23–29 September 1878

At twenty minutes to five drove in the waggon- ette with the Duchess of Roxburghe and Harriet Phipps to the Glen Gelder S'/ize/, and had tea there ; and then drove to Abcrgeldie Jkfams, where Sir Thomas Biddulph had been very ill for a week. We got out, and I went upstairs and saw Mary (Lady) Biddulph. Sir William Jenner came into the drawing-room, and said Sir Thomas would like to see me. I went to his room with Sir William, and found Sir Thomas in bed, much the same as when I saw him on Saturday, looking very ill, but able to speak quite loud. He said " I am very bad ! ,: I stood looking at him, and took his hand, and he said, " You are very kind to me," and I answered, pressing his hand, " You have always been very kind to me." I said I would come again, and left the room.

At eleven o'clock started off with Beatrice for Abcrgcldie Mains to inquire after Sir Thomas. I went upstairs, and Blake, the former nurse, came in much distressed, saying how ill he was. Then she asked if I would like to look at him, which I did from the door. We (Beatrice and I) were both much upset. We left, intending to re- turn in the afternoon, and got back to Balmoral by a quarter to twelve. Sat writing in the garden- , cottage. While I was writing, at a quarter to one Brown came round with a note in his hand, cry- ing, and said " It's all over ! ' It was from Sir William, saying that dear "Sir Thomas passed away at twenty minutes past twelve. Lady Biddulph as well as the children were with him to the last." We were so distressed tnat we had not remained at the house, and Brown so vexed and so kind and feeling. Dreadful ! Such a loss ! Dear Sir Thomas was such an excellent, honest, upright, wonderfully unselfish and disinterested man — so devoted to me and mine. Under a somewhat undemonstrative exterior, he was the kindest and most tender-hearted of men. How terrible is this loss for his poor, poor wife and the children who adored him !