Ever your devoted,
J.H.E.

TO A.E.

Farnham Castle, Surrey. Oct. 10, 1880.

DIARY OF MRS. PEPYS.

“Oct. 9.—­Passed an ill night, and did early resolve to send a carrier pigeon unto the Castle to notify that I must lie where I was, being unable to set forward.  But on rising I found myself not so ill that I need put others to inconvenience; so I did but order a cab and set forth at three in the afternoon, in pouring rain.  My hostess sent with me David her footman, who saved me all trouble with my luggage, and so forth from Frimley to Farnham.  A pause at the South Camp Station, dear familiar spot, a little before which the hut where my good lord lay before we were married loomed somewhat drearily through the mist and rain.  At Farnham the Lord Bishop’s servitor was waiting for me, and took all my things, leading me to a comfortable carriage and so forth to the Castle.

Somewhat affrighted at the hill, which is steep, and turns suddenly; but recovered my steadfastness in thinking that no horses could know the way so well as these.

The Bishopess and her daughter received me on the stair-case, and we had tea in the book-gallery, a most pleasing apartment.

Thence to my room to rest till dinner.  It is a mighty fine apartment, vast and high, with long windows having deep embrasures, and looking down upon the cedars and away over the whole town, which is a pretty one.

Methinks if I were a state prisoner, I would fain be imprisoned in an upper chamber, looking level with these same cedar-branches, whereon, mayhap, some bird might build its nest for mine entertainment.

Dinner at 8.15.  Wore my ancient brocade newly furbished with olive-green satin, and tinted lace about my neck, fastened with a brooch made like to a Maltese Cross, green stockings and shoes embroidered with flowers.

Was taken down to dinner by Sir Thos.  Gore Browne, an exceeding pleasant old soldier, elder brother to the Bishop,—­having before dinner had much talk with his Lordship, whom I had not remembered to have been the dear friend of our dear friend the Lord Bishop of Fredericton, when both prelates were curates in Exeter.”

* * * * *

I am very much enjoying my visit to this dear old Castle.  They are superabundantly kind!  After the evening yesterday everybody, visitors and family, all trooped into the dimly-lighted chapel for Evening Prayer.  They sang “Jerusalem the Golden,” and Gen. Lysons sang away through his glass, in his K.C.B. star, and came up to compliment me about it afterwards....

October 22, 1880.

Yesterday was Trafalgar Day.  About half-a-dozen old Admirals of ninety and upwards met and dined together!  I don’t know what I would not have given to have been present at that most ghostly banquet!  How like a dream, a shadow, a bubble, a passing vapour, and all the rest of it, must life not have seemed to these ex-midshipmen of the Victory and the Temeraire! muffling their poor old throats against this sudden frost, and toddling to table, and hobnobbing their glass in old-fashioned ways to immortal memories,