13 Oct. 1918
A glorious morning. Mr. J. Bishop poured forth the wrath of his soul upon the Kaiser during breakfast. He went for a walk of scientific interest beside the sea. I did nothing but rest until afternoon when I went to Wigston's for tea. They also had a fire in the grate and their table was loaded with good things and two lovely dishes of flowers. I found Tom Wigston in khaki for he belongs to some kind of a reserve and they had been shooting but hearing the rumour that Germany had accepted the terms of complete surrender they threw down their arms and came home. He is not quite so prosperous as Dave led me to think and he has no idea of new fields of adventure. There is not the calm in his nature that Dave processes. His favourites are short hand writing and mountain climbing. Mrs. B. was a dark good natured woman who declared she had no education except in cooking. Two children, a girl of fourteen and a boy (Lancelot) of about twelve. The girl seemed especially bright; the boy had more of his mothers colour and nature. This was Sunday night and they wished to go to church and I had planned to leave on the 8:40 train so that I left them at six. Had a pitch battle with Mr. J. Bishop over the question of a historic Jesus Christ and he would have argued yet if I had not seen how objectionable such a contest was to the others and evaded him.
We all went down to see Sgt. Ironsides away and there I met Mrs. Ironsides, his mother, who had prepared two parcels for me, one of fruit, the other of cakes, etc. for the train journey. She gave me a very pressing invitation to visit them ‘next time’ though I had never seen them before. There was a large circle of girls and he was compelled to bid farewell to the lot in a way that would not have suited the cold North Canadian nature in me. The comfort of the place and their perfect hospitality tempted me to stay until morning. Then Mr Bishop suggested I say and hear Miss K.B’s paper. It meant I would not meet Andy in London Monday and get in that city just when my train should leave for France. The authorities are inclined to pardon men a bit late if travelling from Scotland so that the prospect of an extra day’s leave was an additional inducement. Decided to stay and spend the evening beside the fire with the family. Retired late to my last rest in a real bed.
