My work in preparing this book was made unexpectedly easy. My husband in the latter half of his life collected a series of volumes which he named Servanda—scrap-books in which were pasted letters, reviews, extracts from speeches and newspaper cuttings—matter of any kind that he wished to preserve. Here ready to my hand was evidence sufficient of the interests and occupations of his full and busy life—if only I could use it aright. But selection from such a mass of material was difficult and I am haunted by the fear that what was put aside may in part be of more general interest than that given here. I could only use my own judgment, bearing always in mind that to tell the whole tends to tediousness. The many family letters which Mr Heneage Jebb and Mrs Arthur Jebb placed unreservedly at my disposal gave the story of his earlier years, and a little diary which he kept chiefly for engagements—in an unbroken series from 1877 to 1905—has been invaluable to me in furnishing dates for our many journeys together and my own memories.

It now remains my pleasant duty to thank warmly Mr J. D. Duff of Trinity, who has most kindly and carefully gone through my proofs with me page by page, giving me much friendly and valued criticism, and Mr S. H. Butcher, who after reading the first type-written chapters gave me encouragement to go on with the more difficult part.