nths shooting, visit our old friends, then move up to London, where
my wife and the others would stay while I went to Egypt. There I hoped to
see as much as the time at my disposal would allow of Kitchener's
campaign along the Nile.

All went well, and I left Clova for London, on my way to Egypt. I arrived
at Morley's Hotel on a Saturday. Next afternoon I received an urgent
telegram to return at once, as my wife had been taken suddenly very ill.
I took the first train. The telegrams I received on the journey north
were very disquieting. The news on arriving at Aberdeen made me lose all
hope of seeing her alive again. Providence was, however, kind. The crisis
passed, and the doctors assured me she would recover in time. My plans,
of course, had to be altered. I gave up my intended visit to Egypt. My
wife's recovery was very slow. We had to make our journey south in
stages.

One of our stopping-places was Newcastle-on-Tyne. An amusing incident
happened there. Both my wife and myself had met in Australia that
charming and graceful actress, Grace Palotta. On our arrival at the hotel
on a cold, dark, winter's afternoon, I left my wife in a sitting-room and
went off to attend to the rest of the family. On my return she said, "Who
do you think came in just now? Grace Palotta. She is looking as pretty as
ever. She quite astonished me by telling me she is staying here with her
friend, the prince. Do try and find out who he is. It is quite exciting."
I thought surely there was some mistake, and told her so. "No," she said,
"that is just what she said. Do go to the theatre to-night, find out and
let me know all about it." So, after an early dinner, I went off to the
theatre. As I arrived there, I noticed the big posters announcing the
name of the play. The name of the play was _My Friend the Prince_. After
the performance Grace had some supper with us and a real hearty laugh
when we told her, and, in her pretty foreign way, said: "Oh, I am afraid,
Mrs. Gordon, you thought I was a very naughty girl." We met Palotta
afterwards in Australia, where she had often told this little story to
her friends, much to their amusement.

On arrival in London I took a house close to South Kensington Station. As
time passed it became evident I would have to return to Australia alone.
My wife's health still caused me grave anxiety. My leave being up, I was
obliged to depart and leave the family to follow me. I took my passage by
the P. & O. ss. _H