CHAPTER IX

DAVID IS CALLED TO THE BAR

1902 was the year of King Edward’s break-down in health but of his ultimate Coronation; it was the year in which Mr. Arthur Balfour became premier; it was the year in which motors became really well-known, familiar objects in the London streets, and hansoms (I think) had to adopt taximeter clocks on the eve of their displacement by taxi-cabs.  It was likewise the year in which the South African War was finally wound up and the star of Joseph Chamberlain paled to its setting, and Mrs. Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel founded the Women’s Social and Political Union at Manchester.

In 1903, the Fiscal controversy absorbed much of public attention, the War Office was once more reformed, women’s skirts still swept the pavement and encumbered the ball-room, a Peeress wrote to the Times to complain of Modern Manners, Surrey beat Something-or-other at the Oval, and modern Cricket was voted dull.

In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War was concluded, and Fraser and Warren received a year’s notice from the Midland Insurance Co. that they must vacate their premises on the fifth floor of Nos. 88-90 Chancery Lane.  The business of F. and W. had grown so considerable that, as the affairs of the Midland Insurance Co. had slackened, it became intolerable to hear the lift going up and down to the fifth floor all through the day.  The housekeeper also thought it odd that a well-dressed young gentleman should steal in and up, day after day, after office hours to work apparently alone in Fraser and Warren’s partners’ room. Fraser and Warren over the hand of its junior partner, Mrs. Claridge, accepted the notice.  Their business had quite overgrown these inconveniently situated offices and a move to the West End was projected.  Mrs. Claridge’s scheme for week-end cottages had been enormously successful and had put much money not only into the coffers of Fraser and Warren but into the banking account of that clever architect, Francis Brimley Storrington.

[I find I made an absurd mistake earlier in this book in charging the too amorous architect with a home at “Storrington.”  His home really was in a midland garden city which he had designed, but his name—­a not uncommon one—­was Storrington.]

In the autumn of 1902, poor Lady Fraser died.  In January, 1903, Honoria married the impatient Colonel Armstrong.  In January, 1904, she had her first baby—­a boy.

At the close of 1904 Beryl Claridge made proposals to Honoria Fraser relative to a change in the constitution of Fraser and Warren.  Honoria was to have an interest still as a sleeping partner in the concern and some voice in its management and policy.  But she was to take no active share of the office work and “Warren” was to pass out of it altogether.  Beryl pointed out it was rather a farce when the middle