August 15 Saturday – Upon arriving at Southampton, the Clemenses found another cable waiting from the family gathered in New York. Susy’s recovery (from an unspecified disease) would be “long but certain.” This convinced Sam to stay in England. Livy and Clara boarded the S.S. Paris bound for New York. On the same day, Dr. Porter in Hartford diagnosed Susy with spinal meningitis, an often lethal malady before the days of antibiotics. The lining of Susy’s brain swelled, and high fevers caused delirium and strange behavior. She ate her last meal on this day [Papa 43; Powers, MT A Life 576]. Sam spent the night in a hotel, probably the South Western in Southampton, and played billiards till midnight with R.S. Smythe [Aug. 16 to Livy].