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| | A few new clothes in London for me; some things from Paris for the Lady; and we shall indeed be ready to take tea with the King and Queen.<br><br> | | A few new clothes in London for me; some things from Paris for the Lady; and we shall indeed be ready to take tea with the King and Queen.<br><br> |
| | ''Saturday, 13 October 1928; At sea''<br><br> | | ''Saturday, 13 October 1928; At sea''<br><br> |
| − | The Ball was tremendous fun! The Reception was, well, a Reception. We met a lot of folks whom I shall never remember later, and a few whom I most certainly will. There's a Knight, a Baron, and two or three The Honorables on board, whom we saw. We even spoke briefly to Captain Sir Donald Shaftsbury (retired) during the course of the evening. It was not very memorable. <br><br>
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| − | Anyhow, it went on everso long, and we danced ourselves silly on a tide of music and bubbles. I suspect that the breakfast seating was empty this morning; certainly ''we'' didn't go! Julian is still asleep, I only got up to write this before bathing.<br><br>
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| − | I wonder what the Circles look like on shipboard? There are a few animals on board - most likely more than I am aware of - but nothing like the normal distribution. Pets: dogs, cats, a monkey or two, and I've seen a chinchilla and a fox!<br><br>
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| − | No, the chief inhabitants of this place are people. So! Today, some time, probably after our noontime game of shuffleboard with the Huxleys, I shall spend some time looking over Springboard, just to see what the Circles look like; then try a new dive -- try to look for the Gate to the Blind Dance!<br><br>
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| | ''Monday, 15 October 1928; London, Evening''<br><br> | | ''Monday, 15 October 1928; London, Evening''<br><br> |
| − | It happens, you know. One forgets. And frankly ... the mad social whirl rather carried us away. Oh yes, lots of fun, to be sure, and a bit of good research as well. But nothing conclusive. No big advances or major insights. What does one expect on holiday, after all?<br><br>
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| − | I am not really much interested in writing, even now. But we're here, at the hotel in London, and it's late, and - well - it's a bit of a habit by now.<br><br>
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| − | Docked this afternoon under leaden skies and occasional desultory showers. Goodbye to the Huxleys; a cheery wave-off; and any time you're in Manchester, don't you know, do drop by won't you. Customs and clearace; a bit of fuss, I noticed, from Lydia, who by now seems to have had a parting of the ways from her glittering young friend. Something about some jewelry?<br><br>
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| − | So -- a few hours by fast rail, and now, here. An excellent, though heavy, meal at the Carvery. Soft music, pleasant atmosphere ... and behold!<br>
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| − | I am very tired.<br>
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| − | My lady is already asleep.<br>
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| − | Sigh....<br><br>
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| | ''Wednesday, 17 October 1928; Evening; In the Channel''<br><br> | | ''Wednesday, 17 October 1928; Evening; In the Channel''<br><br> |
| − | On the train. Tomorrow, Paris; a rendezvous with painted scarves; and then finally on to Mecca. Yes.<br><br>
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| − | Some few surprises in London this trip. Tony's message at the Express office leaves no doubt where to look, and the papers are full of the business of the burning Clinic, so it was simple enough to take score of all the public knows. Harry has, he says, a lot of long leads but nothing hard and fast for me; and I did not put him on the Thasylwaite thing, precisely because of the public furor. Tony! So messy! I wonder what you missed?<br><br>
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| − | As for TMF -- well, helpful and not. The usual ahem-ahem attitude, and I ''am'' sorry, Sir, but you know we cannot divulge that to anyone, etcetera, etcetera. I learned a bit of thia and that (turns out Tony has the keys to the Lyon house) but nothing hard and fast, nothing USEFUL.<br><br>
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| − | If I knew more already! If I knew when I walked in the proper questions to ask! Then ... yes. Perhaps they would answer. But not otherwise. <br><br>
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| − | There is, for example, a safe box in keeping for the Estate. TMF admits it freely. They will not, however, discuss the contents, let alone show them. And so it went.<br><br>
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| − | But Miriam -- ! Ah, surprise indeed! I came to see her on a social call, of course; after her last letter I reluctantly promised myself that there would be no more cat-and-mouse games, no questing for forbidden hints and knowledge any more. Such sparring was bringing only upset to us, and threatening to undermine our friendship. Thus: no more. Merely friends. The visit solely for conversation.<br><br>
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| − | Surprise!<br><br>
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| − | Scarcely have we poured our tea -- scarcely have the amenities been satisfied -- when it is ''she'', not I, who throws wide the door!<br><br>
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| − | I have always trusted ''her''. From the first beginnings of our acquaintance I have felt that she waqs both honest and open with me. Yet, her actions and words were so unexpected, so much at odds with everything I knew of her, that I felt the sting of mistrust despite my faith.<br><br>
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| − | She asks for sanctuary from her people.<br><br>
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| − | Such a shock!<br><br>
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| − | Her reasons are still a bit muddled, at least to me; but they are understandable (or perhaps I am merely naïve.) She has had a flash of premonition, of her future or her child's; she does not wish that future for either Clarice or herself. And, she says, she does not wish her final child to be placed in the Foundry's hands.<br><br>
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| − | So, her bid to escape. Come february, come March, we will spirit her away -- across the waters, perhaps, to Newhaven, or perhaps to France -- where her child will be out of the grasp of the Lady and the rest.<br><br>
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| − | I hope.<br><br>
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| − | It is yet unclear to me just how far the Lady can reach, to find one of Her own whom She knows well. Might Wisphers' walls shield Miriam? Might Newhaven's? Certainly either, while a lovely prison, would be a prison still. Not the best way to raise a daughter, though far from the worst.<br><br>
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| − | So the future once again holds excitement and interesting changes, great storybook deeds to perform ... and (just possibly) an innocent life or two to make whole or redeem. Hmm.<br><br>
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| − | Give meaning to? No, still too grandiose. Hum.<br><br>
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| − | Sigh; so romantic!<br><br>
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| − | I wonder what she'll make of Julian?<br><br>
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| | ''Thursday, 18 October 1928; Paris at Sunset''<br><br> | | ''Thursday, 18 October 1928; Paris at Sunset''<br><br> |
| | A diversion from our original itinerary, though I think a day will not hurt us. We had to stop, you see, in order to look for some painted scarves for Mrs. Harden; and as long as we were here, why not get some new outfits made up for Julian? So it has been a busy day.<br><br> | | A diversion from our original itinerary, though I think a day will not hurt us. We had to stop, you see, in order to look for some painted scarves for Mrs. Harden; and as long as we were here, why not get some new outfits made up for Julian? So it has been a busy day.<br><br> |
