| Description | Particular entries concern Cecil's plans for marriage. At the start of the year, Charlotte writes that 'if the marriage that my dear Cecil longs for is indeed for his happiness be pleased to grant him his heart's desire'. Cecil's intended wife is Ethel Garratt - she has been mentioned in Charlotte's diaries of previous years - he brings her to tea on 28 March. Charlotte describes some of the wedding preparations, noting on 18 April that 'Cecil & Ethel settled papers & paint for flat' and, on 27 April that she and Mary 'choose at the stores Cecil's table linen... then...about an 'Eagle Range''. She also goes with Bennett to Harvey Nichols to buy a gown for Cecil's wedding on 5 May. On 18 June the family travel down to Meopham, Kent, from Victoria, and walk to Nursted church, where Cecil is married to Ethel Garratt, by Dr Bartram, assisted by Sidney. The married couple then travel to Newhaven, in order to cross to Normandy. They return to live in a flat near Battersea Park. Mary travels back to Horningsham with Sidney on 1 July to stay with him.
Charlotte continues visiting at the Brompton hospital, except where there are cases of influenza on the wards, while Mary continues her hospital and committee work. They holiday in Margate in August and September. Acitivities include sitting on the cliffs, strolling over the rocks, a visit to Broadstairs on 19 August and watching the steamers from the end of the pier. Charlotte also visits Sidney on 12 September at Horningsham, and sees his 'delightful little house & good garden'. They return on 16 September,via Bristol, where they visit friends in Clifton by electric tram and then travel on to Frome on 19 September to see the Duckworths.
Charlotte is preoccupied during January and February by the illness of her brother, Charles. He dies on 18 February. She also reports the death of two friends: Alice Swinburne on 1 October and Caroline Devereaux on 22 December. Charlotte suffers from a severe spasm on 31 December and is unable to write or pray the New Year in as she usually does.
Reading matter includes 'The Household of Faith', 'Tuscan Garden', 'Conan Doyle on 'Boer War', 'Bryce's Biographical Study on Gladstone', 'Book on Egypt', 'Life in Paradise' and 'The Miracles of Jesus'.
This diary contains a number of loose enclosures: two scraps of paper with details of stocks and shares, and Charlotte's accounts, receipt from J. Pullar & Sons, Dyers to the King for 69, dated 15 Aug. 1902 |