Fri. 28. [28 November 1902] Woke at Avignon. Talked to Sybil
Cookson and Mr Schuster at breakfast, passing through delicious
southern country, olives and cypresses and the stony Camargue. A
little misty at Marseilles [Marseille] but quite windless. Established
ourselves on the China, 8000 tons, a very big comfortable boat. I am
on the spar deck in a 4 berthed cabin with Susan and Miss Parkinson,
who is old and military. Hugo on the upper deck. Met the Russells on
board and had time to settle in and write letters before starting. Off at
2 when we lunched. We put ourselves by the Russells and Sue, but
she subsequently left us. Some rather nice people called Dundas
(the Rising Sun) are opposite and an Irish Army Service Man. On the
other side of Lady R. is a Scotchman whose brother runs Kutch Behar.
Sat on deck and read Buddhist Birth Stories and slept. After tea
talked to Mrs Walter Lawrence and Miss Thornwill a sister of Lady
Burton's. After dinner we played Bridge with Gilbert and Diana.