[Manchester—Monday, 31 July 1876]
Monday. The cellar is afloat and the rain still falls more and more heavily. I have never see either such rain or such heat as we have had. The drought has been fearful for nearly two months and now the rain is to match. Jamie has gone to town. Anna and Imogen & Nelly are amusing themselves as they best can. I hear the crackling of fire down stairs, but I am grateful for my own dry quiet study.