The Henson Journals

[359]

Saturday, May 28th, 1921.

I read Cicero's De Officiis before getting up. It also is full of good things, but all on a lower plane than that of the divine Plato.

I arrived at King's Cross at least 45 minutes before the train started, but I could obtain a seat only with difficulty, and it was an undesirable one! However I had Lord Robert Cecil for my companion, and I found him a pleasant conversationalist. He is certainly a man who thinks for himself, and is willing to admit the necessity of large departures from precedent. I asked him whether Keynes's book was trustworthy, and he replied in the affirmative. He agreed with me that, if we have a representative to the Vatican, he ought to be a Protestant diplomatist of a thoroughly representative type. We talked of possible political eventualities, and agreed that Lord Grey was the one possible alternative to the present Prime Minister. At Darlington Ella and Fearne had come to meet me with the car. We were back in the Castle about 4 p.m. Rain fell heavily all the way. In view of the inconveniency of the trains, I determined to abandon my visit to Manchester, and to send the M.S. of my sermon. After dinner Clayton and I went through the letters. There was little of interest or importance. The evening was distinguished by two beautiful rainbows ̶ an omen of consolation.

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