18 September 1865 – 24 September 1865

Walked to Aubrey. Met a poor looking woman who asked, ' How far to Lymington ? ' I answered, ' half a mile,' saw she looked very tired and questioned her. Says she has walked twenty-two miles to-day, on her way from Portland, where she has been to see her son, who is in the Convict Prison (for theft). ' My poor boy ! it wasn't altogether his fault, — he fell into bad company — he has got three years. He got the Governor's order for me to see him — he wouldn't have asked for it if he had known how bad-off I was. I walked down from London to see him, and now I'm walking back. I saw him for about half an hour, in a cage as you might sav.' I fully believed her and gave her something, for which she was very grateful. ' God return it to you ! ' What women suffer from husbands, and from children !

Warm and bright — walk in Forest, but without enjoyment — my thoughts astray.