CHAPTER XIII.
1876-1877.
"Round my House."—Journey to England after seven years' absence.
—Friends in London.—Visit to Mr. Samuel Palmer.—Articles for the
"Encyclopaedia Britannica."—Death of my sister.—Mr. Appleton.
The note-book for 1876 opened with the following rules, written by my husband for his own guidance:—
"Rise at six in winter and five in summer. Go to bed at eleven in winter and ten in summer. There must be two literary sittings every day of two hours each. The first to be over as soon as possible, in order to leave me free for practical art work; the second to begin at five p.m., and end at seven p.m.
"Something really worth reading must be read every day, the quantity not fixed.
"I must go out every day whatever the weather may be.
"Time may be taken, no matter when, for putting things in order. The best way is to do it every morning before setting to work. It is better to try to keep things in order than to accumulate disorder.
"Keep everything quite in readiness for immediate work in literature and art.
"When tired, rest completely, but never dawdle. Be either in harness or out of harness avowedly. Special importance is to be given to painting this year. Pictures are to be first painted in monochrome, in raw umber and white. Read one thing at a time in one language. All rules suspended during fatigue."