Wed 25 Government House, Singapore. Dearest Mother. Since it had to happen, it could not have happened better than here and now. I didn't say anything to you in my yesterday's telegram because I didn't know what to say, but now you shall have the whole story and I shall telegraph the outlines in a day or two. On Sunday on the Dutch boat Hugo began to feel unwell. He looked very flushed, I took his temperature and found he was 102°, so I gave him quinine and kept him as quiet as possible. There was no Christian food to be had. Milk niente. He had a good night on Sunday but his temperature on Monday was still 102°. We got to Singapore at 2 about and saw the boat by which we had proposed going on just preparing to start, but it was perfectly obvious that we couldn't move in that condition so we came straight up here and H went to bed, looking very ill. I sent for a doctor who arrived at 7 and said he didn't know what it was, thought it probably wasn't much and came from Hugo's inside being out of order. He had an extemely bad night on Monday; the doctor came again at 7 AM and still said he didn't think there was anything the matter but he didn't know and we must just wait. I was really rather alarmed on Tuesday. He was so terribly restless, twitching, moaning, half awake and half asleep and talking inconsequently. Naturally I remembered La Grave. So he lay all day and we both agreed it was the longest day we had known for some time. Sir Frank was extraordinarily kind - we really can't be grateful enough to him. He came in to see H., got Chinamen to fan him and is so friendly and nice that we begin to feel we are doing him rather a service by being ill in his house. The doctor came again in the evening and I told him my fears which he poohpoohed, but he said Hugo was very nervous and excited and gave me a big dose of sulphural to give him and anti pyrene. The last I gave him every 3 hours till 3 AM; he was tossing and moaning all the night, but half asleep, and at 3 he fell quite asleep and I went to bed too. Today he really is better, temp 100°, very torpid, but quite like himself. His doctor told me this morning that what he had feared had been typhoid! just imagine! however that fear is over now. He's quite cheerful this morning - the blessing it is I can't describe! He is spending the greater part of his time asleep and in an hour he is to have some soup. But it is a funny visit! I'm the only woman in this house. I see my host and the rest of them at meals - which are enormously long - and in the evenings between running up and down to look at Hugo. They are all most kind and run about ordering the things I want - all the servants talk Malay - and I get on surprisingly well with Sir F. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude.