William Allingham’s diary, 1887

Thaw — slush. Read Gulliver in the nursery.

H., G., E. and I to pond. I put skates on after at least seventeen years — clumsy.

Out after dinner — bright stars — half-moon — frost in the morning. Aconite in flower, hazels hung with green catkins.

Evey's birthday — H. and I with the three children into copse below Moorey's, and find a few small primroses. Tea, cake, games, etc. H. busy over the Bond Street…

Revising Poems all through.

Very fine and vernal. In garden, pruning.

Easter Monday — Fine, G., E. and I walk ; Toll House, field -lane, some prim- roses. Bank studded with wood-anemones, primroses, violets. Dream : I went down the…

After midnight went into garden — feeling rather depressed. Sprinkle of rain. Hear first nightingale down in copse — feel cheered.

Helen and I to London with cargo of drawings for her Exhibition. Drove to Bond Street, settling frames, etc. In the evening to Old Swan House, and were kindly…

Old Swan House. I visit Carlyle statue. Mrs. De Morgan (sweet-looking old lady) and Mary. ' Spiritualism — The Haslemere people whose fire is lighted by ghosts.'…

R. A. Private View. H. and K. Green- away, Brett (' didn't know K. G. was a real person '), Fildes, Mrs. Stephens, etc. Albert Moore (dines with me at Liberal Club).

Old Swan House. Pack up. Private View, Grosvenor — Hennessy, Holman Hunt, Browning: he tells story of Fontenelle — ' miserly noble dropt alms into the bag ; being…

H. and I call on Huxleys — tea, pleasant talk — at Marks's. Alma Tadema's new house, Grove End Road — Mrs. Tadema friendly. The studio like a Byzantine church. Mrs.…

Dine at Mr. Walter Besant's. Mr. B. thinks the Cloister and the Hearth the best historical novel in the world. He thinks a novelist can't be a dramatist. (But in…

Eldon Road, Dr. Martineau comes to luncheon (82) — tall, thin, courteous, deliberate. Curiously modelled, deep-lined face ; close-shaven ; hair still bushy in…

Fine, cool wind. H. and I drive, by invitation, to Manor House, Haslemere, which we reach about 4.15. Miss Wolseley receives us, then Lady Wolseley comes, lively,…

Visitors. Miss Wolseley told us that Lady Wolseley and she, on 2 1 st, breakfasted at six o'clock in the morning and sat in the Abbey till 4 p.m., without any food…

Dine at Busbridge. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsden — Lady Galway, tall, in black. Catches my hand in both hers, thanking me for lines on her Brother. (' Farewell, dear…

Miss M. Betham Edwards. G. and I meet her at train. She republican and Home ruler. I drive her round by Brook, Lea, and Witley Village.

Very fine and breezy. Miss B. Edwards on garden seat with children. Gerald and I to Portsmouth by 12.5 special — empty at first, then fills. Station — crowded…

H. to train for her mother, with Henny; Evey and 1 wait at gate, pick laurel leaves.

Cooler, but not a drop of moisture (no dew even). H. drove to Manor House with Henny, picking up Mrs. Thompson and daughter; Gerald and I walked over, and found H.…

Fine, cooler. H. and I, with Evey, drive to Mrs. Simmons's garden party, Shotter Mill. George Craik and Dinah, Mr. and Mrs. Pratt, the Bucktons, two Miss Griffiths,…

H. and I drive Toby to Thursley, with Mary Stewart, to call on Lowes Dickinson, find him with daughter at cross-roads going out to paint. Wheeler's Farm — (Toby in…

Arthur, H.'s brother from London — drives her, with Mary Stewart, to Chiddingfold. ' Story written with Besant ' — Arthur's own novel.

Arthur rides Toby to Hind- head Cross — goes with Mr. Colvin to Boro' Farm. Lowes Dickinson and two daughters come ; tea in garden ; friendly talk.

Drive H. and Gerald to Boro' Farm, under Bodboro' Hill, past rifle-ground, moor, lane. Alfresco-ists under big ash, the Glovers, the Colvins, children. Miss Glover,…

[To Mrs. Turner's, Barlow Fold, Poynton — British Association at Manchester.] Mr. Rollo Russell, fellow-guest, has come from Haslemere in same train.

Poynton. H. and I in pony-cart to Prestbury, then she to white cottage on Macclesfield Road, where she puts up and paints. I into Prestbury, church and old chapel.…

Fine; garden — brook (wild angelica about 12 feet high), shady dark paths, bridge. H. painting apple-tree from field ; Mrs. Turner drives us to Bramhall, to call on…

Drive to Stockport station with Mrs. Turner — good-bye.

Start with H. for Aid- worth at noon in Toby-carriage, arrive about 1.15. Carriage passes us with Mr. Arthur Tennyson and wife. Luncheon. Arthur T. opposite me —…

To Dunrozel [Hindhead.] Countess Russell and daughter. Colonel and Mrs. Moncreiff. Talk with Colonel M. ' Indians — their way of moving — kind of leaping on their…

Fine — Henny and I up common. Crowd of visitors — Lady Midleton and daughters and guests (seven in all), Mrs. Stewart Hodgson and Mrs. Freeman {nee Merivale), Miss…

Indigestion continually, tedious nights. If I only knew for certain what to eat and drink !

H., G., and I to Hasle- mere by 4.7 train and walk to Valewood by Mason's fields, farm, locked gate, old walnut. Three Counties' Bridge, Valewood ponds and hills…

Fine — some sunshine. H. and I by 12.45 ^° Haslemere and walk up Blackdown. Shooting heard. Beaters in lane, eating bread and cheese. H. lunches among the heather.…