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14 February 1912 — Cairo | |
Wednesday. 14th [February 1912]. I drove to the station with Sir F. Milner at 10 to 12 to see the departure of the Princesses. Lord K. arrived with his secy Lord Colum & Capt. Fitz: We had not long to wait & the Princesses arrived very punctually– The special train was to leave at 12.30. As soon as HRH came up the steps Lord K. received her—& she spoke to Sir Fred who presented me. She said a few words to me, I think to thank me for a message of sympathy I had sent her by Sir Fred—but her voice was so broken & low I could not catch a word. She walked on at once to the platform which was laid with red carpet. On the way Sir Fred presented me to the little Princesses & we exchanged a few meaningless words– It was a sad little procession—the three little ladies in black—the Agency party & Sir Henry & Lady Knollys no one else. The station was empty. Before getting into the train HRH stopped & said a word to her dragoman who kissed her hand– Sir Fred got in after the girls to bid them good bye as he is a great friend of them all– He says that HRH broke down as soon as she found herself in the train. She must begin to realize it all as the time goes on– Lord K. was bidding me goodbye when he was called into the Princesses carriage the door was shut & the train was off. I drove back to the Agency with Sir Fred & Lord Colum & the house seemed empty with out its master. After lunch with Lord C. & Sir Wm Garstin Eda & I drove to the Anglo American hospital at Ghesireh– A very nice young matron showed us over. It is a large place well built & kept up– We took a drive afterwards round the race course & to the Savoy Hotel where we were bidden by tea by Capt. & Mrs Parker (nephew of Lord K.). Met there the Greek Archbishop of Sinai a portly ecclesiastic who spoke French perfectly and was agreeable. Capt. Parker had long held an official position in Sinai. Lord Colum & Sir Wm Garstin were at dinner & in the eveng the latter gave me a lesson in playing bridge—a game almost unknown to me. The Milners left for Luxor at 7 p.m. | |
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