A MISSING PREMIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 8 (Supplement)

A MISSING PREMIER.

THE MEMOIRS OF " MARGQT." In describing her first visit to Windsor Castle after her husband had become Prime Minister in 1908, Mrs. Asquith, in her "Autobiography"—another instalmentof which appeared in the Sunday Times recently—tells the following story'of King Edward : — "Cur Dane (the page who waited on Mr. and Mrs. Asquith) informed me that we were to join Their Majesties in the Castle Courtyard at four o'clock to motor first to the gardens and then to Virginia Water, where we were to have tea. On my arrival in the courtyard the King came up to me'and said :' " Where is the Prime Minister?' "Curtseying to the ground. I answered:

" ' I am sorry, sir, but I have not seen him since lunch; I fear he cannot have got your command, and mav have gone for a walk with Sir Edward Grey.' "His Majesty (angrily turning to his gentlemen-in-waiting, Harry Stonor and Seymour Fortescue): 'What have vou done? Where have vou looked for him? Did you not give him my command?' "The distracted gentlemen flew about, but I could see in a moment that Henry was not likely to turn up, so I begged the King to get into his motor. He answered with indignation : "'Certainly not! I cannot, start without the Prime Minister, and it is only 10 minutes past four.' "He looked first at his watch and then at the Castle clock, and fussed crosslv about the yard. Seeing affairs at a standstill, I went up to the Queen and said I feared there had been a scandal at Court, and that Henry must have eloped with oae of the maids of honour.

"I begged her to save my blushes by commanding the King to proceed, at which sho limped up to him with her amazing grace, and in her charming wav, tapping him firmly on the arm, pointed with a sweeping gesture to his motor and invited Grade Raincliffe and Alice Kenpel to accompany him; at which they all drove off."