212 LIFE OF TEGETMEIER 



did not forget his home ties, and generally wrote 

 to his wife, if not always long letters, notes and 

 scraps of news, especially of any jokes arising 

 out of his situation or in conversation with his 

 friends. A specimen of a " joint note " begun 

 by him and finished by Sir Walter Gilbey, whose 

 guest he was at the time, is the following, dated 

 from the Norfolk Hotel, Brighton, November 30th, 

 1903 — evidently one of those brief holidays which 

 Sir Walter alone seems to have had the power 

 of persuading him to take : " My dear Wife, I 

 reached here alright. Sir Walter, Mr. and Mrs. 

 Hine and a friend, are the only parties here. 

 I propose to come home Tuesday, but shall be 

 late. The new surroundings have made my head 

 much better. I have been out for a drive with 

 Sir Walter, but it was very cold, and promises to 

 be a hard frost to-night. Sir Walter sends you 

 his fond love ..." The last three words are 

 in Sir Walter's handwriting, as is the rest of 

 the letter. " My dear Mrs. Tegetmeier, I am 

 delighted to see your husband looking so well ; 

 he is, as usual, full of fight and nonsense, — pray 

 do not let him prejudice you against me. I fear 

 he has, but rest assured the bundle of papers and 

 postcards which he receives are sent on to him, 

 I being the medium to receive and forward them 

 on. I am so glad to know you are getting through 

 the wet, cold, miserable days without a cold. 

 Unfortunately I have a nasty cough following 



