Some of us who were
looking on through filmy curtains thought it a beautiful manifestation
of loving loyalty. They were at a military post of another nation, in
the midst of being introduced to its officers, yet not one failed to
remember and to remind, that he was an Englishman ever!
Mrs. Gordon saved me the worry of preparing an elaborate dinner at
this far-away place, by inviting us and our guest to dine with her and
her guests. I am inclined to think that this may have been a shrewd
move on the part of the dear friend, so she could have Hang to assist
her own cook at her dinner. It was a fine arrangement, at all events,
and pleased me most of all. I made the salad and arranged the table
for her. Judging from what I saw and heard, Hang was having a glorious
time. He had evidently frightened the old colored cook into complete
idiocy, and was ordering her about in a way that only a Chinaman
knows.
The dinner was long, but delicious and enjoyable in every way. Lord
Bagot, the Rev. Dr. MacGregor, Captain Chater, and others of the
governor general's staff were there - sixteen of us in all. Captain
Percival sat at my right, of course, and the amount he ate was simply
appalling! And the appetites of Lord Bagot and the others were equally
fine. Course after course disappeared from their plates - not a scrap
left on them - until one wondered how it was managed. Soon after dinner
everyone went to Colonel Knight's quarters, where Lord Lome was
holding a little reception. He is a charming man, very simple in his
manner, and one could hardly believe that he is the son-in-law of a
great queen and heir to a splendid dukedom.
He had announced that he would start at ten o'clock the next morning,
so I ordered breakfast at nine. A mounted escort from the post was to
go with him to Dillon in command of Faye. It has always seemed so
absurd and really unkind for Americans to put aside our own ways and
customs when entertaining foreigners, and bore them with wretched
representations of things of their own country, thereby preventing
them from seeing life as it is here. So I decided to give our English
captain an out and out American breakfast - not long, or elaborate, but
dainty and nicely served. And I invited Miss Mills to meet him, to
give it a little life.
Well, nine o'clock came, so did Miss Mills, so did half after nine
come, and then, finally ten o'clock, but Captain Percival did not
come! I was becoming very cross - for half an hour before I had sent
Hang up to call him, knowing that he and Faye also, were obliged to be
ready to start at ten o'clock.
