14 October 1867 – 20 October 1867

Garden ; fierce Virginian owls which dash against the bars of their cage to get at you as you turn away : other creatures. Taylor's estimate of Household Expenses ('for Greengrocer, ^58,' and so on), ending with, ' This does not include Wild Beasts.' I sit over proofs all day in the big room — post them. Call at Morris's, ' out of town.' At Mrs. Rossetti's, ^ Allingham's paper, afterwards published in his volume of Varieties in Prose. Euston Square. The dear old lady looking strong still, with her handsome full-coloured face and rich- toned voice of sincere and touching intonations. She says nothing clever but it's always a pleasure to be near her. Miss R., Christina, and Miss Heaton. Mrs. R. expresses her pleasure at Gabriel's having visited me, thinks it has done him good, talks as if 1 were a sort of Mentor to him, which makes me feel rather ashamed. Away, rain, cab to Fitzroy Square ; upstairs, Madox Brown, Mrs. B., Lucy, in green dress, Katty, young half-sister with fair hair ; Marshall, Dunn. Piano, Grog.

Call on Ned ; Italian Model, a peasant woman — at Mr. Simon's. Call on Froude. Back to Chelsea, then D. G. R. "^and I to the Cafe de I'Europe, Haymarket, where we meet Ned and dine. Ned goes, R. and I walk to Queen's Square, Morris out. On the way I buy (for I OS.) an old painting on panel, 'Virgin and Child,' ^ which R. says is ' Flemish, before Rubens, Porbus time.' Cab to Euston Road, to Taylor's lodging. T. Morris, Webb, D. G. R. lounges. I say the rhyme about ' There's a louse on my back Twenty years old ! ' (which I heard Tennyson give). Morris repeats it with furious emphasis and gestures, making us all shout with laughter. Poor Taylor — tall, with eager hatchet face — is ghastly thin but full of mental energy — vociferates, then must stop to cough. ' Won't go away this winter.' Cheyne Walk — call at Carlyle's. When the door opens, see him in the passage ; he says in an angry voice — ' Go away, sir ! I can do nothing with you.' I go away, with reflections many and black. What can it mean } Call on Froude at Record Office, make up, and renew FrajdT agreement in a way. He says 'Byron was the greatest man of the century — greater than Alfred ' {i.e. A. T.). I tell of Carlyle's rebufl^ which surprises him ; says he has strange moods. Cheyne walk, D, G. R. and I (not like old times).

Cheyne Walk, pack up, R. lolling on the bed ; cab to Waterloo — train to Lymington. N.B. — Very kind letter from Carlyle — did not know me that day I called ; ' must blame my poor old eyes. Allingham's company would have been very welcome to me,' How I have tormented myself!