Of course, in these sea-days I very frequently enjoyed sailing with my more intimate friends. I had great times with my old friend, Harry McCalmont, who was a whole-hearted sailor, as was his father before him. He was always very much to the fore at Cowes in the yachting season, and it will be remembered that he built the _Geralda_, which eventually became the royal yacht of Spain. He afterwards presented me with her white ensign, and it was on her deck that I portrayed him in a large oil picture which I painted some time before his death. He, like Lord Albemarle, served in South Africa and was in the Scots Guards. I spent many delightful hours too, with Charlie Brookfield on his little cutter, sailing here and there from one point to another, around the Isle of Wight. When Sir Thomas Lipton first built _Shamrock_, it was obvious that he should appear in the series of _Vanity Fair_ celebrities. He sat to me in my studio when, during conversation, he told me of his implicit belief in the uses of advertisement, which he considered the corner-stone of success. I have been particularly fortunate in my opportunities for observation when at work on the Royal yachtsmen, among whom was King Edward himself. The Prince was always most kind and courteous, and when I had the honour of receiving a sitting from him, he did not forget to inquire after my father, whose health was not all that could be desired at the time, and later on when my father died I received the following letter of sympathy:-- "DEAR MR. WARD, "I am desired by the Prince of Wales to write and let you know how sincerely sorry he is to hear of the terrible affliction which has fallen upon you, and to assure you that you have his unfeigned sympathy in your sorrow. "He had known your father so long that he could not help letting you know what he felt on this sad occasion. "Believe me, "Yours truly, "FRANCIS KNOLLYS." In many indefinable ways the King never missed an opportunity of showing his kindness for which I was always grateful. When I made a portrait of him as Prince of Wales I received a letter of acknowledgment from which I may quote the following extract:--"The King thinks the portrait an excellent one, and there is nothing in it to alter." Some years after when he had begun to show signs of _embonpoint_, a fact of which he was fully aware, I had the honour of a sitting, and he said laughingly:-- "Now let me down gently." "Oh, but you've a very fine chest, sir," I replied. He laughed and shook his head at me, as though he found my aim at diplomacy more entertaining than convincing.