is on the whole re–assuring. Especially the Americans have acquitted themselves well; & the Germans have nowhere had any very conspicuous success.

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