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30 July 1898 — Hatfield | |
Saturday. 30th July 1898. Chaplain’s House Hatfield. I open my journal once more to write—now that all is over & I can collect my thoughts & write of what happened. On Saturday 16th Mr Gould came at 10 A.M. He found Arthur was too weak for his usual bath so he did what was necessary for his comfort & then lifted him on to the couch. There he remained till abt 1 when we carried him back to his bed. He appeared mostly unconscious but whenever I moved away he looked for me. As it was so very hot we moved his bed into the middle of the room opposite the windows where he could get most light & air. He knew Rhuvon & me & still seemed to look for me but was restless & his breathing bad & loud– After 5 P.M. he seemed to be unconscious & when Dr Gould came in the eveng he said he thought he would hardly live thro’ the night– We all watched Nellie, Rhuvon, Mildred & I & the 2 nurses– The dawn came & the birds sang & daylight came & still he lived– We thought he wd go about 4—but the hour passed & the nurses said he would live on– We snatched moments of rest from 5 till 8 & then resumed our watch– Constance came abt 9.30—& joined us. Abt 11.30 on Sunday 17th July he suddenly seemed to grow quieter. I rushed forward & took his hand & stood there & held it till at 8 minutes past 12 he passed away as quietly as a child asleep. I bent & kissed him & all was over– The day before I knelt by his bed & read the 31st Psalm & in the night I read some prayers in the Prayerbook service for the sick & the blessing. I hardly know how I managed it—my voice shook & the tears came. Well, after all our care & watching he was gone & there seemed to fall a great silence on the world. There was much to be done telegraphing to friends—& arranging for the funeral on Tuesday 19th. The service was in St James’ Piccadilly. Many sent beautiful flowers to lay on his coffin which was covered with a purple pall—& one hardly realize that it was all over till they bore the coffin from the church & took him quite from us—& there was nothing more left to do for him. They took him straight to Woking & there his body was cremated & purified by the flame which went up to heaven after his soul. On the next day Wednesday. 20th I came off to stay here with Nellie’s brother Monty Alderson—who is curate to his cousin Lord William Cecil who is rector of Hatfield & Chaplain to his Uncle Lord Salisbury. Kate was with him for 2 days when I first came & Eda came when she left. On Thursday last 27th I went up to town for the day to see Molly Alderson & to try & get her to arrange to allow her something a year so that she might be married to Mr Charles Wild. I offer to allow her something if Molly will. She promised to do so & to consider it & let me know– Our party here now is Eda & Nellie also Arthur Du Cane who came down yesterday. Monty preached at the church this morning & we all went to church & then took Arthur DC. to see over Hatfield House before luncheon– It is a lovely day & not very hot. Monty A was away doing duty at St Mark’s most of the day & Eda went off in the afternoon to meet him. After 5 o’clock tea Nellie, Arthur DC. & I went & sat in the Hatfield House garden & took my little green paraqueet in a basket & let it loose. As it has lost all its wing feathers it could not fly away. We all assembled at dinner at 8 & Arthur DC. went off by the 9 o’clock train back to town. We had much debate about dismissing Monty’s housekeeper Mrs Burt whom we discover to be disgustingly dirty in her person. I told her she must leave tomorrow—but she found she cannot on acct of the Bank holiday. | |
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