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6 September 1876 — Shipton Grange, nr. Tunbridge, Kent | |
Wednesday. 6th September [1876]. We all 4 drove to Tunbridge & took the train for Tunbridge Wells. We got there abt 12.30—& Henry & I walked at once to Lansdowne Place to call on Mme Hurtado & her daughter Idita. Found them in & much surprised at seeing us. We did not stay long but got a fly & went to Md Ephraim Hotel to call on the Paynes. Mr P. received us—Mrs P. was in bed—but he went & called her & made her come & see us. She came in a long white dressing gown covered with a waterproof cloak—without a cap & her hair twisted up with the false plait sticking out—& her dressing gown was very ragged. They were both very pleased to see us—but we found them much aged & their memories seemed failing altho’ Mrs P. quoted poetry & was very agreeable. She is much shrunk & bent– We then drove to the Pantites to meet the Hankeys– The band was playing & there were a good many people. I had not been at Tun: Wells since I was about 7 years old—but I remembered it again when I saw it. We drove on to Frant to see the Stratford de Red Cliffs about an hour’s drive. They live in a small cottage quite on the road– When you get inside it is very pretty & comfortable & the view is very pretty over the Abergavenny park– Lady Stratford received us cordially & showed us all the improvements & additions to the house. She was in much better health than when I last saw her & was up & about. There was only Miss Catty Canning at home & her sister Mary who did not appear. We lunched with them & afterwards I went out in the garden with Miss Canning. There was a Lady Amelia B at luncheon, a stupid near sighted lady in a wig. After lunch she took out her eyeglasses to look at me & I turned my head to let her have a good stare at me– I felt very much enclined to turn round suddenly & catch her out. At 3.30 we left & drove back to Tunbridge. Before leaving I went up to see Lord Stratford in his room. He is a cripple from gout that is to say he is confined to his chair but he is still a very handsome—hale upright old man. I believe he is 90. He had Henry with him some time talking over things & the Eastern question & read him a letter he was going to send to the Times on this question. At Tunbridge Wells station we met Mr Leckie whom I had not see since we lived in Grafton Street. He has since married a Dutch lady. The Hankeys had several people to dinner—a Mr who came to dine & sleep & Mr & Mrs Luard & Miss Selby who owns the Moated house near here which we went to see last year– Mr L. took me to dinner & began by asking me my name. Miss Selby was oddly got up but is a bright original clever girl—curiously mushy—but unaffected. We sang after dinner. She played her own accompaniments by heart & sang & played with much feeling & taste. When they were gone played “Go bang” with Mr Hankey & Mr . | |
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