[Manchester—Monday, 10 July 1876]
Monday. Miss Howard and Mrs Thompson interested us more and more every moment of their stay. They were so tired with the entire care of the college during the winter that they were more induced to listen to what the sea could say to them, than to talk, but it was beautiful to watch their really lovely faces. I have seldom seen so much real beauty. There is a divine light upon them. We drove together during the morning and they left us at two o’clock. I read Cymbaline aloud, in the afternoon. It is very hot and dry. We see lovely showers everywhere else but here they come not.