CHAPTER XVI
MARRIAGE—SOME CLERICS—FAREWELL TO VANITY FAIR
My engagement and marriage to Miss Topham-Watney.—"Drawl" and the Kruger cartoon.—"The General Group."—Field-Marshal Lord Roberts.—Archbishops Temple and Randall Davidson.—The Bishop of London.—Archbishop of York.—Canon Fleming.—Lord Montagu of Beaulieu.—Lord Salisbury's cartoon.—Mr. Asquith.—Joe Knight.—Lord Newlands.—Four great men in connection with Canada.—The Queen of Spain.—Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg.—General Sir William Francis Butler, G.C.B.—Mr. Witherby.—Farewell to Vanity Fair.
Among my lady friends during my bachelor days there was one who was always telling me that I ought to marry and settle down, and in time I began to think so myself. One day she informed me that she had found the very girl. I was introduced to her, found her exceedingly attractive, and shortly we met again at a luncheon-party. On this occasion it was arranged that the whole party should drive down to the Ranelagh Club, and it fell to my happy lot to escort her. I remember on the road we discussed the types we each preferred, and although neither fulfilled the ideal of the other it was quite a satisfactory afternoon, and we met again frequently, previous to my visit to my friend, Freddy Bentinck, at Brownsea Island. I had a glorious time there, but when I got back to town and failed to see the announcement of my marriage in The Morning Post, I hastened down into the country to find out the reason, only to discover that my engagement had been broken off. My future bride was much admired, and exceedingly popular with her many friends, and adored by her very discreet parents, and I, alas, was financially—no catch. In the circumstances I could only accept my congé, and although it was some time before I was given the opportunity of meeting her again, we were always good friends.
Some years later fate decreed that my old love and I should meet again, and we found ourselves alighting from the same train both bound on a visit to the same country-house in Herefordshire. This unexpected event proved too much for us, and this time we determined to ignore the opinions of our relatives and "so-called" good friends of former years, and within a few months we married.
The ceremony took place at St. Michael's, Chester Square, and the Rev. Canon Fleming, who was a very dear old friend of all of us, especially of my mother, officiated with the aid of the Rev. John Labouchere, Harry Newton being my best man. The reception was held at the Hans Crescent Hotel, at which there was a large attendance of friends. Amongst the many beautiful gifts we received, a canteen of silver presented to me by members of the Beefsteak Club was prominent, and in the face of fifteen years of happiness even my most pessimistic friends are bound to admit that I have not made the failure of double harness that they anticipated.
MY DAUGHTER.