24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.—(11 Nov.) On Friday [9th], after dinner at Cassel’s, she and Margot shared a taxi driven by a Miss Ryder, who had been at the Slade School with Phyllis. At home she found Edward, Bluey, and Phyllis. Edward and Phyllis spent the night together. Phyllis has now left. Today she lunched with friends, including Bluey, who is leaving for Canada next week on ‘air board business’. Has begun painting the silk for Montagu’s bed. Is dining with Cardie and William, who needs another operation.—(12 Nov.) Nash came to lunch, and she dined at Wimborne House. Ivor is having great success with Diana. Has been put in charge of a ward at the hospital.—(13 Nov.) Norah and Nancy Lindsay made an irritating visit in the afternoon.—[14 Nov.] She dined at home last night. Her guests included Cowans, who seemed more than usually hostile to Lloyd George, whose speech [in Paris] is endlessly discussed. She lunched with Willie Tyrrell and Bluey, who also discussed the speech. Has been unable to see Hankey or Eric since Montagu left. Is going tonight to a farewell party for Edward.—[Later.] Rosemary has denied there is much chance of her becoming the future Queen. ‘Oc is home, slightly gassed, & may be going to get both a brigade and a V.C!’—(15 Nov.) She dined with Ava, where she sat next to Josh Wedgwood, who gave her some earnest advice about Bampfylde Fuller’s letter in The Times. Afterwards she played bridge and went to a wedding-party at the Fairbairns’, which she left with the Baroness d’Erlanger, whom she likes. ‘J’aime toujours les maitresses de mes amants.’ She denies, however, that Hugo is her lover, even though Diana and the Baroness suspect it.—(16 Nov.) She dined at Osbert’s new house, and thought him and Sachie ‘a truly strange pair’.—(17 Nov.) She set off to see the Jimmy Rothschilds at Witney, but Dolly met her at the station to tell her that Neil had been fatally wounded, so went to Munstead instead for lunch. On her return home she found Montagu’s Cairo letter [B1/145]. Lloyd George is in a mess over his Air Ministry, but Northcliffe’s letter will do Northcliffe more harm than Lloyd George. Denies that she is unhappy. Last night she dined with the Roy and various guests.—(18 Nov.) Asks about the carpets at Cairo.—(19 Nov.) She lunched with friends at the Savoy, and she and Diana reminisced about lunches there with Neil. She dined with the Baroness, who is having a row with Hugo about some infidelity of his. Has received a letter from Scatters, who has been in action. In the afternoon she went to a ‘ghastly’ party given by Sen in honour of his father [Keshub Chunder Sen], and this evening some friends called briefly on the way to a ball.—(20 Nov.) Wedgwood, who came to lunch, says that yesterday’s debate was a triumph for Lloyd George, and that Asquith’s position of ‘hands off the soldiers’ is unpopular with the Liberals. Has just visited William Rawle, who is convalescing after his operation.
Port Said. - Thanks his aunt for her 'kind' letter, which he received at Naples. The sea was rough in the Bay [of Biscay] and off Portugal, but he took remedies against seasickness and did not suffer too much. The weather was fine for the passage through the Straits of Gilbraltar, which are 'magnificent'; then more bad weather on the way to Naples, but it has been 'beautiful' since a thunderstorm at the Straits of Messina. They will reach Port Said at around 4 this afternoon. His 'cabin-companion' [Hugh] Lawrence, 'turned out to be a very pleasant fellow', and is an electrical engineer going to take charge of the works at Khartoum, who comes from Accrington which must be near his aunt. Got some China tea at Birkenhead, but has not yet used it, though the ship's tea is 'horrid'. Very kind of Jan Hubrecht to visit the ship again before it started. Bessie's letter is 'cheerful', and she and Julian seem well. Hopes his aunt did not tire herself on Saturday; it was very kind of her to come to the ship to see him off, and made it 'much pleasanter' for him and Bessie. Is reading "Studies of Indian Life and Sentiment" by Bampfylde Fuller, which is 'most interesting'. Will send a postcard from Bombay. Much looking forward to seeing Port Said, the 'first Oriental town' he has visited. Glad Jan Hubrecht could come to the Park [his aunt's house] and that she liked him. There is 'a nice elderly Dutchman on board who knows some of Bessie's relations'.