Monday, November 15, 1830

1830 November

Monday 15

(Got up at) 6 1/2  /  (Went to bed at) 12 40/..

Out at 8 10/.. Took George and went to Delisle’s, rue Sainte Anne (1st time in my life of going to the shop) for a barege shawl for Miss MacLean.  Nothing worth having, but must have something, so bought the best of the shawls (blue) and a too-small gown piece, pretty enough, but so little of it (six and three quarters ells), and brought them home to consider about and choose between the two for Miss MacLean and give the other to my aunt or someone.

Back at 9 1/2.  Dressed. Not quite ready when Monsieur de Quatrefages du Fesq (d’Aulas he used to be; that is the name of the village where he lives), Hotel de Belgique rue Saint Thomas on Louvre, came and staid above an hour.  Very civil; very glad to have found and seen me.  Would be delighted to show me the country chez lui, les Cévennes and Vigan.  He is député, not de la Chambre des Députés as I at first imagined from the scrap of writing he left, but député from his commune, about some village or communal business respecting this national guard.  He was obliged to get his uniform and equipments here, and he thought them enormously dear at 300/. francs.

Breakfast at 11 10/.., then Dr. Tupper came for 1/4 hour or 20 minutes.  Dr. Drever coming to settle here.  The London Courier of the 10th gives a second Miss-Cashin-case and second verdict of manslaughter against Mr. Long. 

Wrote and sent little note to ‘The Lady Stuart de Rothesay,’ sending at the same time the shawl and gown-piece, and asking her which to send to Miss MacLean. Near one before I could sit down to write my letters and then came Madame de Hagemann for above 1/2 hour. Very kind note from Lady Stuart de Rothesay, first advising to send the shawl that I intended for Lady Stuart to Miss MacLean; should send the invalid the gayest; then on second thoughts, thought the gown would suit Miss MacLean very well, and I immediately determined she should have it. 

Wrote 2 full half-sheets to Lady Stuart and very kind half-sheet full to Miss MacLean and 3 pages very kind of one 1/2 sheet to Miss Hobart. 

Said I had no time to apologize for writing her a sheet letter when I had meant to write a long one, but excuses are unnecessary where regard is strong enough to keep our memory awake ‘If it be good humoured. Never to be out of humour with a certain little person, even when she is ages in writing, I am the best-humoured person in the world.  I am never impatient nor offended in the least when she has better things to do than write to me – why should I [be]?  I know I am not quite forgotten, for those who never forget most surely sometimes be remembered. Do you remember the last line of your note?  I always have done, and always shall do so.  The commission was the most acceptable you could give me – we shall see whether it be executed faithfully.  Do you take care of yours?  Is there no one for whom you feel interested in doing so?  I know you have not been well, and this gives me more uneasiness than you imagine’ – then conclude as usual with ‘ever affectionately yours.’ I had said of Miss MacLean her (Vere’s) account made me ‘hopeless of our dear Sibella – she cannot recover – my mind is reconciled, though the thought gives me more pain than I can tell.’ I hoped she (Miss MacLean) did not know of this second case and verdict against Mr. Long.  Mentioned this hope to Lady Stuart as well as to Miss Hobart.  I  wonder what Vere will say in answer; perhaps take no notice.

 Had written a note to Delisle to ask him to take back the blue shawl which he did very civilly and I sent him at the same time the shawl piece for Miss MacLean and the things for the rest, all which he did up in three separate parcels.

At 5 40/.. , sent off to the Embassy the 3 parcels – red Barèges shawl for Lady Stuart, gown-piece for Miss MacLean, and the Leoz gown piece, white with tricolor little flower pattern border, chosen by Lady Stuart-de-Rothesay, for Miss Hobart with my 3 letters in 3 separate envelopes (one for each parcel) to ‘The Honorable Lady Stuart, Whitehall’ – ‘Miss MacLean’ and ‘Miss Hobart Honorable Lady Stuart’s Whitehall.’

Dinner at 6 1/2.  Came to my room for an hour and wrote 3 pages to Mariana.  Coffee at 9 1/2. finished reading Galignani of today.  Came to my room at 10 40/.. Wrote the long ends and finished my letter to Mariana.  Very kind chit-chat letter, but wondering why there was no letter to greet my return home, as I had particularly requested in my last of the 19th ultimo.  Begged her to write immediately on the receipt of this.  Gave her brief sketch of myself since the 19th, and saying I found my aunt much better than when  left her.  All this took me till 11 35/..

Very fine day till 6 a.m. then heavy rain for a while and damp evening.  

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/13/0107