Saturday, July 30, 1831

 

1831 July

Saturday 30

(Got up at) 7 1/2  /  (Went to bed at) 1 1/2

A cross last night thinking of Mariana.

Very fine, sunny morning – F 73° at 8 3/4 a.m.  Sat reading a few pages, from page 33 to 47, Christison On Poisons. Down for breakfast at 9 1/2.

At 10 1/2, went to Mrs. Anne and Miss Gage for 1/2 hour, then over the bridge with Mrs. Duffin. She went to the Spinning School and I to Mrs. Henry Robinson. Introduced to her husband and saw her baby, and sat 1/2 hour, and then went to Mrs. Best and sat with her and Ellen above 1/2 hour, then to the black Swan.  Tib and the 3 Daltons not arrived at 1 3/4. Then to Mr. Henry Belcombe.  Mariana and Mrs. Milne and William had arrived between 1 and 2.  He very much better than expected.  Miss Belcombe came in and brought little Mariana.  Then to the black Swan and meeting Mrs. Dalton and Miss Greenup, all waited there some time. Then to Mrs. H. Robinson's, to them all. Begged Bell to offer my play ticket to Ellen Best for tonight, the ticket to be got on entrance. Miss Greenup to go with Tib – the Daltons. Home at 3 55/..

To my great astonishment, Mr. Duffin attacked me very crossly with my having more luggage than all the Marshes.  What had I so much for? Said I had only what belonged to the carriage, and spoke rather annoyedly in return.

Came upstairs, put on my habit for riding in the evening.

On going down, Mr. Duffin said something that renewed the luggage story. I said it would all be sent off this evening; a man was coming for the imperials, etc., and I had ordered them to be emptied at Miss Pearson’s and all the things to be left there, and for them all to be put on the carriage again there. Mr. Duffin was exceedingly bearish about [it], and when Mrs. Duffin tried to soften, saying, oh, sir, etc. etc., he replied very crossly he did not like to have his house filled. I had better send them off, etc. All this so annoyed that Mrs. Duffin ill-judged talking and making us kiss and shake hands twice. Made me, really from mortification and annoyance, and, I suppose, wounded pride, let fall a tear or two, blow my nose perpetually, and never or rarely speak.  Luckily, Miss Greenup the whole first part of dinner was having her hair done, but when she came down, saw something was the matter, for all which inwardly swore at the whole thing, at them, and myself too. Nothing shall keep me beyond Tuesday, and may I never trouble Mr. Duffin again.

Letter from Mariana, Leamington, forwarded from Shibden,  to say Charles thinks of going to Paris about the 20th of next month.  She may feel it right to offer to go to Scarborough.  Knows not what she can do.  As we walked about this morning, Mrs. Duffin had begged me not to be the means of taking Mariana away; her family jealous of my influence over her; they a Belcombe had only hoped on hearing of my eating no meat, I should not get Mariana into the same way.  Impossible! Said I.  Well then, it was Mrs. Belcombe herself who had said so to Mrs. Duffin. All this and the manner of it annoyed me exceedingly, and I declared they might settle it among them, I would have nothing to do with it, and would keep aloof, not go this evening. But wrote Mariana a note, all which Mrs. Duffin thought I was very right in.  I therefore left a message with Mr. Henry Belcombe, to excuse myself from going this evening, saying I had promised to ride, and hinted that I had been so pothered about their fears of my influence etc., it was not my intention to wear their door stones too much, and begging Mrs. H. S. B. to get me, as quietly as she could, from the smell of paint. 

Came up to my room after dinner and wrote full 1/2 sheet note to Mrs. Norcliffe, regretting her not having got my note before Tib set off, explaining, and saying they were all arrived between 1 and 2 today, and William very much better than expected, had eaten heartily of beef steaks immediately on his arrival. 

Wrote 1 page of 1/2 sheet note to my aunt to say I was in a great hurry – arrived yesterday to dinner and should be at home (in the carriage, which would be done) to dinner on Tuesday. Mentioned Mariana’s arrival and William Milne’s being so very much better than expected.

Off on Mrs. Duffin’s mare to ride with Mr. Duffin at 6 1/2.  Went to Mrs. Belcombe’s.  Mr. Duffin would not dismount, merely inquired after.  Sent for Mariana, who came down. First told her I should be off on Tuesday – should breakfast with Tib tomorrow, and would be with her, Mariana, at 10 1/2 or 11 and stay for church.  Then rode to Haslington and Fulford, and home at 8 10/..

Tea – looked over a newspaper when Cardles came and all moved off at 10.  Mrs. Duffin would have me stay with her in her room – till after Mr. Duffin was in bed then he asleep, she began explaining. I said I certainly was never more astonished, hurt, and annoyed, but as Mr. Duffin had said he really meant nothing and was sorry, there should be no more of it.  Put it off by declaring the half of what happened at dinner was influenza that seemed to me coming on.  Miss Greenup came home after eleven and Mrs. Duffin came up with us and into my room and staid talking of the Belcombes.  Asked if we had ever had any quarrel, that they were so jealous and we all seemed not as we used to be. I said, oh, no quarrel. Were all very good friends for aught I knew, but all their pother and jealousy annoyed me.  They had better break up Mariana and my friendship at once, and perhaps I could get over it. Tib was worth them all, etc. etc. so that poor Mrs. Duffin began to beg for Mariana, saying she was not to blame etc. etc. At last Mac’s bell rang and Mr. Duffin ran down. 

Mrs. Duffin left me at 11 3/4. Then, till 12 3/4, wrote all the above of today.

Very fine day – very hot – F 72° now at 12 3/4 tonight, on my dressing table.

In passing the post office, Mrs. Duffin’s groom put in my letter to my aunt, Shibden, and  my letter to ‘Mrs. Norcliffe, Langton Hall, Malton’ 1 page 1/2 sheet note to my aunt and 3 pages and under the wrapper that note to Mrs. Norcliffe.

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/14/0093