Part 5: Billy goes a'courting - A long distance relationship
Billy’s job at Hampton Court came to a finish in mid-October
and, after several days of unsuccessful searching for work in
London, he reluctantly returned to Horsham to help his father with
the family business. As the winter deepened, this increasingly
meant full time chimney sweeping, representing an embarrassing drop
in Billy’s social status.
Thursday 5th November 1896
Had a letter from Catherine tonight. Wants me up there on Saturday,
to see Mary[1] off etc.
Sunday 7th November 1896
Caught 8.23 from Horsham. Went via Leith and Wimbledon to Hampton
Wick and straight to Mrs Spratt’s, she having kindly offered me a
bed, and found Mary Kennett there. Had a walk back to Hampton Wick
with her and little Winnie and then back again to dinner. Catherine
came up rather late in the afternoon. Poor girl had just received
rather bad news from home, her father very ill. She is wanted to go
home on Monday night. [We] had a short stroll before tea. Saw Mary
off in the evening. Had a rather wet journey to the station, she
going to her home at Eltham, Kent. Expects to be married in 3 or 4
weeks time to Mr Keene (late Butler at Colonel E’s) who has taken a
licensed house near Banbury. Gave her a bread board and a knife as
slight token of regard. Hope they will get on alright – she is a
jolly and sociable girl and I think he is a fairly decent
chap.
Sunday 8th November 1896
Laid abed till 9.30 but managed to get ready on time for Hampton
Wick Church. Catherine called for me accompanied by Phyliss Sadler,
Mary’s successor. Fancy she is a fairly decent sort of girl, would
make two of Catherine or Mary – a kind of Sally Brass[2]. After dinner had a short walk with
Catherine. Poor old Matey! She certainly seems in for a run of bad
luck physically and financially. She has just got her new teeth at
a cost of nearly £9 and no end of pain, and now to go this journey
nearly 300 miles (Talsarnau, Monmouthshire) and not to know what
she may find when she arrives there is rather hard lines. Sincerely
hope she will get there alright and be able to return of which she
seems rather doubtful. Mrs S got us tea about 4 then off to Hampton
Wick Station for the 5.10. Goodbye to Catherine. Wonder when we
shall meet again.
Wednesday 11th November 1896
Read letter from Catherine from Talsarnau she having arrived there
last evening to find her father had died last Saturday – went off
quite suddenly. Poor little girl, I’m truly sorry for her. Will try
and write her a line of sympathy.
Thursday 12th November 1896
Catherine’s father is to be buried today. Poor old Matey!
Friday 21st November 1896
Had letter from Catherine. She is back at Stud House again.
Monday 30th November 1896
Letter from Catherine and answered same.
Monday 7th December 1896
Had a letter from Catherine … a bright tone after all her
troubles.
Wednesday 23rd December 1896
Letter from Catherine with Christmas cards enclosed for Mother and
I. Says she is rather better now and will look for me up there next
week.
Saturday 2nd January 1897
Having arranged to meet Catherine today, left [Horsham] by 8.23 for
Leatherhead. Very foggy morning, trains consequently rather late.
Still, we managed to meet alright at Wimbledon and went from there
to Vauxhall, Catherine having to call on a dentist in Battersea
Park. From there made our way to Drury Lane (had a snack en route
at Victoria) for the pantomime matinée.
Drury Lane Theatre, reproduced from
Billy’s copy of The Queen’s London, 1896, p.250.
We were very fortunate in getting in the theatre, no crush and got
very fair seats. Performance about the same as usual I suppose.
Undoubtedly a grand sight but not quite my idea of amusement.
Still, Catherine enjoyed it very much I believe, it being a
complete novelty to her. Came out between 5 and 6, had a stroll up
and down the Strand, then back to Kingston by 8.30…. Had walk round
the markets at Kingston and then to Stud House with Catherine.
Found Mrs Spratt pretty well, made me very comfortable again. I
think it’s extremely kind of them, considering they know so little
of me or me of them. Catherine seems anything but well. Hope the
little outing will do her good. Poor old girl, she seems to be
having her share of trouble just now (to say nothing of expense). I
must confess I thoroughly enjoyed her company today, in fact I
always have I think (more or less). The old Cook at Stud House
still continues to “sit on” her.
Sunday 3rd January 1897
Dinner at Mrs Spratt’s and a walk with Catherine round Kingston…
tea, quite a pleasant little item that proved to be, after which
Catherine and I went to St. Albans service as usual. Both of us at
Mrs S. for supper then saw Catherine down the drive and the final
goodbye seemed to take a long time.
Tuesday 2nd February 1897
Had letter from Catherine Griffiths in answer to mine of Friday
last (wherein I informed her of my intention of having a turn at
[chimney] sweeping). She says in answer perhaps to a hint that she
feels she does not care for me as she should and therefore thinks
our correspondence had better cease, avows this is not because of
what I told her, that she has been going to tell me for a long time
but did not like to. I hardly know what to think about that as I
did think (or perhaps hope) very different. Anyway, I don’t blame
her. What respectable girl like her could relish the idea of having
anything to do with a sweep? But must confess to feeling rather
upset. Still, I believe it’s my duty to stay here. If I do so and
not go sweeping I might as well be away. Shall write Catherine
again but not to urge her to reconsider her decision. Things might
be alright yet.
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