Words, Words, Words, and an Encounter 9

of the United States, or even far from the region of New England. The brothers enjoyed their adventure immensely. They explored the Isle of Britannia from London to the West Country, from Scotland and Wales to Oxford and Windsor, taking in as much as time and funds allowed: bookshops, museums, cathedrals, sessions of Parliament, the theatre, hiking and restaurants.2 The money for their excursion was supposed to be spent on school tuition; nevertheless, as frivolous as the trip may have seemed to frugal relatives, it was critically needed therapy, for the brothers were both mourning the recent loss of the mother whom they adored. They were adrift, rudderless.

When the Holleys first booked their passages, they also scheduled their return voyage to the United States; however, an unexpected message from Williams College reached Horace in London, causing the brothers to change their plans and return home earlier. The cable informed him that, despite his semester-long absence from school, he had been named editor-in-chief of Williams’ literary journal for the following academic year. This was a high honour, especially for such a prestigious school with its reputation for excellence. Horace was eager to dive into that work, so they modified their plans and booked tickets on the SS Merion, sailing from the port of Liverpool on 19 May.3

Aboard ship, how could Horace and Irving fail to notice Bertha? Her name appeared just above ‘Holley’ on the upper-class passenger list. She stood out in any crowded room. Tall, slender, with dark hair, a fair complexion, and deep brown shining eyes, her neighbours in her hometown, Bayfield, Wisconsin, considered her a striking beauty.4 Not only lovely to gaze upon, Bertha was also a trained portrait artist, the head of the interior design department for the Wanamaker’s Department Store,5 and a connoisseur of fashion and colour. This beauty was anything but dull. With exotic, far-ranging interests,6 she was an efflorescent butterfly.

Horace was tall like his relatives, with blue eyes, brown hair, a fair complexion, and angular features. He was so thin that his high school classmates called him ‘Pole’. No one, other than perhaps his mother, ever considered him handsome. He made up for his lack of a beguiling appearance with humour, for he was often the ‘life of the party’.7 His quick mind enhanced his strong wit. Horace was an above average student, excelling in the subjects that interested him the most: history, literature, and social sciences.8 By far his greatest natural gift was

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