Not long after, I began to realise that my long association with _Vanity Fair_ was about to come to an end. When Mr. Gibson Bowles resigned his connection with the journal, in order to take an active part in the political field which had always attracted his keenest interest, I could not have contemplated a more delightful successor than Mr. A. G. Witherby as my chief, for I again received every encouragement to succeed in my work. Not only is he a very clever caricaturist and draughtsman, but he is equally clever as a writer; in addition to which he is a good sort and keen sportsman, and when he decided to part with the paper it was a great blow to me. I shall ever remember the kind hospitality I received from him and his wife during his proprietorship of the paper. [Illustration: PRINCESS ENA OF BATTENBERG. _Drawn at Kensington Palace, May 1906, just previously to her marriage with the King of Spain._] In early days my father cautioned me against giving more than half of my time to work for reproduction, and experience has taught me the wisdom of the warning. I think after all he was right, and I regret that for nearly forty years I devoted too much time to the work on _Vanity Fair_. As a society journal it was certainly for a long period a publication of unique interest, and I venture to prophesy that, when the history of the Victorian Era comes to be written in true perspective, the most faithful mirror and record of representative men and the spirit of their times will be sought and found in _Vanity Fair_. CHAPTER XVII A HOLIDAY MISFORTUNE--ROYAL PORTRAITS--FAREWELL Belgium.--Accident at Golf.--Portraits of King George V, the Duke of Connaught, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Garvin.--Portrait painting of to-day.--Final reflections. --Farewell. Sometimes as the late summer comes round, my wife and I prefer to take our holiday or part of it abroad, when the change of scene and living is a possible attraction. Five years ago we had been told of a quiet and charming little watering-place in Belgium, not far from Ostend, called Wenduyne, and having in advance booked rooms at the hotel recommended to us, we arrived and found it most comfortable. I took no work with me, not even pencil and brushes, for I was determined to have a complete rest. We were pleased to learn that the golf links at Le Coq were quite handy, and we lost no time in taking the tram there and inscribing our names as temporary members. These links are beautifully kept up, and in the vicinity of the Club House are gaily decorated with flower beds. [Illustration: _Drawn in September 1899 by Mr. A. G. Witherby. What was mistaken for the gout was a broken bone in the foot._]