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14 April 1885 — Canford Manor, nr. Wimborne, Dorset | |
Tuesday. 14th April [1885]. Lovely day, breakfast at 9. Ivor came over fm Bourne. abt 10 & he & Henry had a long morning with Biraghi over the staircase. I went out for a long walk to see some of my old friends among the poor. I went thro’ the gardens by the Queen’s walk up to the keeper’s & had a long talk with Mrs Wren the keeper’s wife; she showed me all the chickens, eggs, incubators &c, & then called old Dean who was carrying fagots in the wood, to speak to me—3 of his sisters had been with us at the Bourne when we were young. I noticed his hair was getting white & said he need not mind as mine was the same—to wh he answered ’yes I suppose we be pretty nigh of an age, how old may you be.” I said I was 42 at wh he grinned & said he was 64. I went on to see Mrs Barnes another of his sisters who lived on the Poole road & coming home thro’ the woods I happened upon old Baker the woodman, & walked home with him—as I passed the vicarage the vicar, Mr Williams was looking over his wall so I stopped a moment & had a little political chat with him about the Primrose League meeting wh had been held at Poole last night Ivor being in the chair. We agreed in disliking Gladstone but in being Liberals. As I hastened home I met old Wren himself in his cart & had a little chat with him & then had to hurry in to luncheon having had a delightful walk wh reminded me of old days. After lunch I got the keys of the church & we took Biraghi in to see it & then took him up to see the tennis court. Great was his surprise when one of the white flannelled men playing happened to turn & he recognised Lord Wimborne. Biraghi could not believe he would work so hard. Henry & B walked home thro’ the garden & I went to see old Mrs White who is ill in bed but very pleased to see me again. Had 5 o’cl tea & Henry & I went back to Bourne by the 5.30 train. Cornelia who had spent the day in Wimborne went back with us. I was quite sorry our little visit to my old home was over– It is the first time since Ivor married & I also that I had been there alone as in old days free to come & go as I liked. We dined 8.30 & played whist in the eveng. | |
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