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of the whole miserable business I fear. Girard and I attended Westbrooks funeral at his home this afternoon. We could not get into the house and heard little of the service. Many distinguished men were present says the Freedman of this evening. Tom picked four barrels of apples from one of the trees just at the corner of the garden below the carriage road. This is about the extent of our crop while all about there is a great yield. Have finished Romola and commenced "Miss Majohn banks"

Saturday October 10" 1885. 
Warmer and bright but still cool in the shade. I picked the last of the seckel and a few Virgalieu pears. Tom is gathering the few apples we have. At noon I went down to Dr. Rosas for him to heal my tooth. At the post office we got letters from Lucy and I had one from Warren enclosing his check for $630 for the picture and frame. His letter was kind and conciliatory. I sent the check to my bank in N.Y. One of Lucys letters enclosed one from Laura in which she says the only thing which keeps her from coming to Rondont is the lack of money. This is simply amazing to me. After dinner Sara, my father and I started for a ride. We stopped and invited Mrs. Hayeradt to go with us which she seemed pleased to do. We drove to Kingston and did some errands and then drove out on the Flat bush road and through East Kingston and by the nice road house. The air was cool in the shade but we had a pleasant drive. After tea Tom and I went up to the station to meet Gertrude. She came promptly and was received as she always was. We made no inquiries about her father or Laura. She went in to supper not thinking my father was up and afterwards went into the parlor to see him. He seems asleep in his chair but when he awoke he did not greet her very warmly. I think however he was a little confused and embarrassed. He made no inquiries about any of the family. We eat in the parlor after my father returns and talked pleasantly on various topics and so the awkward meeting has been got along with thus far. We want to be kind but we are determined as well to be firm. Sara had a letter from Downing telling her Gertrude had smitten him. She was coming up today but remarking that we were all in accord and knew just how to act.

Sunday 11"
Bright and sunshiny but with a hostile wind with a sting in it. I wrote to Warren acknowledging the receipt of his check and to Calvert telling him to come up as I would like to go to the Mountains this week. After dinner I drove up to Kingston to have Dr. Rosa treat my tooth and took Gertrude along. She seems very sweet and amiable and not inclined to talk of our troubles and of course we carefully avoid anything which will lead to any discussion. I am in hopes she will prop[[?]] her experience with Mary which showed have shown her how little it would be to get on that topic. I left her at Mrs. Van Den[[?]] on our return and afterwards she said she had gone down to Mr. Lindsley. Mrs Lindsley is ill and seems to have been for some time and she did not see her. I drove my father up to Kingston but it was pretty cold for him and he did not care to go farther. John & Nannie came up and staid [[stayed]] to ten and spent the evening. Girard and May also came over. It is very pleasant to have them all here.

Monday 12"
Gertrude went away today. I drove her up to the 11.55 train on her way to Stony Point. She was to stop over a train at Newburgh. She wisely refrained from any allusion to our troubles and bore herself very guilty and amiably. Sara when she bade good bye told her she would be glad to see her whenever she would like to come here. But it seemed so hard to be obliged to refrain from any inquiries concerning the family. Feeling kindly and tenderly as I did towards her I could not help an embarassment [[embarrassment]] and did not know what to talk about when we were alone in the parlor. She took care of me cheerfully

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