December 28 Sunday – Sam felt ill from all the dining over Christmas and went down to Ventnor, a resort on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight [MTL 5: 539n2]. There he “hunted up Miss Florence”—Florence Stark, not further identified, but perhaps a friend of George Fitzgibbon, because Sam mentioned her in his letter of Dec. 30.

December 27 Saturday – George MacDonald wrote to Sam.

My dear Clemens, / The best wishes of this good time be yours and all its plentiful hopes.

Since it seems unhappily so doubtful whether you will be able to come and see us, can you tell me where you would be to be found in London any day between the 13th & 16th of January. We shall be up then, and I would bring to you the things you are so kind as [to] offer to take.

December 26 and 27 Saturday – Probably more sightseeing and wining and dining courtesy of Blackmore and friends. No record of specifics

December 25 Thursday – Christmas – Sam and Stoddard went to church services in the morning at the Salisbury Cathedral. After lunch they drove to Stonehenge. Before dinner Sam wrote from Salisbury, England to Livy.

December 24 Wednesday – Sam and Stoddard took a train to Salisbury for Christmas. They stayed at the White Hart Hotel near the Salisbury Cathedral and were shown around by William Blackmore (1827-1878), a wealthy solicitor who had traveled in the American West. They had dinner with friends of Blackmore.

December 23 Tuesday – American Publishing Co. published The Gilded Age in Hartford. Thus, Sam fulfilled English law by both residence and prior publishing on English soil the day before. Sam and Frank Finlay called on George and Ida Finlay and family.