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19 July 1889 — Southampton | |
Friday. 19th [July 1889]. Dr Wiblin fetched us in his victoria & drove us about the town to show it us. We had a lovely drive on the common anciently a part of the New Forest & then we returned to the Dr’s house & I waited while he took Henry off to join the party of Huguenots who have come down to see the place & inspect the French church & the home of many Huguenot refugees. The Dr having left Henry with His Worship the Mayor & Corporation & the Huguenot party returned & we had lunch & then he & I drove off to the Dr’s happy fishing grounds. We came to a charming farm at a place called where the farmers wife Mrs Sheppard a comfortable, stout, kindly lady received us & showed us her poultry & promised us some tea on our return. On the other side of the house there was a quaint house wh I saw was to let & thinking it might suit Maria I asked Mrs S to get the key by our return that I may look over it. We then drove on past Basingstoke to another farm where the Dr kept his fishing rods & where the horse was put up & the coachman quickly transformed himself into a gillie & then we shouldered our rods & made for the Itchin. To our dismay we found the river full of floating weeds which prevented our fishing. The weeds were being cut somewhere higher up the river & were floating down in masses. There was no use trying to fish so we simply walked down to look at the stream, made a few casts & I learned the art of dry fly fishing & then we hastened back & at found Mrs Sheppard had provided us the most excellent tea & a dish of raspberry & cream & homemade bread & butter. Then the farmer came in himself & while the Dr inspected some horses I went over the little house & it quite took my fancy. We hurried on & I went to the Dolphin, dressed & found Henry waiting & the Dr joining us we went to the Huguenot dinner at the Gt Western hotel. Fred & his girl Ida were there—also Sir Henry Pack & a host more. Henry presided & had the major on his right & I next & Dr Wiblin beside me. We had eaten so much tea we could not manage much dinner but we had a pleasant evening & the speeches were not very long or many. The Dr & I walked back early to the Dolphin & sat talking with the Manageress Miss Malcham while Henry remained with the Huguenots to hear a paper read & did not return till 11. | |
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