1900.] ARRANGEMENTS FOR GRADUATION 291 



sitting-room and two bedrooms with doors opening one 

 from the other, on the first floor to the front, for Miss 

 Hart well [Private Secretary] and myself, likewise a room 

 for the doctor from the evening (8 p.m.) on Wednesday 

 the nth until about nine on the following Sunday evening. 

 I should like to be at the Balmoral ; I have heard of it 

 as such a good hotel. I can manage, though the operation 

 is painful, to walk up just a few steps with the help of my 

 stick (I have been trying five at my door), if somebody be 

 by me in case I should slip, without, I think, attracting 

 attention ; and if I were too lame after the long journey to 

 manage nicely, then I must be humble, and be thankful to 

 be carried in a chair. 



I feel greatly obliged to Sir Ludovic Grant for his kind 

 intention of asking me to stay at his house. It would have 

 been very pleasant, for thus, also, I should have doubtless 

 seen many kind friends ; but besides the great difficulty of 

 the stairs, I am obliged to lie down a little each day, and I 

 think after the long journey I had best keep quiet to fit me 

 for the great day on Saturday. 



But if the thing be possible without intruding on valuable 

 time, might I not hope to see some of my kind friends at 

 the hotel yourself, of course, and I shall also be delighted 

 to see Dr. MacDougall. Could you arrange some time ? I 

 should not myself see anything wrong in seeing friends on 

 the afternoon of Good Friday, but pray do not let me do 

 anything that might be thought not right. You and I will 

 have a good deal to say at your best convenience. 



P.S. I was greatly gratified to learn that my letter to 

 Sir L. Grant met with his approval. It was a matter of no 

 small anxiety to me to try at least to express my appreciation 

 rightly. 



March 14, 1900. 



I got a friend here to let me try on the square college 

 cap " mortar board," and it fitted so nicely over my bow 

 that I do not think I should be at all troubled by ideas of 

 anything unusual being on my head ; and I can take it off 

 without trouble. Through your kind help I think all these 

 arrangements are in perfect order, and I am looking forward 

 much (preliminarily) to our meeting at Balmoral Hotel. 



March 27, 1900. 



I should have liked to beg a ticket besides the two which 

 you kindly mention for my nephew, Arthur Ormerod, who 

 has just taken his M.D., so I wired off to him at Oxford, 

 but, to his great regret, he cannot come. I hope the weather 





