15th.--I went to Greenwich,[28] to collect rents, and to Gravesend. 16th.--Gravesend still. Made a little study of Lucy in sunshine[29] (one and a half hours’ work). 17th.--Came back by the half-past eight boat: went to see John Bromley,[30] and to make a sketch of the hand of his little girl for the female in this painting.... Came back and set to work drawing at the figure of Wiclif. Went to Maddox Street; came back again at ten, and worked till past eleven (five and a half hours’ work). 18th.--Got up at half-past eight. Set to work by ten at drawing-in a hand and the sleeves of Wiclif. _Began Painting._ Laid-in the head and feet of Wiclif. Turned my canvases of the Poets round to the wall, so as to be able to admit persons if necessary. 19th.--... Called on Mark Anthony: saw his large _Village Festival_ in progress; called on Lucy (five hours’ work). 21st.--Breakfasted in bed; got up at ten, and to work by eleven. Drew-in the head of Chaucer from myself in two looking-glasses; altered that of Gower, and reduced one of Chaucer’s hands. 22nd.--... Painted-in the sleeves and upper part of Chaucer’s gown (_à premier coup_): shall not want to retouch it much, I expect; worked till four. 26th.--Wednesday. Got up at half-past eight: went out for a walk; found it too cold. Went and bespoke Miss Ashley, and came back. Miss Ashley came by eleven: stopped till four, let the fire out three times, and talked all day; will never do.--In the evening I worked at the head of the female, drawing it in in water-colour; could not succeed (four hours’ work).... 31st.--... Went to Suffolk Street, to hear Professor Ansted tell us that the colour of the air is blue, and that of mist grey, etc. etc.; this they call geology! (two hours’ work). 1st February.--... I afterwards set about composing the furniture for my painting; did not do much (two hours’ work). Got a note from Helen Bromley, enclosing one for Miss Ensgrubber[31] to her, to ask my poor wife’s address. Oh dear! hers has been for upwards of nineteen months the cemetery of Highgate; mine, this rascally barn of a studio. To think that we once had a home together! in Paris how different, and even in Rome how different! Bless you, my poor child! 2nd.--Got up at eight, worked from ten till four at composing the chair of John of Gaunt.... 3rd.--Going to set to work for about three hours at the chair. Did little good; what a muff I am! (three hours’ work).