10Apr1865, Travelling to Lismore

HAGLEY, April 10th, 1865.
—It is a great trouble to me having to travel these 2 first days of Holy Week, but we couldn't rightly help it on many accounts. We left dear Hagley at 8, the little fellows (whom I shan't see again until they're schoolboys, alas !) scampering headlong down the avenue clinging on to the carriage. By a blunder of Head's, we had to delay crossing from Holyhead till night, spending the time from 2 till 11½ at Holyhead. Luckily it was the brightest, most unclouded afternoon, and we walked, and sat and talked and read pleasantly enough. Embarked at 12, three and a half hours before the boat started. A mild, still night, bathed in wonderful moonlight ; and the passage was as smooth as a pond. We got berths and slept pretty successfully. April 11th.—Landed before 8, managed to squeeze in breakfast at Dublin, railwayed to Cahir, and thence posted 12 miles. The descent to Lismore seemed to me marvellously beautiful and like a fairy-tale : the hills covered with budding woods, the deep glen, the winding river, the glorious castle standing on its steep hill. Lou and Eddy met us some little way off ; he nearly independent of sticks. Nobody else here but the Duke. The view from the north windows still more lovely and stately. One looks sheer down the precipitous bank into the Black water which is; and the castle is beautiful inside and out. April 12th.—Lou and I fished or rather toddled up the river, throwing lines with no result, encouraged by a dear enthusiastic Paddy and enjoying the delightful day.
F. and I had happy reads of my "Thoughts for Holy Week," etc., and the quiet is very nice, though nothing else would have made me like this for just this week. There was service, but, instead of the Communion Service, a Mr. Brown preached a dreadful sermon.