Small tureens

Monday 2 January Vy cold morg. Dear Roy left early for Mr R. Doherty’s funeral. Hohlers left early. Fitzroy & Mrs Gibson by 4.30 train. Maud with chicks to party. Lennie fished! Bitterly cold. Hard frost. Only Mr Marriott & self remain. Lennie goes up tomorrow for 3 nights.

Tuesday 3 January Lovely morg. Little snow. V. cold. Chicks vy happy making snowman on lawn. I called to enquire Mr Outram, little better. Maudie in bed till luncheon, looks v. seedy & tired. Mr Marriott left. Maud with chicks to Mrs Lester Reed’s party. Cozy evg. alone with Maudie, worked after. Sent off postal order 8/- for nightdresses. Bed 10.45.

Wednesday 4 January My dearest’s birthday. Vy wet & damp, raw. Wrote & worked morg. Maudie’s sewing class girls made wonderful progress. Maud, Linley & self to Miss Hodgkins old peoples tea Village Hall. Gramophone excellent tea mince pies Xmas cake etc fr. A.N. Stores. Maud better but looks v. pale & pulled down by cold. Mr Secretan to tea full of G.F.S. for Maud to do work in! Little Linley dined with us & charades after. Bed early. Maud washed her head!!! V. unwise.

Thursday 5 January Mrs Breitmeyer’s dance. Mr Marriott & Mr Forrester came to stay & went to it. Lennie in London. Walked morg. Maudie’s cold still v. heavy. Wrote to Mr Smith about fire insurance, & to Roy. Great expense & bother about insurance.

Friday 6 January Dull & rain. With Maud in Car to Nymans. Great preparations for dance tonight. Marquee. Fetched Gladys Crozier & her luggage fr. Mrs Breitmeyer’s. Maud remained helping at Nymans only returning at 4.30. Lennnie comes down by 4.30 train. Mr Marriott, Mr Forrester, Gladys, Lennie & little Linley to Mrs Messel’s dance, & Mr & Mrs Hayworth Booth who dined here. Darling & self alone evg & to bed 11.30, vy late. Tabbie’s dance, Roy goes to Leweston for it.

Saturday 7 January Glorious morg. Slept v. well all night woke 8 o’c in spite of going late to bed. Mr Smith wants a cheque of £4.10.0 for insurance! Walked along new road, enquired after Mr Outram, better. After lunch walked with Maudie, Gladys & Mr Forrester & Mr Marriott to Heyworth Booths. Back to tea. Delightful walk & glorious weather. My darling fell & hurt

her upper lip. Made her look ill & had to go to bed. Doctor came & put plaster across it. V. anxious about her, such a shock.

Sunday 8 January Dull wretched day. Up early & at 10 o’c in Motor with Lennie & Linley to Haywards Heath, good muster of Lennie’s Territorial 30 boy brigade & Scouts. V. good sermon & church crowded. Darling looks v. pulled down & slept badly. Kept in bed all day. Nurse F. read to her. Gladys & Mr F & Lennie for walk. Mr M. & children. Cap. & Mrs Lester Reid (Irish Guards) & Mr Reid to dinner, charming people all 3. Mr & Mrs Heyworth B. to tea. Pleasant evg. v. late, & darling awake.

Monday 9 January No letter fr. Roy. Wrote to Mr Smith yesterday, sent cheque of £4.10.0, fire insurance. Showed Lennie letter. Dull morg, much warmer. Mr Marriott & self to lunch at Mrs Keating. Elle parle trop ce qui fatigue beauc. Vy clever woman of many parts. Limoges enamels, paintings, water colours & gold & silver work. Fair lunch. Lovely drive back but lost our way & found we had made a complete circle! Darling better but afraid worries lip muchly. Lennie to drill. Anne, Linley with Fraulein & Mr M. Mr Forrester & Gladys to Mrs Horn’s dance! 8 o’c. We 3 dined at 7. I sat with Lennie during his dinner at 9.

Tuesday 10 January Darling’s lip much swollen & the sores on it outside looking angry. I wish she would leave it alone & not keep trying fresh things. Lennie & Mr Marriott left early, Mr Forrester by 1 train. Walked morg. new road enquired for Mr Outram, better. Glorious day. Walked with Gladys & Anne to Mill after lunch. Nurse F. read to Maud, seems better. Gladys & self dined alone. Roy left yesterday for Switzerland. No letter from him.

Wednesday 11 January Cold, dull, strong wind. Income tax papers all wrong, they give as much trouble as possible. Darling looks v. thin & seedy. Lip about same, & she was v. flushed evg. Busy with preparations for her girls class in bed. Walked after calling on Lady Frederick with Gladys part way home, then sat with Darling after tea until dinner & fr. after dinner until bed time. Nurse F. read George Meredith’s Evan Harrington. Chicks to tea at Mrs H. Booths with Fraulein.

Thursday 12 January Fine. Maudie about same, still in bed, place healing v. slowly. Gladys & self lunched at Mrs C. Worsley’s, was v. amusing. Face ache. Called on

our way back on Mrs Sargeson & to enquire Mrs (illeg). Fitzroy came & dined with us.

Friday 13 January Lovely day. V. cold. My face swollen fr. cold in tooth fr. open window motor. Darling breakfasted in my bed. Walked with Gladys to Mill. V. cold. Little Linley dined evg. with us. The Heyworth Booths chicks here, little Oliver’s birthday. Charades in Maud’s room. Darling v. tired after. My face painful.

Saturday 14 January Darling breakfasted in my room. Lovely day. Walked morg with Fitz & Linley. Lennie arrived 2.15. Little L. used his gun! Maudie better, in her room on sofa. Nurse F. read “Evan Harrington”. Gladys to Talbots for tea. Hayworth Booths to dinner, my face a sight!

Sunday 15 January Lovely day, cold. Mr & Mrs Messel & Muriel to luncheon. Maudie looks very seedy & her lip more swollen. She saw Dr King & has more confidence in him. Letter fr. Mr Smith with more documents.

Monday 16 January Lennie to London. Fitzroy left by 4.20 train. More documents fr. Mr Smith! Also communication fr. Chestertons about offer for stables. Telephoned Marie. Emma’s brother died suddenly. Have decided to remain with darling few days longer. Gladys remaining until tomorrow.

Tuesday 17 January Gladys left by 10 train. Darling slept with me, both good night, but neuralgia still in face. Dr King came to see Maud, better. Vy raw & cold. Letter fr. dear Roy fr. San Moritz. Little Linley to Paperchase. Wire fr. Chesterton about offer for stables, wired accept conditionally.

Wednesday 18 January D.V. I go to Edgar, 4 train fr. Kings X. Unable to go. Remained at Balcombe on ac’t of darling Maud. Maud slept with me, vy good night. X. Wrote to Chesterton about offer for stables. Chicks to Meet & little Linley followed hounds short distance. X. Red Cross meeting here, 2 Miss Loders & Miss Oxley came, several others, Dr Matthew examiner. Tea after morg. Room. Younger Miss Loder godmother to Eve’s new Baby. I dined in Maud’s room.

Thursday 19 January Chicks to Balcombe Place for tea. Postcard fr. dear Roy. Up 2 night. Maudie slept with me. Looks worlds better all marks gone, scab gone. She dressed & came down to dinner. Lennie came for night. Walked with chicks & Fraulein to Mill after luncheon. Chicks to Lady Denman with Nurse F. to tea. Mrs Child to tea in Maud’s room to see work. I sent off my dearest’s photo to Mrs Hargreaves for miniature. Wrote Marie. Maudie better. Little Linley slight cold.

Friday 20 January Letter fr. Emma, important, & Chesterton about Stable key. Very damp, raw & foggy. Wrote to Emma, Chesterton, & Mr Smith about letting the Stable etc, also to Roy. Little Linley in bed all day bad cold. The 2 Denman babies to tea here. Maudie better & down to luncheon & dinner. Miss Hodgkins to tea, delighted with needlework, & Lady Denman also. Maudie slept with me. Lennie away tonight.

Saturday 21 January Little Linley with bad cold, throaty. Sad news of death of Cap. Sargeson which occurred yesterday after a weeks illness. Darling slept in my room, seems better. Took Oliver for walk new way to Mill, got a root of primrose in bloom, delightful companion. Walked round K. garden with darling Maud & chicks on return. After lunch with Maud to enquire in Motor after Mrs Sargeson, ill, terrible calamity. Lennie arr. 2.30 & fished. Mr & Mrs Freeman Murray dined here, excitable lady, but both interesting. Another letter fr. dear Roy.

Sunday 22 January Vy dull morg, dark & raw. Little L’s cold still v. heavy. Letters fr. Mr Smith about stables. Chesterton found key they had lost, & Mr M. Spielmann about Dearest’s drawing Fisheries diploma for Ex. 1911 in Rome. To Prayers Church, lovely hymns “This the House of Prayer” & had other Westwood ones. Maud & Lennie & self lunched at Nymans. Harold & Nonie there. Major & Mrs Talbot dined here, most delightful couple. Vy late to bed.

Monday 23 January Return home fr. Balcombe. All ready comfortably. Horrid morg. My darling drove to Station with me, would not allow her to get out. Groom 2/6, footman 2/6, Mrs Parsons 5/-, Porters 1/-, cab 3/-, Barringer 5/, Edith 5/-, Beach 4/-. Very lonely without my Dearest. Guard v. attentive & all so kind & attentive. Excellent little dinner morg. room & bed 9 o’c.

Tuesday 24 January Slept well. Saw Emma, trust she my yet remain with me, should be lost without her. To Mudies, left last book. To Chestertons about Stables, promised to see all thro’ for me, saw Mr Lane. To Gas Light & Coke comp’y to cut off gas stables. To Bank, saw Mr Smith, not sent pass book. Met Edie who returned to lunch & tea with me. We walked to Harrods, bought chocolate 2/7, galoshes 2/11, rubber rings, hair pins, combs.

Wednesday 25 January Go to Edgar. No, tomorrow Edgar D.V. Spoke to Emma, most thankful she is remaining on with me, Saw Benions about spare room estimate with paper £2.18.0, 2 coats of paint & all well done. Lunch at Maud’s ¼ to 1 o’c & go with her & chicks to theatre Henry VII, delightful, enjoyed it immensely. Back to tea with her, ret’d 6.30. Nicholas Bosanquet came & sat with me some time, grown exactly like his father, only taller & handsomer. Wish my servants w’d not quarrel amongst themselves but they do in every household so I am not alone in this.

Thursday 26 January Finished packing with Marie, her pass book mislaid. General rumpus en bas in consequence. My Darling & Linley came & I gave Maud 2 of Dearest’s drawings to have framed for Rome Exhibition & the keys of dearest’s room. Saw Benions about spare room. Go to Edgar (Grimsby) by 4o’c train fr. Kings X alone. Marie to Station with me. Linley returns to school today. Quite comfortable journey 3rd class. Motor met me Grimsby. Dear E. & S. both well, dined with them.

Friday 27 January Good night, woke early & thought of Dearest & how dreadfully I miss his dear letters. Edgar & Sophy to the Meet 10.30. Had walk with the dear dogs, lovely sunny morg & warmer air delicious feel already better. Hounds in full cry thro’ park, v. pretty sight across hill. Sophy lamed her horse & Edgar had to come back 4.45. Played Bridge after dinner. Bed 10.30.

Saturday 28 January Glorious morg. Slept v. well feel less depressed. E. & S. off 10 o’c. Had long walk with dogs 1½ hrs. Dearest’s miniature arrived, not quite right. Letters fr. Maud & Roy. Mr Stern had bad accident tobogganing, more than thankful not dear Roy. V. sorry. Wrote Roy & Maud , Sir Isadore Spielmann wants different drawing, dare not spare it. Sophy back 6 o’c, Edgar 7.30 looking v. blue & tired. Bridge after dinner.

Sunday 29 January Glorious morg, warmer. Woke early. To little Church. Walk with dogs & fed horses & birds. Lunched alone. Wrote after to Mervyn, Emma, & Spencer birthday. Edgar & Sophy off 10.30 to Church on bicycles & to lunch at Prettymans, ret’d 4.30. Sup. 8 o’c. Sophy read her Diary impressions of Ravendale when first viewed. Find it immensely improved & charming since my first visit here.

Monday 30 January Another glorious day. Huge budget lettters fr. Lee Pemberton, stable contract to be signed. Sir Isadore Spielmann worrying me for Dearest’s Fisheries Diploma. I will not send it to exhibition Rome, too risky. E. & S. left at 12 in Motor. E. looks tired, wish he was stronger. Took dogs for walk to South Ashley Waltham Signpost & enquired price of eggs. Wrote after lunch to Sir Isadore Spielmann, & Maud, postcard to Edgar. Took dogs for walk 4.30. Most beautiful sunset.

Tuesday 31 January Lovely day, frost. Another beautiful sunset. Walked for 1½ hrs along Thoresby Rd. Wrote 5 letters. Mended garments, wrote, &walked for ½ hour before tea with dogs along Louth Rd. Worked & read after tea in Hall & after dinner bed 9.30. Wrote Edgar about exorbitant charge Electric Lt, Maud, Roy, & N. Bosanquet & Mr Beale.

Wednesday 1 February Slept well. Woke early. Glorious morg. Took “Bunty” only for walk along New Drive & Ground. Huge field all white with hoar frost. No letters. Glorious morg. E. & S. return by 4 o’c train today. Took dogs for walk before tea. Another glorious sunset but v. v. cold, 10 degrees of frost! E. & S. arrived late, 8.30 dinner. They have enjoyed their ramp in London greatly. Wedding Lord Worsley great success. They went to Pantomime evg.

Thursday 2 February Dull all day & raw. Took dogs for walk & wrote letters. Drove after lunch 3 o’c with Edgar & Sophy in dog cart. Wonderfully handsome old mare Margery never stumbled once & carried herself so well. Lovely drive open expanse of country, scarcely met a soul. Showed Edgar Assignment of our Stables, thinks I had better sign & return. “Cut throat bridge” for half an hour before bedtime. Letter fr. Maud fixing 21st inst for our tramp abroad.

Friday 3 February Again dull. E. & S. off 9.30 for Meet. Letter fr. Fanny Nembhard asking me to lunch tomorrow to meet young Douet, long amusing letter fr. Tabbie, but not a word about our Mervyn, am anxious about him, not a line since they left before Xmas for “Oratava”. S. & E. returned fr. hunting to luncheon, horses not v. fit. We all went for walk after in fields & took Hi-flyer great success. S. took E’s photo, & E. hers on their hunters. Bridge evg. E. again looks depressed.

Saturday 4 February Again dull. Letter fr. Mr Smith saying they have mislaid & lost the Millers (illeg) div of £48.17.5 sent last August!!! Also he asks me for cheque of £4.10.0 again. I pd this on 9th Jan, feel v. worried & upset, but he hopes after things are settled there will be £11,500 capital which sh’d bring in £500 a year well invested, which w’d leave me £300 after paying Roy’s annuity. I wonder! & doubt . E. & S. off 10.30 to Meet looking v. smart, ret’d 4.30. E’s horse Saucy Box stumbled badly, evidently worried him. I wrote to Mr Smith & to Maud about dearest’s drawing for Rome Exhibition.

Sunday 5 February Dull grey day, & raw. Awoke v. early & ‘made hay’ mentally as my dearest would say! E. & S. to Church on cycles. I to the little Church here & to communion, nice little sermon & service. Walked round stables & garden with E. & S. after. After lunch walked with Edgar & lost Lowrie & E. had to go back to the wood for him. Tea & talked. E. has a nasty cold, knew he was not well for some days. He is too thin & ought to feed up. Read after dinner.

Monday 6 February Gala day. Lennie has given me £400 invested in 5% City of Buenos Aires Bonds. Ordered Clock & entrée dish to be returned from Amy & Navy stores. Letter fr. Tabs the Mervyns are well & enjoying the glorious sun & warmth of Oratava Canary Islands, fr. Emma about my felt carpet, fr. Mr Smith & fr. Toula, & my Robinson Gold div £10.11.0. Edgar in bed with bad cold as I feared. Cheque to Emma for wages £6.13.4. To Auxiliary stores for my carpet £4.7.8. Dear E’s cold very heavy, up after breakfast. Vet to see “Julia” & “Saucy Box” former to be fired! For drive with Sophy. Saw invalid sheep. Walked part way home. Bridge evg. E. won. Bed 10.30.

Tuesday 7 February E. has letter fr. Mervyn. Ordered my felt carpet to be put down in my bedroom fr. Army Navy Aux. Stores, & windows cleaned & yard done by Pearks man. Letter fr. Darling asking me to be home in time for the dear childrens fancy dance tomorrow. Alas! cannot manage it. No letter fr. Roy, he sh’d have reached home last evg. Dear E’s cold little better & he looks better for rest indoors. I wrote & worked all morg. in his room. Walked with Sophy to Farm & got 14 eggs 1/4 after packing. Feel side a little. Tea, & bridge after dinner, E. always wins. Bed 10.15.

Wednesday 8 February Anne’s birthday & fancy dress dance at Lancaster Gate. V sorry cannot be there. Vy dull morg. Woke v. early thundering headache remembering there is a strike on Gt Northern, fear my train will be v. late, 12.35 fr. Grimsby. No strike. E. & S. go off hunting 10 o’c. Trust his cold will not suffer, feel v. anxious about him. Got off v. comfortably, no hurry. Vy comfortable journey 3rd class & no trouble. House looks vy nice & clean. My new felt most comfortable & the little room v. nice, needs many things still. Roy dined with me & showed me photos of St Moritz. We looked thro’ papers & documents to be signed. V. cold, fires in both our bedrooms, v. cozy. Nice little dinner.

Thursday 9 February Slept well. Saw E. Will not forgive M, pity as all seemed to be working nicely together. House v. nice. To Chestertons, Nash, ordered windows to be cleaned tomorrow. To Bank ordered £200 Mexican Lt & power 5% Bonds 95 limit. Lunched at Maud’s. All look tired after yesterday’s party. Gilly there. Drove with Maud to see Ada Sp, 105 Queens Gate, so sorry for her. Maud drop’d me at the Commissioners of oaths where Roy met me & we signed several documents 15/- & registered them at Buckles off to Mr Smith. Roy on to Queen’s club, & dines at home. Wonder what I shall do about settling maids, so tiresome as I go away with Maud on 21st inst D.V.

Friday 10 February Hope sale of Stables. Fine but bitterly cold. Walked to Darling’s, saw her. Had bad night on ac’t Crewe House fire. Countess & 3 day old son moved to Ld Rosebery’s house. Maud & Lennie go to Leweston today until Sunday night. I went on to Mrs Nevill’s & arranged about dress, £12½ to 14 gns! Walked across Park to Knightsbridge, saw restive horse, & Arthur Giles & C. Loring. Worked with Marie all afternoon. Roy dined out, did a little business. Mary to Lancaster Gate & shop’d for me.

Saturday 11 February Mrs Evans comes 4 o’c to tea. Unable to come. Out with Edie in Maud’s carriage to stores, ordered 6 bots Port 10/, luggage stand 7/6, umbrella mended, lid of travelling trunk repaired etc. Walked home fr. Gardens. Worked with Edie all afternoon. V. glad to have her, Marie in another mood, v. tiresome, such a pity for herself. Flowers 1/3. Roy dined out. Sat with him, in great hurry as usual. Mr Smith at last sent me the £85 owed me.

Sunday 12 February Out 10.30 to enquire Sir Andreas de la Rue & to see Douglas at Officers Home, looks v. ill. Cab 1/-, Om 2d. Edie, Herbert & Madame (blank) to tea. Do not care for her appearance. Bitterly cold. Marie’s afternoon. Spencer, Ada & Hylda dine with Roy & self. Quite pleasant evening. Roy at Queen’s Club all day I believe. Bought £200 Mex. Lt. & Power at 96 thro’ Bank.

Monday 13 February Neville 11.30. Walked part of way there. Lady Carew there. Saw Benions about fern case 2 o’c. Emma & self looked over cleaned carpet fr. my room. Darling with Anne & Oliver to tea. She looks very thin & delicate. Most anxious about her. The rush of 2 nights to Tabbie’s did her more harm than good, & Lennie not well. Roy dined out & to first night of “Belle of New York” amateurs.

Tuesday 14 February Had car & went with Edie to Harrods, ordered blouse, knickers, house shoes, spare room slop pail etc. Enquired for Douglas, better. To Barkers, ordered blouse for dinner 4 ½ gns. Darling & Mrs Bosanquet came to tea. Maud looks pale. Roy dined out, & to “Belle of New York”. Alone evg, bed early. All busy on work for spare room, curtains, carpet etc.

Wednesday 15 February Neville 12 o’c. had car. Think dress will be nice. Lovely morg. Pd Barkers bill, Johnsons, Taxes. Mrs Evans came to stay, arrived one o’clock. Marie out afternoon & evg. Roy dined at home but went out after. Roy & I signed.

Thursday 16 February Had carriage 11.15 to Post Office sent 2/3 to Stores. With Mrs Evans to Jaeger shop Regent St. Called on Mrs Finlay, saw her. Lunched & out to be fitted with Mrs Evans at Barkers. Dear Midge came when we had finished lunch & walked with us to Barkers. So glad to see her. Told us

Milly Fraser 64 or 65 going to be married again! Foolish I fear. Mrs E. on after fitting. I ret’d & met Sir J & Lady Lawrence, wanted me to go & have tea with them, could not. Roy dines out.

Friday 17 February Neville 11 o’c. Had Maud’s carriage to Nevilles. To see Effie, Bank about Chinese & Mexican Certificates. Left Barkers receipt of Western & B. Ayres to be forwarded for certificate. X. Walked fr. Palace Gds Bayswater, called & saw Lady Hickman & May. Wanted me to stay lunch, cannot, Mrs Evans with me at home. Expected Sir R. Romer & Lady R. to tea, did not come. Roy dined out. Mrs Evans bought him azalea. Marie still waring. (Page pinned in) 17 February X. Friday. Sir Isadore Spielmann had fetched fr. Maud’s 104 Lancaster Gate dear Linley’s 2 drawings for Rome exhibition. Coronation of King Edward VII & the Almanack drawing of Ship & Syrens. Most exquisite drawing.

Saturday 18 February Another bothering paper from Lee Pemberton, have to pay £95 for Roy’s money set aside ! Awfully hard lines & but for having been vy careful sh’d be in a tight corner for money. Dear Edgar better, & had another hunting accident. Always dread his hunting season. At 11.15 Nash about drawing room blind mended. Carriage 11.30 with Mrs Evans to Barkers to be fitted. To Christies, Sir John Tenniel’s, saw dear Sir J, looks vy ill. His sis. ill in bed with nurse. At 3 to Ballad concert with Mrs E, Albert Hall, good. Walked home. Roy to dine out, & dance after Savoy! Marie took one of dearest’s pictures to Lennie for his birthday tomorrow.

Sunday 19 February Fine day but awfully windy. Packed all morg with Marie. Mrs E. to Church. Roy in at 5 this morg. after dance dinner & supper Savoy, looks puffy. Mrs E. to concert after lunch. Marie & I packed again. Mrs Mivart called. Graham & Mrs Keith to tea. Edie came with my bodice, poor Herbert ill again, w’d like to pay his expenses Brighton. Roy dined at Maudie’s, dinner for Lennie’s birthday today. Sent Marie yesterday with one of my dearest’s drawings.

Monday 20 February Packed or finished packing with Marie. Lady Romer & Fanny Nembhard called, did not see either. Mrs Evans left by 4 with me in Motor, saw her to Victoria, & called to enquire after Douglas, going on well, & to see the darlings & Maud. Roy dined with me & to bed early. All working so well for me. Roy wishes bolts on top room doors. Col Hensman died aged 71. Another dear old friend gone.