Overview
Tues. Mar. 3
Maud + I left by the 9.15 am train to spend day in Napier - she wore her white muslin dress, white shoes + pretty white straw hat. On reaching Napier we had morning tea at Murdoch's + then took an electric car from Post Office to the Port over the hill via Shakespeare Road where there are some steepish grades. We alighted at the [Iron Pot?] + walked [page break] round the waterfront + along to the end of the right hand groyne at the entrance to the Inner Harbour - here we sat for a while enjoying a dredge at work + enjoying the sea breeze, sun + view. Took a photo (21) of Maud on the sea wall with the dredge + Inner Harbour in background; also (22) a nearer view of Maud with [illegible] Island in the background. After a while we walked back past the [Iron Pot?] of which I took a photo (23) with Maud in the foreground, + up Chaucer Road to the top of Hospital Hill. Here we found a seat in a sheltered nook + settled down for some time enjoying each other's society + the glorious panoramic views of sea + land. I took a photo (24) of the spit - the view being clear + the sun shining warmly. At 2.30 pm we drove in horse-bus (the taxi not being due) down to town + walked to the Municipal Baths where mixed bathing was in progress. We both went
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in + enjoyed it, though on acc[ount] of passing clouds the water was a trifle chilly. There was not a very big crowd present, say 20 men + 15 ladies. The big salt swimming pool is well above sea-level, the water being pumped up + let out as required. On coming out we went on to the beach + sat down under the shade of Maud's parasol which was useful in protecting us from the public gaze. About 5 pm we returned to Murdoch's for afternoon tea + in town I bought Maud a pretty little moonlit sea-scape in memory of the occasion. We caught the 6.10 pm train back to Hastings + in evening spent a lovely time together in the drawing-room. We do not go in for the silly "in the dark" act but have the electric light going so that we can see each other. Our favourite position is on the sofa, myself lying down + Maud sitting beside, + leaning across me. When so arranged we can talk the most comfortably + when she reads to me,
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as she does sometimes, I am able to watch her sweet face, + listen to her darling voice most contentedly. During the reading she often breaks off to ask me questions, to comment on the story, to laugh + cuddle her head on my cheek, or to [underlined]kiss[underlined] me.
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