| Description | Particular entries include details of holidays taken by Charlotte. She travels to Hastings with Mary and Sidney on 31 May, and they visit Battle Abbey on 3 June as well as the castle and caves at Hastings. The summer holiday is again spent in Whitby in August and September. Charlotte is able to take walks on the cliff and pier, and walks to Ruswarp with Bennett on 30 August. Mary goes to the market for provisions, and attends a performance of 'Sherlock Holmes' on 2 September. They go for a picnic at Robin Hood's Bay on 6 September. Charlotte also visits friends at Tonbridge Wells on 11 September and stays in Harpsden on 25 September.
Leisure activities in London are also described. Charlotte goes with Mary and Bennett to Westminster abbey on 23 June to see the busts of the kings of England, and Mary takes Bennett for a birthday treat to the Tate Gallery on 24 July. Charlotte and Bennett watch the procession for Lord Kitchener's return, and that of the Indian and Colonial troops from the Boer war on 12 July and Charlotte reports on Edwards VII's coronation on 9 August.
Charlotte spends her time attending church services, household tasks, writing letters, reading, visiting friends, and entertaining at home. She also does some hospital visiting at the Brompton hospital. Mary is also involved with hospital visiting and committee work.
Charlotte's health problems are recorded. She is ill for some days in April with a troublesome cough, and is visited by Dr Coates on 22 April 'to please Mary'. He diagnoses irritation of the larynx. She also visits Dr Coates 17 October 'to have my sight tested'.
Reading matter includes 'The Miracles of Jesus', 'Asiatic Turkey', 'British Agreement with Japan', 'Life of Sir J. Paget', 'Rider Haggard's book', 'The Reality of Grace', 'Eucharistic Adoration', 'Miss Ward on East Africa' and 'the Arch[bishop] of Canterbury on the Education Bill' (which is noted on 8 December) |