194 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



is a factor to be seriously reckoned with. It will 

 therefore be readily understood that there were good 

 grounds for apprehension that if it became known 

 that the daughter of a Democratic War Minister was 

 the affianced bride of a British statesman avowedly 

 opposed to Home Rule, the Irish vote, on those 

 grounds alone, might go solid for the Republican 

 candidate. So there was every reason to keep the 

 engagement a profound secret, and it was so kept 

 religiously by all who knew it till the following 

 November. 



It was during one of our quiet chats in mid- 

 Atlantic that Mr. Chamberlain sounded me as to 

 what form of recognition Bergne and I would like 

 for our services when we got home. He wanted 

 nothing for himself, and was quite ready to approach 

 Lord Salisbury for anything that would be most 

 gratifying to us, and he had every reason for feeling 

 confident that his Lordship would readily acquiesce 

 in any recommendation he thought fit to make. I 

 knew very well that Bergne 's ambition was to have 

 a " K." in front of the " C.M.G. " he already en- 

 joyed, and told Mr. Chamberlain so. As to myself, 

 I had to choose between a piece of ribbon, such as 

 a C.B., or a pecuniary honorarium. I couldn't 

 reasonably expect both. My finances were not very 



