The Agony Column | Page 8

his leave, to
find that he regarded me in the light of an old friend. He said he would
call on me the next morning.
I made up my mind that Archibald Enwright--for that, he told me, was
his name--was an adventurer down on his luck, who chose to forget his
British exclusiveness under the stern necessity of getting money
somehow, somewhere. The next day, I decided, I should be the victim
of a touch.
But my prediction failed; Enwright seemed to have plenty of money.
On that first evening I had mentioned to him that I expected shortly to
be in London, and he often referred to the fact. As the time approached
for me to leave Interlaken he began to throw out the suggestion that he
should like to have me meet some of his people in England. This, also,
was unheard of--against all precedent.
Nevertheless, when I said good-by to him he pressed into my hand a
letter of introduction to his cousin, Captain Stephen Fraser-Freer, of the
Twelfth Cavalry, Indian Army, who, he said, would be glad to make

me at home in London, where he was on furlough at the time --or
would be when I reached there.
"Stephen's a good sort," said Enwright. "He'll be jolly pleased to show
you the ropes. Give him my best, old boy!"
Of course I took the letter. But I puzzled greatly over the affair. What
could be the meaning of this sudden warm attachment that Archie had
formed for me? Why should he want to pass me along to his cousin at a
time when that gentleman, back home after two years in India, would
be, no doubt, extremely busy? I made up my mind I would not present
the letter, despite the fact that Archie had with great persistence wrung
from me a promise to do so. I had met many English gentlemen, and I
felt they were not the sort--despite the example of Archie--to take a
wandering American to their bosoms when he came with a mere letter.
By easy stages I came on to London. Here I met a friend, just sailing
for home, who told me of some sad experiences he had had with letters
of introduction--of the cold, fishy,
"My-dear-fellow-why-trouble-me-with-it?" stares that had greeted their
presentation. Good-hearted men all, he said, but averse to strangers; an
ever-present trait in the English--always excepting Archie.
So I put the letter to Captain Fraser-Freer out of my mind. I had
business acquaintances here and a few English friends, and I found
these, as always, courteous and charming. But it is to my advantage to
meet as many people as may be, and after drifting about for a week I
set out one afternoon to call on my captain. I told myself that here was
an Englishman who had perhaps thawed a bit in the great oven of India.
If not, no harm would be done.
It was then that I came for the first time to this house on Adelphi
Terrace, for it was the address Archie had given me. Walters let me in,
and I learned from him that Captain Fraser-Freer had not yet arrived
from India. His rooms were ready--he had kept them during his absence,
as seems to be the custom over here--and he was expected soon.
Perhaps--said Walters--his wife remembered the date. He left me in the
lower hail while he went to ask her.

Waiting, I strolled to the rear of the hall. And then, through an open
window that let in the summer, I saw for the first time that courtyard
which is my great love in London--the old ivy-covered walls of brick;
the neat paths between the blooming beds; the rustic seat; the magic
gate. It was incredible that just outside lay the world's biggest city, with
all its poverty and wealth, its sorrows and joys, its roar and rattle. Here
was a garden for Jane Austen to people with fine ladies and courtly
gentlemen--here was a garden to dream in, to adore and to cherish.
When Walters came back to tell me that his wife was uncertain as to
the exact date when the captain would return, I began to rave about that
courtyard. At once he was my friend. I had been looking for quiet
lodgings away from the hotel, and I was delighted to find that on the
second floor, directly under the captain's rooms, there was a suite to be
sublet.
Walters gave me the address of the agents; and, after submitting to an
examination that could not have been more severe if I had asked for the
hand of the senior partner's daughter, they let me come here to live. The
garden was mine!
And the captain? Three days after I arrived I heard above