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18 February 1912 — Cairo | |
Sunday. 18th [February 1912]. It was a very wet morning & no one went to church except Eda– There was a very large luncheon party abt 20 in all—Lady Albemarle & her daughter & Lord Bury who sat next me at table, Cora, Lady Strafford, the American Consul Jay & a charming young wife, Sir Daniel & Lady Mackinnon (Canada) an American Genl who had lost one arm at the battle of Gettysburg & wore a decoration, a Mr (& Mrs) Foster who had been U.S. Minister in Madrid & knew the Riaños very well & others– We lunched in the big room at 2 round tables—Lord K. was very amusing on the subject afterward he declared all the people were wrongly placed at table & he knew none of them– These parties are trying to him. I went to the Zoos afterwards with Capt. Fitz, Major Mac, & Sir William Garstin. We had hardly got there when it came on to rain hard again & we had to remain in the shelter of the gate way till it cleared. We met there Capt. Flower & his 2nd Mr Nichols– We purchased an ostrich egg which Capt. Flower said would be good for an omelette & I could afterwards keep the shell. The said omelette wh was served at dinner this evening was particularly nasty! We had not got very far into the gardens when the rains began again & turned to hail. It was very cold & muddy under foot—& we had to take shelter & lost the time we had to see the animals—as we had to hurry home to tea at 5. The young Prince of Boroda a boy of 8 came to tea with another boy companion & an elder cousin accompanied by an English Officer. The Indians wore turbans & the boys looked charming in theirs. The little Prince wore diamond earrings & was very solemn. Princess Nazli also came to tea & was very talkative & amusing– She kept on lighting cigarette after cigarette & throwing them away after 3 or 4 whiffs. Lord Kitchener remained a long time listening to her & apparently much amused—but he afterwards said that he knew her stories of old– It is not easy to follow her conversation as she sketches in talk & unless you know your subject well you get bewildered. She left us abt 7 o’cl. In the evening we had letters & papers from Europe & then Lord K. gave me the size of a copy of the Dives & Lazarus for wh he wants me to get him a frame in Italy & we fell to talking on his purchases at Venice till bed time & the evening passed pleasantly. | |
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