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in a fog but that no one ever did have adventures nowadays。 At that we rode straight into a bank of fog that makes those on the fishing banks look like Spring sunshine。 You could not see the houses； nor the street； nor the horse； not even his tail。 All you could see were gas jets； but not the iron that supported them。 The cabman discovered the fact that he was lost and turned around in circles and the horse slipped on the asphalt which was thick with frost； and then we backed into lamp…posts and curbs until Ethel got so scared she bit her under lip until it bled。 You could not tell whether you were going into a house or over a precipice or into a sea。 The horse finally backed up a flight of steps； and rubbed the cabby against a front door； and jabbed the wheels into an area railing and fell down。 That； I thought； was our cue to get out； so we slipped into a well of yellow mist and felt around for each 'other until a square block of light suddenly opened in mid air and four terrified women appeared in the doorway of the house through which the cabman was endeavoring to butt himself。 They begged us to come in； and we did Being Christmas and because the McCarthy's always call me 〃King〃 I had put on all my decorations and the tin star and I also wore my beautiful fur coat； to which I have treated myself； and a grand good thing it is； too I took this off because the room was very hot； forgetting about the decorations and remarked in the same time to Ethel that it would be folly to try and get to Barkston Gardens； and that we must go back to the 〃Duchess's〃 for the night。 At this Ethel answered calmly 〃yes； Duke；〃 and I became conscious of the fact that the eyes of the four women were riveted on my fur coat and decorations。 At the word 〃Duke〃 delivered by a very pretty girl in an evening frock and with nothing on her hair the four women disappeared and brought back the children； the servants； and the men； who were so overcome with awe and excitement and Christmas cheer that they all but got down on their knees in a circle。 So； we fled out into the night followed by minute directions as to where 〃Your Grace〃 and 〃Your Ladyship〃 should turn。 For years； no doubt； on a Christmas Day the story will be told in that house； wherever it may be in the millions of other houses of London； how a beautiful Countess and a wicked Duke were pitched into their front door out of a hansom cab； and after having partaken of their Christmas supper； disappeared again into a sea of fog。 The only direction Ethel and I could remember was that we were to go to the right when we came to a Church； so when by feeling our way by the walls we finally reached a church we continued going on around it until we had encircled it five times or it had encircled us； we were not sure which。 After the fifth lap we gave up and sat down on the steps。 Ethel had on low slippers and was shivering and coughing but intensely amused and only scared for fear she would lose her voice for the first night of 〃Peter〃 We could hear voices sometimes； like people talking in a dream； and sometimes the sound of dance music； and a man's voice calling 〃Perlice〃 in a discouraged way as if he didn't much care whether the police came or not； but regularly like a fog siren I don't know how long we sat there or how long we might have sat there had not a man with a bicycle lamp loomed up out of the mist and rescued us。 He had his mother with him and she said with great pride that her boy could find his way anywhere。 So； we clung to her boy and followed。 A cabman passed leading his horse with one of his lamps in his other hand and I turned for an instant to speak to him and Ethel and her friends disappeared exactly as though the earth had opened。 So； I yelled after them； and Ethel said 〃Here； I am；〃 at my elbow。 It was like the chesire cat that kept appearing and disappearing until he made Alice dizzy。 We finally found a link…boy and he finally found the McCarthy's house； and I left them giving Ethel quinine and whiskey。 They wanted me to stay； but I could not face dressing； in the morning。 So I felt my way home and only got lost twice。 The Arch on Constitution Hill gave me much trouble。 I thought it was the Marble Arch； and hence In Jermyn Street I saw two lamps burning dimly and a voice said； hearing my footsteps 〃where am I？ I don't know where I am no more than nothing〃 I told him he was in Jermyn Street with his horse's head about twenty feet from St。 James There was a long dramatic silence and then the voice said 〃Well； I be blowed I thought I was in Pimlico！！！〃
This has been such a long letter that I shall have to skip any more。 I have NO sciatica chiefly because of the fur coat； I think； and I got two Christmas presents； one from Margaret Fraser and one from the Duchess of Sutherland Boxing Day I took Margaret to the matinee of the Pantomine and it lasted five hours； until six twenty； then I dressed and dined with the Hay's and went with them to the Barnum circus which began at eight and lasted until twelve。 It was a busy day。
Lots of love。 DICK。
LONDON； March 20； 1898。 DEAR MOTHER：
The Nellie Farren benefit was the finest thing I have seen this year past。 It was more remarkable than the Coronation； or the Jubilee。 It began at twelve o'clock on Thursday； but at ten o'clock Wednesday night； the crowd began to gather around Drury Lane； and spent the night on the sidewalk playing cards and reading and sleeping。 Ten hours later they were admitted； or a few of them were； as many as the galleries would hold。 Arthur Collins； the manager of the Drury Lane and the man who organized the benefit； could not get a stall for his mother the day before the benefit。 They were then not to be had； the last having sold for twelve guineas。 I got TWO the morning of the benefit for three pounds each； and now people believe that I did get into the Coronation！ The people who had stalls got there at ten o'clock； and the streets were blocked for 〃blocks〃 up to Covent Garden with hansoms and royal carriages and holders of tickets at fifty dollars apiece。 It lasted six hours and brought in thirty thousand dollars。 Kate Vaughan came back and danced after an absence from the stage of twelve years。 Irving recited The Dream of Eugene Aram； Terry played Ophelia； Chevalier sang Mrs。 Hawkins； Dan Leno gave Hamlet； Marie Tempest sang The Jewel of Asia and Hayden Coffin sang Tommy Atkins； the audience of three thousand people joining in the chorus； and for an encore singing 〃Oh； Nellie； Nellie Farren； may your love be ever faithful； may your pals be ever true； so God bless you Nellie Farren； here's the best of luck to you。〃 In Trial by Jury； Gilbert played an associate judge； the barristers were all playwrights； the jury the principal comedians； the chorus girls were real chorus girls from the Gaiety mixed in with leading ladies like Miss Jeffries and Miss Hanbury； who could not keep in step。 But the best part of it was the pantomime。 Ellaline came up a trap with a diamond dress and her hair down her back and electric lights all over her； and said； 〃I am the Fairy Queen；〃 and waved her wand； at which the 〃First Boy〃 in the pantomime said； 〃Go long； now； do； we know you