26th.--... In the evening worked four and a-half hours at _Lear_; going on well (eight hours). 27th.--... In the evening wrote three notes, and worked from seven till eight at _Lear_; finished the outline of the sketch (five hours).... 30th.--Painted at the sketch. Went with Lucy to see Elliott’s picture and Rossetti’s (four hours).... 5th December.--Spent the day in divers ways; bought a large oak door, and scraped it with glass, and varnished it; in the evening composed the panels of the little picture (three hours’ work). 6th.--Had a King Charles spaniel; paid 4s. 6d. for it. Painted it in three hours: evening, began chalking the outline of the _Lear_ on canvas (seven hours’ work). 7th.--Painted at the panel five hours. In the evening had a model, to draw the nude of Cordelia (seven and a-half hours).... 19th.--Bought mittens and a rose, and made a fan; arranged it, and began the gown. In the evening Maitland for two hours: sketched the figure of Lear (seven hours).... 30th.--Drew at the outline of Lear till three. 1849--11th January.--Painted the sea, cliffs, ships, and tents, in _Lear_; in the evening painted the four little figures, and drew-in the nude of warrior resting upon his shield, from Maitland (nine hours).... 16th.--Up till four night before. Supped with Lucy and Mark Anthony at an oyster-shop. Began work at one, till four; painted body of dress from Mrs. Ashley;[58] in the evening rubbed it out, and drew four hours at the head of Cordelia; made it beastly (seven hours’ work).... 27th.--Laid-in the Jester’s hands,[59] and re-painted the flesh of the child in little picture. In the evening, laid-in the head of the fool, from Rossetti (seven hours). 28th.--Re-painted one arm and hand of mother in the little picture, and re-touched it generally; in the evening laid-in one hand of the physician, and retouched the expression of the jester (eight hours). 31st.--Laid-in the head of Lear from a cast of Dante’s, and a drawing of Coulton. Called on Lucy, and ordered a frame in the evening. Again in the evening (eight hours). 1st February.--Worked all day at the head of Cordelia from model: in the evening rubbed it out, and retouched the head of Lear. Found a dog in the rain, and brought him home with me (seven hours).... 6th.--Finished the little picture. 17th.--Altered the head of Cordelia; painted-in head of Lear, and head and hand of Kent: evening, re-touched heads of Kent and jester and Cordelia (eleven hours). 18th.--Sunday. Painted-in the head of Cordelia from model, and one hand; evening at Lucy’s (seven hours).... 1st March.--Painted the head of the jester from Dante Rossetti, and the hands from Mrs. Ashley; so muddled away the day. In the evening Bell Smith, of Free Exhibition, called to inform me that I might keep it till private view; also of secret machinations to form a fresh society and so get rid of the muffs (seven hours).