[Boston—Thursday, 2 April 1868]
Thursday Fast Day. Yesterday was warm as summer with a west wind. Today the easterly gusts come blowing back over us. We heard the Christmas Carol for the last time in Boston. And such a wonderful evening as it was!! We were on fire with enthousiasm and in spite of some people who went with us (Dr & Mrs Gould of Cambridge) looking as C.D. said as if they were sorry they had come, they were really filled with enthousiasm and enjoying as fully as their critical and crossed natures could allow. He himself was full of fun and put in all manner of queer things for our amusement; but what he put in, involuntarily, when he turned on a man who was standing staring fixedly at him with an open glass, was almost more than we could bear. The stolidity of the man, the fixed glass, the despairing, annihilating look of Dickens was too much for our equanimity.
Thursday. Anniversary of C.D.s marriage day & of John Forster’s birthday. C.D. not at all well, coughing all the time and in low spirits. Mr. Dolby came in when J. was there in the morning to say there were two gentlemen from New Bedford (friends of Mr. Osgood’s) who wished to see him. Would he allow them to come in—“No I’ll be damned if I will” he said, like a spoiled child starting up from his chair! J. was equally amused and astounded at the outburst but sleeplessness, narcotics, and the rest of the crew of disturbers have done their worst. My only fear is he may be ill. However they had a walk together towards noon and he revived but coughed badly in the evening. I think, too, only $1300 in the house was bad for his spirits!!! Last night the rain & altogether made the house a poor paying house though it looked full.
