Cairo. Thursday Dearest Mother. A very unfortunate thing has occurred which has obliged us to alter our plans for the last few days here. Yesterday Father got up rather a poor thing, with a little fever, so he stayed in till noon when he drove out to conclude a bargain about some carpets; then he came straight in and lunched on milk, sending us out alone to lunch with Sir W. Garstin. When we came in I found he had a temp. of 103°, so of course it was quite out of the question to go to Mina House and I sent for a doctor who pronounced him to be having a thing called Cairo fever. He had an uncomfortable night and his temp. today is still about 100°, but he is better and his doctor says it's generally a matter of 3 days. He has a nurse tonight which is much wiser - a very nice girl whom he has taken to, indeed he brisked up mightily at the idea. It is most tiresome and I am dreadfully sorry it shd have happened for it can't help pulling him down rather which is not at all the object for which one comes on a holiday. I don't think there is any question about our not leaving on Monday, but you will have a telegram long before this letter reaches you. The sea will be the best cure. If by any chance we could not leave, we shd go out to Mina House as soon as possible and stay quietly there, but it's not at all likely to happen.
I stayed with Father this morning and after lunch H. [Hugo] and I went to the Pyramids and enjoyed ourselves very much in spite of our sorrows. H. is very keen to go to Sakkarah [Saqqara] but I really can't because it means being away the whole day and it's so dull for Father even if he has a nurse. We may perhaps manage to go on Sunday if he is better, or H. can go alone. It's very disappointing for Father, isn't it. They say everybody is having "these" fevers. It's due to all the new buildings; they come out of the upturned soil. I don't think myself Cairo is at all a healthy place. As for influenza, it's rampant. However, he hasn't caught that at any rate. There is another mail in 24 hours so I will write by that too. H. is very well and brisk. Your affectionate daughter Gertrude