October 6 Tuesday – At 23 Tedworth Square in London, Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers.

The proposed Bliss-contract has arrived, & is so entirely satisfactory that I shall be very glad & quite at rest in my mind the day that it is signed & goes into effect. Thank you ever so much for pushing it to this hopeful condition.

Sam was relieved to hear “good accounts from Mrs. Broughton” (Clara Rogers) that the “little fellow” was all right. He also thanked Rogers for “keeping track” of the PW play in Livy’s interest, and had hope for its continuation (Edwin Mayo did not succeed with the play after the death of his father Frank).

We are at last settled in a house, after scouring London several weeks. It only just exactly holds us — not an inch of spare room. However, we’ll put up a bed in the drawing-room for you and Mrs. Rogers when you come.

Sam then disclosed his address, counting Rogers, J. Henry Harper and Katharine I. Harrison as “trustworthy fellows” deserving of the secret [MTHHR 239]. Note: a “Bliss-contract” survives with a Nov. 1896 date but it did not go into effect until Dec. 31, 1896. See MTHHR Appendix C for the text of the contract.

Clara Clemens wrote of the house on Tedworth Square, Chelsea, London:

It was a very quiet part of London and Father succeeded in maintaining complete seclusion, with the exception of two, or three intimate friends, who came frequently to visit him. They were Poultney Bigelow, a Mr. McAlister, and two gentlemen that he had known in India. His work occupied him most of the time. He used to rise as early as four or five o’clock in the morning. Never did he write more continuously. I am sure he felt that it was his only protection against brooding on Susy’s death. …

      It was a long time before anyone laughed in our household, after the shock of Susy’s death. Father’s passionate nature expressed itself in thunderous outbursts of bitterness shading into rugged grief. He walked the floor with quick steps and there was no drawl in his speech now [MFMT 178-9].