Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/145

 When the summer-time came, H. H. was always one of the first to give tea on the Terrace, and almost every day throughout the season he would give delightful informal parties. The Terrace of the House has rightly earned the reputation of being the coolest place in London, and a fresh breeze may be found there on the hottest days of June.

There was one especially amusing afternoon when the American Ambassador, Mr Whitelaw Reid, and his daughter, Mrs John Ward, brought Mr and Mrs Nicholas Longworth—the latter better known as Miss Alice Roosevelt.

Directly she came on the Terrace, H. H. took her aside and said:

"There is a very grave matter I think it right to mention to you before taking tea. You know we never form a Government in this country without putting an American girl in it—for instance, Mrs Chamberlain, Lady Harcourt, and the Duchess of Marlborough. Well, all patriotic people in the country hoped and believed you would have put aside your own selfish love matters, and married Mr Balfour. With your father as President of the United States, and your husband as Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland, peace and goodwill would be assured. In place of that you have neglected a great patriotic duty."

Mrs Longworth pretended to look deeply perturbed:

"Oh, dear, I never thought of it," and whispered, as she glanced towards her husband, "Is it too late?"

H. H. replied: "We will see. However, come to tea."

He placed her next her old friend Mr Marconi, who had of course seen a great deal of the Roosevelts on his various visits to America.