Friday, 24 December 1858
Rose earlyish. Gray & fine. Determined to work, if possible. ― So I did: ―& toughly worried away on Masada. But the people who came to hang the room with gray, bulled me, ― all the worse that they mismeasured the whole, & went away, having done nought. While I was in a great rage , the bell rang ― & lo GIORGIO KOKALI! ― “Freddo son ― signor ―”1 said the Σουλιοτ ―.2
HOW REJOICED I WAS TO SEE THAT GOOD MAN CANNOT BE WRITTEN!
He went away to get his things, & I went on working, & I hope, thanking God. ― At 4 he returned, & I went with him to various shops ―afterwards dining at the Belle Arti with Williams. Thence I went to S.W.C. & sate with him till 9 ― jangling at times, but afterwards happier & I at last saying God bless you. ― Then I came home, & sate talking with the worthy Σουλιοτ till 10½.
Indeed, indeed, this is a great blessing.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]