Lady Herschel told me of it, and she remarked, "I believe Sir John was not much pleased, for he does not like abridgments." I told her that I had never heard of the abridgment.
There are other guests in the house: a lady whose sister was among those killed in India; and her husband, who is an officer in the army.

We have all been playing at "Spelling" this evening, with the letters, as we did at home last winter.
Sunday, 15th.

I thought of going to London to-day, but was easily persuaded to stay and go with Lady Herschel to-morrow.
All this afternoon I have spent listening to Sir John, who has shown me his father's manuscript, his aunt's, beautifully neat, and he told me about his Cape observations.
The telescope used at the Cape of Good Hope lies in the barn (the glass, of course, taken care of) unused; and Sir John now occupies himself with writing only.

He made many drawings at the Cape, which he showed me, and very good ones they are.

Lady Herschel offers me a letter to Mrs.Somerville, who is godmother to one of her children.