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1 July 1895 — Devonshire House, Weymouth | |
Monday. 1st July [1895]. My 52nd birthday. This day last year was the last that Henry & I had a quiet talk & he told me abt his will. He said “Oh this is your birthday. I have no present for you—but you have your pearls. I have no more for you. You will never have any more pearls now.” I told him I should never want any more—& then he went on to give me directions as to what I was to do “if anything happened to him” & that I should find all necessary papers in his travelling bag wh at that moment was under his batt. I got up & he said “Where are you going.” I said to lock up that bag”– He said “Oh there is no hurry– At least I hope not—but yes perhaps you had better lock it up.” I said I only thought he would like me to do it at once as it might fidget him– Then we talked about the Dyers & he said he wished me to buy one of Mr Dyer’s pastels so as to help them—& also to give Mr Herring a good sum. I said How much & then we discussed whether it should be £50 or £100—& he said “Well settle it with Sir Henry Thompson—ask him”– While I was dressing this morning I gave Felicie notice to quit at which she seemed pleased—said she had intended to leave & to become a courier maid—so I need not have worried about her– Augusta & I went by 10.10 train to Wimborne & got there at 11. We walked to Canford by the drive & I went in to the lodge to see old Mrs Hayes whom I had known since I was a child. Her husband was a blacksmith—they were very respectable people– Had had a daughter—their great joy. A farmer’s son had seduced her & she fled– Luckily our clergyman Mr Ponsonby had found her & rescued her. I have never heard of her since. When we got to Canford it was a lovely day & we went straight to the church & there settled Henry’s final resting place. We chose a spot close to the church porch near a large tree where the sound of the organ would reach & which one can see while sitting just inside the porch. Being close to the path & the church porch it seemed less lonely & I like to think of it near to life. I there met Mr Fawkes the rector & showed the place to him. I saw also the spot where my mother was buried—but as yet there is no stone put up. We went back to the house & while lunch was preparing I took Augusta to the Nineveh porch & showed her part of the house. At 2 the “cat” came for us & I took her to see the village, tennis court & kitchen garden & then we drove to the station & I took the 3 o’cl train back to Weymouth & got there by 5 o’cl tea time. Augusta returned to London by 3.30 train. | |
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