Gibralter. Dec 20 Dearest Mother. We have had such a delightful voyage, the only pity was that it did not last longer. There is nothing so good for Father as being on a ship and he enjoys it so much. Already he looks better and I am much better. As good fortune wd have it we had 3 days of perfect weather and the ship was not very full so that the conditions were ideal. We were both very sorry to get off this morning. I found it an excellent place to work and revised and copied 3 chapters which was pretty good going.
We had plenty of people to play Bridge with; me [sic] friends Prince and Princess Victor Dhuleep Singh among them. I travelled with them on the same ship last year and they are remarkably good Bridge players. She is an Englishwoman and he a Mahratta (I think) but more English than the English and though his appearance is strange he is rather a good sort really - if you do not happen to be his creditor. The Francis Pease children were a great resource, two charming little girls, and as for Father he had made acquaintance with every one on the ship before we left and just hadn't time to begin on the Stoker boys, bless him!

We are going over to Algeciras to lunch and come back here for the night. This hotel seems quite comfortable and we have a luxurious sitting room looking out over the garden of the next house full of orange trees. Our boat goes to Tangier [Tanger] at 11 tomorrow morning.

Many many Christmas good wishes to you all. Your affectionate daughter Gertrude