Diary of Annie Adams Fields

Wednesday. Fine party made for us at the home of Mrs Frederick Lehmann. This was really my first experience of the wit of a London dinner-table of the first rank, in our time. Here was Robert Browning, Mr. & Miss Halle, of high renown in the world of music just now (he stands at the head I...

Thursday. Went to see William Morris, maker of painted glass windows and objects of medieval art. Poet also. We found a healthy honest man, frank clear eyes, blue blouse embroidered with white thread. A quaint house, shop underneath in a part of London forsaken by fashion looking out on the...

Friday. Saw Westminster Abbey. Went to the theatre to see Clarke in the evening with Charles Reade. The latter met us there and came into the box bringing me a bouquet. He was pretty deaf but in a most friendly mood. It was interesting to see how the eyes of the actors all turned as it were to...

Saturday. Heard Halle play and Madame Norman-Neruda in the afternoon. She has the pale strongly impassioned face of a true artist. Her playing is unrivalled. Halle too is wonderful. Went to a party at Conway’s in the evening. Saw Karl Blind’s daughter, Mr. & Mrs Smalley, the Cyrus Fields’,...

Tuesday went to the Isle of Wight—met W. Allingham on the boat at Lymington, a small town where he is revenue officer with small duty and no companion-ship. He is a sad man, disappointed, full of Bryan Boruer and Irish History at present which he intends to write; poetry having failed him as a...

We breakfasted at ½ past 9 the next morning, Tennyson coming in to the table and Mrs Tennyson rising to kiss him before he sat down. He has an attic chamber near his study and Allingham told me that in the night he walked into his room which was adjoining, in his shirt and walked and talked an...

In the morning he joined us again—“Are you people going to sit at breakfast all day” he said, as we lingered talking. He walked off over the green without his hat which I carried to him and then he went with us again towards Mrs Cameron’s. She was expecting us wishing to photograph J. &...

Friday 28. British Museum.

Saty 29. Windsor & Richmond with Mr. Dickens.

Sunday 30. Heard Mr. Brooke preach. Mr & Mrs Lewes. Mrs. Dallas Watts at Little Holland House.

Mon. 31. Eveg Jamie goes to see Lewes again. See National Gallery—Hampton Court.

Wednesday June 2d We came to Gad’s Hill Place. Mr. Dickens met us at the end of the footpath to the house, asked us if we did not prefer to go that way, and, wearing all the time an unalloyed face of welcome, carried us by the Swiss Chãlet to the door where stood Mr. & Mrs Collins, Miss...

Thursday the gentlemen started early and walked to the druid stone at Maidstone; we ladies started somewhat later, I in the large carriage alone with Miss Hogarth. We met the gentlemen by the stone where Mr. Dickens explained that he believed it to be simply like a kind of pulpit and...

Friday. Went to Cooling into the old churchyard of “Great Expectations” (A more dreary spot or one more faithfully described cannot be imagined). There are the 12 little gravestones like little figures with “their hands in their trousers pockets, as if they had been born so and had never...

Saturday walked to the village of Cobham through a delicious part of the great park belonging to Cobham house. There is the small inn to which Mr. Tupman retired from his party after his trouble with Miss Wardle.

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...

Monday. Started for Canterbury at 9 o’clock a.m. It was ten P.M. before we returned for dinner. A day of great pleasure—summer was upon us, every thing was in full luxury of loveliness and I could seem to see the little figure of David Copperfield trudging by our side. The party went in two...

Tuesday. Dear Jamie went to town. Miss Hogarth told me about the family, showed me the house, the cellar etc. I have the deepest respect for her, she has been able to do everything for C.D. in his home. Company to lunch of ladies. C.D. did not join but sat in the hay and on the roof almost all...

Went to Chatham Wednesday—that night talked with Miss Hogarth.

Thursday morning left Gad’s Hill. Dickens came in the cars with us nearly to London. We separated without words in the carriage and he jumped out alone. Conversation flagged and Jamie making a desperate attempt to revive it at one point C.D. laughed merrily at what he called his wretched use...

Friday. Saw Cambridge through the kindness of Mr. Wright who showed us the mask of Newton’s face and told us that Tennyson took his “broad browed Verulam” from the bust in the library. We saw Milton and Wordsworth’s haunts and much that moved us sincerely. Coming to Peterboro’ by the...

Saturday in York. To service in the Cathedral; walked on the walls, came in the afternoon to Edinburgh.

Sunday. We have Mr. Dickens’ rooms in Kennedy’s hotel. Whichever way we turn thoughts of him accompany us. How strange a thing is friendship and how poor we should be without it in this world.

Monday ill. Dr. John Brown came to see us.

Tuesday. Weather dark, pouring rain, vegetable market just beneath our windows. Dine with Dr. Brown.