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11 August 1891 — Milton Court, nr. Dorking, Surrey | |
Tuesday. 11th August [1891]. Mrs Rate had 53 from the district they visit in Lambeth, down to spend the day. They arrived abt 12– We lunched at 1 & then went down to the barn where these people’s dinner was prepared– They were fed sumptuously on beef & pie & tarts & we helped to wait upon them. There were of course several babies of the party. After dinner they wandered off the men (there were abt 12) to play cricket, the women to take a walk– Our butler Paolo drove the poney carriage solemnly to & fro with some of the women—& at last one of them asked if “that was the gentleman who is going to carry off our Miss Ida” they thought he looked so grand! Abt 4.30 they all met again in the barn for tea which they enjoyed even more than the dinner & then we cleared a tea table out—& having a piano & pianist dancing began– The pianist played so badly that Mrs Rate turned him out & took his place & she & Enid played the rest of the time by turns—while I lead the dancing. At first every body was shy & only 2 young women came to dance—but gradually many joined in—especially one exceedingly stout middle aged woman who danced very well & we danced the Varsoviana together with great success. At abt 7.30 the guitar was brought & Ida Rate sang every body joining in the chorus. Then one of the Lambeth sang a song with a rich contralto voice & all the others joined in the chorus my fat friend singing a 2nd. We had danced Sir Roger, the polka, valse, the new dance Iolanthe, the reel, jig & Swedish dance & they thoro’ly enjoyed themselves. Then it was time to begin to think of returning to London & Mrs Rate gave them each a bouquet of flowers & said a kind word to them & packed them up in the 2 farm wagons & sent them off to the station at Dorking. They had arrived at the station at 8.30 this morning but owing to a mistake had not found a train till ten ocl so did not arrive as early as they might. It was after 8 when they were started off so we fear they did not catch the 8.23 train. We had dinner at 8.30 & went to bed directly after very tired. | |
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