[Gad’s Hill Place—Sunday, 6 June 1869]
Sunday was a warm day, my birthday. I went to my room directly after breakfast and stayed till afternoon when we went to the Chãlet together—C.D., Miss Hogarth, J. & I. The fresh air was blowing in from the river over the green fields and Dickens was more quiet and had more the aspect of a man enjoying his own home than I had ever seen him wear. It did not last long however; he lay stretched out on the couch talking about an hour & then started up and went to the croquet ground for a game of bowls. Miss Hogarth and I sat by while the game went forward. Tea was brought to the play ground.
