[Manchester—Saturday, 2 August 1873]
Saturday. August 2. Jamie has gone to town. There was a glorious shower last night but it is even warmer than ever today—yet there is a delicious freshness this afternoon.
Mrs Putnam talked of Mr. Rowse the artist & his engagement to Miss Dunn. As he has had as wide an opportunity of observing ladies as any man of our time and has lived to be about 50 before making any choice, we have all been interested and pleased to hear of his present happiness. She talked of Rowse’s wit and humor. We both agreed he has a vast deal upon which she told us three instances we found worth remembering—the best was of Mrs Taytassac, a poor woman who is slightly lame. Miss Putnam was speaking of her lameness to Mr. Rowse—O is she lame, he said—why yes said Miss P. very lame and then correcting herself, not so very perhaps. Yes said Mr. Rowse I believe we might say one foot is rather better than the other!!
Again speaking of Boston as the only place to live in America—Yes said R. I have tried New York and other places but always have to come back. It is rather a pity there isn’t a choice! Again talking of a sudden death to him Miss Putnam tried to soften the gloomy character of her announcement by saying—after all perhaps it is not the worst kind of death. O no said R. I think I might be rather fond of it if I once got used to it!!
