22 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



only intending to retain the Demesne and Deer Park of 

 Largie in his hands. The terms offered to them were 

 such that the large majority purchased their holdings. 

 The proceeds of these sales necessitated investments, 

 and he determined to visit America and inquire into 

 their securities. 



Towards the end of April 1890 he started, accom- 

 panied by his eldest son, who was familiar with some 

 of the places he proposed to visit, having spent some 

 time studying horse -ranching at Calgary. Brooke's 

 health at this time was far from being restored, and it 

 was a great relief to his wife that he was not going 

 alone. Much as he looked forward to the trip, and 

 valuable as was the information he hoped to procure, 

 yet it did not do away with an increasing disinclination 

 to be far away from his wife and children ; his buoyant 

 nature made him speak cheerfully of recovery to strong 

 health, but I cannot help thinking he had forebodings 

 that all was not well. His first letter to his wife after 

 starting shows the effort it had been to him to leave : 



"HOTEL CONTINENTAL, PARIS, 

 Saturday, i^th April 1890. 



Those horrid good-byes, they take a lot out of one ; 

 I wish I had never settled to go away, and still one 

 would be really foolish not to make an effort to see a 

 bit of the old Globe, and yet does the jeu vaut la 

 chandelle, when one has to leave all one loves and 

 give them pain ? " 



This trip to America extended over some months, 

 and though much of it was over familiar ground, his 

 description of the great natural features of the country, 

 and the glorious trees that never ceased to strike him 

 with admiration, deserve recording. In Europe he had 



