[36]

1877

Year of William's marriage

Several visits of Sara —

How much C. liked her —

pleasant days at Cambridge when he was made L.L.D., enjoyed it & was not overfatigued.

Caroline not well enough to come Jos & Sophy came without her.

[37]

1880

Feb. V. Marshall & Flowers visit — a faint memory that all was cheerful & pleasant

May. Mr & Mrs Fiske

May 25 Basset. Mr Lowell — Salisbury Cath. Aunt Grace. How he enjoyed the organ —

Aug. visit to Cam — do

lodgings in St Botolph Lane.

saw. 66 Hill's Road wh. he admired — Jesus Coll. nice

walk & sit. Botanic Garden

[38a]

1881

Feb. 24 at Bry St.

Mr Blunt to lunch. C. very genial & enjoyed it — also the Ritchie's particularly pleasant.

(on looking at letters of 41-47 — the state of health was so far more suffering than of late years — constant languor sickness & headaches)

In May he much enjoyed Richter's playing, who came down with the Frankes for a few hours —

23rd a mention of heart with unwellness.

[38av]

June 2. to Penrith happy journey. C. in gay spirits. Two or 3 small expeds w. him one across the lake — sat about — Hen joined us _ went a drive with Wm also to look for lodgings for Huxleys — The walks sometimes too much for him — I went w. him up the valley & he went on. Also up Grisedale — beaut — light on farm

To Keswick — His anxiety to contrive for me to see the view

[38b]

To How Town in steam boat — walked up the valley !!

The Lushington's visit & Miss North — party bright & pleasant

Joyous arrival at No. 66 — admiring the house — pretty well at the time.

Happy Cambridge visit —

Miss Gladstone —

Second week in Dec —

London visit C. very unwell —

His pleasure in the kind zeal of the son's in "giving up the study" to him — This remained fresh with him to the last.
Lying on sofa in drawing room looking at what he called Hen's shrine.

[38bv]

I will put down some things for fear I shd forget if I live long — Always speaking a gracious & tender word when I came up at night — "It is almost worth while to be sick to be nursed by you." I don't know what he said to which I answered "You speak as if you had not done just the same for me." Oh that I could remember more — but it was the same loving gratitude many times a day —

[38c]

[sheet] 2

Constantly suggesting my staying with the others "I can do quite well without you my darling". Dr Moore & Alfrey on the 12th cheering him much — but much knocked up the next day & went to bed. Leonora on Sunday. C. exerted himself & was most pleasant to her — played backgammon every evg. but one — His tenderness seemed to increase every day — liked being rubbed. George returned from West Indies on Ap.10 —

[38cv]

C. not up to talking for very long but enjoyed George's news. Dr Moore & Allfrey on the 12th. Their visit was comforting but he was utterly done up the next day & went to bed after luncheon. —

On Sat. 15 R. & Hen came. When Ch. had half done his tea he rose & staggered to the sofa & fell half fainting on the cushion. He said it was the same sort of

[38d]

shock he had before but worse — he recovered soon but was carried upstairs & soon went to bed —

On Tuesday 18 at 12 at night he woke me saying "I have got the pain & I shall feel better or bear it better if you are awake" — he had taken the antispasmodic twice — I will only put down his words afterwards "I am not the least afraid of death" — Remember what a good wife you have been to me — Tell all my children to remember how good they have been to me.

[38dv]

After the worst of the distress he said "I was so sorry for you — but I could not help you" — Then "there never were such good nurses as you (Fr) & Henrietta — where is Mammy — I am glad of it when told I was lying down.

"Don't call her I don't want her — said often. It's almost worth while to be sick to be nursed by you" —

[39a]

[sheet] 1

May 2. 1882

I can call back more precious memories by looking only a short time back. We went to Bryanston St on Dec 6. C. was languid & feeble every day. Set out on a walk & either returned home or was taken with pain & came back in distress. I called to see Dr Clark, whose opinion was rather discouraging; but when he saw C. in the evening, he pronounced

[39av]

the heart quite sound. We were all much cheered.

On Sunday the 18th called at the Huxley's. C. quite happy & in high spirits. I can only remember a walk w. him as far as Manchester Sq.

He also went with us to look at the house.

On Sunday Jan 8. the "Sunday Tramps". C. was delightful to them & enjoyed their visit heartily. The Dyers were with us & he had much talk w. Dyer.

[39b]

Sat Jan 21. The Ritchie's visit entirely successful & C. in excellent spirits & enjoyment. -

27. C. unwell with cold

Diceys & Emily Loch. Did not come to dinner. Diceys also here.

Feb 3. Lubbock wedding. Joined him at the sandwalk after it was over & told him about it.

Mar 3. Laura came. —

His state was now more languid walking short distances very slowly (I remember one walk w. him to the terrace on a beaut. still bright day, I suppose in Feb.)

[39bv]

At the end of a week Dr C came (Mar 10) C. extremely nervous about visit & wretchedly uncomf the day after. A peaceful time without much suffering. exquisite weather — often loitering out w. him. —

I used to go to bed early — when he suffered so m. from fatigue & often read some time — also got up early & read to him early after my breakfast — generally found him doing nothing; but the two last mgs he occupied himself for a short time & felt more like recovery.

[40]

His patience & gentleness with ill health

his reverence for the laws of nature was immense

[41]

Laura

Sitting w. her at the entrance to the new part put his arm round my shoulders & said Oh Laura what a miserable man I shd be without this dear woman.

Coming into the smoking room where I had retired to write the letter about Mr Fraser coming. "I am ill-used Laura every body has left me, & a letter has come from Lenny & I have not heard a word

[41v]

about it.

I reproved him for talking & disturbing my letter & on my asking B. to ring the bell — "Yes look sharp about it. Mammy is not to be trifled with when she is in this humour I can tell you.
Coming in to see Bernard wait on Laura.