XX13

Dreary waiting for sleep! & drearier waking to half day. No letters. ― Dickenson came at 9 ― & I arranged for him to pack the 4 paintings to go to Lewes ― for I give up Reading. ― After showing poor dear Ann the Palestine drawings again, & sending her to see Hunt’s Light of the World, I walked across the bright peopled park to Albert Gate, & by Brompton to Trafalgar Square ― by 11½. Here were Fanny Coombe ― brighter & lighter than on other days of late, & Marion ― a good girl. Talk with F.C. about Percy & other things. Laura, who is unwell ― recommends the Isle of Wight for fig trees. ― The Doctor, Smith, came in ― a surprising little man, whose discourse of his R.C. daughters is as edifying: his vivid recollections of lectures on Palestine ― “I am sure ― certain ― that somewhere ― I don’t remember where ― tho’ I have read, there were certainly  Corinthian columns quite exposed ― at least the Capitals ― in a desert spot!” ― Afterwards, a very quiet lunch & talk with Mrs. & M. Coombe. ― Here again, my Palestine tokens were a delight. Returned across the Park, but boles were bad, & I got home with difficulty. 2½. ― Note from Mrs. T. Wyatt ― smallpox &c. Wrote to her & F.L. Packed ― & penned, & drew, till 4½ ― but no carriage came ― until 5¾ ― when I was giving it up.

I leave Ann here to stay: her being with me is an ever increasing sadness: so good ― & yet so unable to be my companion. Drive to Woodberry. W.N. ― Miss I. ― William & Geoff ― & Mary & Guy. Mary seemed very pretty. ― Dinner, ― v’erano de’ difficoltà.1 The 2 are odd boys ― but I believe W.N.’s kindness will bring them right yet. ―

Miss I. is abrupt at times ― yet she has so much good sense, that she is invaluable. Afterwards ― some singing & playing. ―Eh! lack! here is October nearly, ― yet nothing done!

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

  1. “The were difficulties,” Italian. [↩]