- amined the handsome house and beautiful grounds.
Saturday a perfect day. Walked much with Florence in the delicious air, amid a luxury of sights and sounds, conversing on the future. As we walked on the lawn in front of the noble drawing-room she said, 'Do you know what I always think when I look at that row of windows? I think how I should turn it into a hospital ward, and just how I should place the beds!' She said she should be perfectly happy working with me, she should want no other husband.
April 20.—A beautiful Sabbath morning. Saw the sea and Isle of Wight in the distance; watched the peasants' picturesque scarlet cloaks going to church. As we crossed the fields, conversing on religious matters, it was a true communion. . . .
May 1.—A most brilliant opening of the Great Exhibition. Thanks to Cousin S., who is an exhibitor, we enjoyed a sight which we shall always remember. The place was so vast that the musical sound of the great organ was lost in the beating of the air. The great building, resplendent with the products of the whole world, was filled to overflowing with enthusiastic spectators. When the Queen, holding Prince Albert's arm, with the young Prince of Wales on one side and the Princess Royal on the other, followed by the aged Duke of Wellington arm in arm with the Marquis of Anglesea, and a long train of nobility and distinguished men, made the tour of the building and declared it open, it was indeed a memorable sight.
The advisability of remaining in England and
establishing myself in practice in London was
seriously considered at this time. Under other
circumstances I should gladly have made the
attempt, for I was strongly attracted to my native
