White frost ― & fog: ― cleared to gray cold: & sunlight after 4.

Rose at 7 & packed. Breakfast before 8. After preparing for showing sketches, talk with Mrs. B. her account of the quiet death, of her mother, & of the dreadful of her father ― raging to the last; his latest words only making any  pleasure ― “John, Mary, George, God bless you.” Mrs. B. agitated to tears, & I trying to stop the discussion. At 10 ― Bacon, & A. Heywood, & “Mr. Dunn” ― went all through the drawings ― to near 12: then [a breath], & packing, & off in a trap with young Edward B. (Mrs B. is as kind & hearty as ever ― & her faults are small compared with her work.) Drive ― foggy, & dull: ― the Grange forest beautiful: then dreary: ― & so to Stratton by 1 ― Edward B. [gone]― is a good quiet youth. ― Stratton: fine houses & grounds: and of solid plain comfort: unboshlike arrangements, all good. Mrs. B. ― little boy. Lady Arabella ― who is very nice & plain good. Lunch ― Miss B. ― 3 children ― pleasant. Then shewing Palestine drawings ― a good long lecture. Sir Francis ― also plain & kind. ― At 4.30 walked out alone ― up an avenue ― beautiful: & about grounds: ― Return at 5. T. Baring: looks thin & older, talk. ― Go down to drawing room at 6 ― Alfred Seymour, ― H.J. Grenfell, Mr. Portal ― Bonham & Mrs. B. Carter & “T. Baring.” ― Dress. ― At 8 dinner. ― Over number of people ― I no place. Very good and cheerful dinner. ― Evening ― coffee  & talk. Mrs. C. sings ― & I ― & Lady Charlotte Portal ― days of Naples. ― Grenfell in a Seymour’s Clothes ― his servant having forgotten his gown ― & returned never to reappear.

A very cleanly  godly friendly household.

Mr. Portal tells me Mr. R. Hay is quite blind.

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]