Dear Professor Wallace,—I am very glad to know some part of what the form is on this great occasion. I hope that by following whatever directions you give me quite exactly that all will be right, i.e., that I may do all I ought to do! But I cannot help being a little nervous; I feel the honour so very great indeed, and also the kindness I am receiving. Your account of the ceremony itself has made my mind much clearer. Walking upstairs is a great difficulty to me, but on flat ground, with my light ebony stick, I do not think my lameness is more than a very little observable. I am as near as possible 5 feet 6 inches. This is relative to the graduation gown. My head really is so full of this unprecedented distinction I am afraid I trouble you too much.
March 7, 1900.
I am very much obliged to you indeed for all the care that you have been so kindly taking for me, and for making everything so clear to me—amongst other points, your little note about convenience of cheques. I think you have arranged everything as nicely as possible for me. All matters for the journey I expect my doctor will look after nicely. But when you write again,—I suppose on the great occasion, as the cap is to be put on, that I appear without a bonnet? I have now read your letter over again that I may be quite sure that I thoroughly understand everything.
P.S.—There is yet one more inquiry I am venturing to trouble you with. My doctor [Dr. Eustace Lipscomb] is an M.B. (Cambridge); on such a special occasion, should he wear his hood?
March 3, 1900.
I shall be very much obliged if you would secure me rooms at the Balmoral Hotel, as you mention. Namely, a sitting-room and two bedrooms with doors opening one from the other, on the first floor to the front, for Miss Hartwell [Private Secretary] and myself, likewise a room for the doctor—from the evening (8 p.m.) on Wednesday the 11th 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.