“Feb., 1885.
“I have been out twice this week, once to Mrs. Dacre Craven’s (née Florence Lees), wife of the Rector of St. George’s, Bloomsbury. There were many interesting things to be seen, among others a series of photographs of Mecca, also of Medina. They must have been done by a Mahommedan, as it is death to a Christian to enter these sacred places.
“Another evening I went to the Countess D’Avigdor’s. She is a most beautiful old lady. The ladies were flashing with diamonds, and there was some splendid music. But most of the men were Conservative, and were abusing Gladstone in a most shameful way.
“Did I tell you I met Mr. Guthrie (vice versa Guthrie)? He is very simple and unaffected. I saw him at Mrs. Ashbee’s. Sir Spencer Wells was also there, the famous doctor.”
“June 6, 1886.
“I go to Oxford on Friday, to stay till Tuesday, and a most splendid programme of University sights, luncheons, dinners, meetings, etc., is arranged for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I am to be the guest of Mr. Thomas and his sister; I think he is a Master of Queen’s, but am not sure of the college. Friday and Saturday I must give to the Head-mistresses’ meetings, but I shall see a good deal of Oxford life. It will be grand to be in Oxford on Whit-Sunday.”
“June 29, 1890.
“Every day this week is full of engagements, and I find it difficult to escape them. I like to accept some. I should much have liked to go to Mrs. Gladstone’s garden-party, and also to the Duke of Westminster’s garden-party (I was asked as a subscriber to the Church House), but I could not manage either, in consequence of previous plans—Rugby, for instance.
“For the first time, yesterday, I went to the Rugby Speech Day, at the invitation of Dr. Percival, the Head-master. ‘Tom Brown’ was there, and when Dr. Percival announced him the cheers were deafening. Mr. Hughes has aged since I last saw him. He has made Rugby known to every civilized country, as well as live for ever in the memory of Rugbeians.
“Our own Prize Day was quite the best we have had for several years. The Bishop of Rochester made an excellent speech, in perfect taste, and Lady Elizabeth Biddulph, daughter to our early friend, the late Countess of Hardwicke, also delivered a good speech, which was liked by parents and girls. She is a thorough-going Temperance speaker, accustomed to large audiences.”