1893 MADEIRA 321 



hoping it would be like that when we start, as it 

 would be sure to last till we got home. When, lo 

 and behold, this morning there is by far the highest 

 wind and sea I have yet seen. The spray is flying 

 right over the rocks, once up to where Fritz got over 

 the wall by the bathing-place. Bain in sheets. The 

 ' Drummond Castle ' will have an awful time of it. 

 No hope of a letter to-day. 



Here's a good story. A rector was asked to take 

 the chair at a prayer meeting. One of his parish- 

 ioners prayed as follows : ' Lord, we had a sermon 

 from our vicar yesterday, and we thank Thee for it 

 because it was an able discourse, but we pray Thee 

 to give him some idea of what the Gospel is ! ' 



March 16. 



Letters, such jolly good gossip that I feel disposed 

 to follow the example of the ' distinguished man ' 

 who lived apart from his wife because he so much 

 enjoyed her letters. And yet I am like a hound 

 straining at his leash to get away. 



I cannot read what it is that York Powell is going 

 to have designed for us, it looks like ' booky flash.' ] 



.... By the time you get this, it will only be 

 another fortnight before you get me, and I believe 

 you will get me in a wonderfully restored state of 

 health. 



March 17. 



The weather is still the same. Tremendous wind 

 and perpetual squalls of rain, ' the sea and the waves 



1 It was ' book-plate.' 



