CHAPTER XVII
MY OWN REMINISCENCES OF THE ATLANTIC FLIGHT
I Wait for News—The Americans Start—I Hear Harry has Started—And I Put Out the Flags—No News Next Morning—Fate is Unkind and Brings a False Report—Which, Contradicted, Delivers a Paralysing Blow—No Further News—“All Hope Abandoned”—Good News—Peace of Mind Once More—Everybody Happy—The King Telegraphs Congratulations—I Go to Meet Harry at Grantham—Harry’s Triumphal Progress to Grantham—Together Once More—Harry Rides a Horse Through London—“Escape” from the R.Ae.C.—Celebrations at Ham—Fireworks at Hook.
CHAPTER XVII
After the first week of Harry’s absence the time passed fairly quickly. I never left home for longer than two hours, and then I bought newspapers in case Harry had started. Often I would have news about seven in the evening to the effect that Harry was about to start. I sat up until the news was contradicted. Never before had I taken such an interest in the moon as during these few weeks. I knew every phase, and when it reached the full I felt sure that Harry would be starting.
I was in town when I saw a placard saying that the Americans had started, and I at once rushed to the nearest telephone box to find out if any message had come through from Harry, as I knew he would not let the Americans arrive first without a struggle; but the moon was waning and the weather reports none too good.
On the night of May 18th I received a message to the effect that Harry had left at 6.30. The first thing to do was to put out all the flags, for he would be home on the morrow. But this did not take long, and, when done, the time seemed to drag.