Sunday, July 31, 1831

1831 July

Sunday 31

(Got up at) 7 3/4  /  (Went to bed at) 12

F 74° at 7 50/.. , and very fine sunny morning. About 1/4 hour with Mrs. Duffin in her room.

Went to the necessary to very little purpose and did nothing there yesterday.

In with Tib at the Black Swan at 9 5/.. Breakfast at 9 1/2 with Tib and the 3 Daltons and little Tom.  Mrs and Miss Best soon came, then Norcliffe left the latter with them, the carriage being ordered and off to Mariana at Mrs. Belcombe’s at 9 35/..

Went to her in her room above an hour with her tête-à-tête.  Mrs. Milne, in the next room, came in undressed and gave me a hurried [kiss] and ran away.  Sent Mariana breakfast. William Milne had had a good night.

Mariana and I talked of one thing or other.  Said how Mrs. Duffin had annoyed me yesterday talking of their jealousy of my influence.  She protested Mrs. D was a liar. I ought not to believe a word she said. She had long abominated her, and said how disgusted she was with Tib’s shocking grossness yesterday.  On saying Charles was going to Paris, Tib had wished Mariana would take her with her up her arsehole and suchlike. 

Mariana then went to the necessary and I walked in the garden in meantime.  She had asked Mrs. Milne if she would not come down and see me, and said how she had run away. Mrs Milne said she did not suppose I wished to see her. What, said Mariana, have you quarrelled? No, but we did not much like each other.  On this, I said it was very foolish. We had far better meet and get it over.  

I then went up into the drawing room, where were Steph and Anne and Mrs. Duffin and Miss Greenup, who had just come. I shook hands with all, then with Mrs Milne, and recommended the shade of the mulberry tree in the garden and asked her to try it with me.  She refused at first, then consented, and down we went and sat half hour.  I saw she was nervous, and I seemed to be rather so too. I began by saying I had an apology to make for my foolish conduct the last time I saw her at Langton.  When we felt most, we always acted most gauchely etc. etc. She had thought me very unkind and begun to hate me, and was quite determined I should never make her like me again. I pleaded my not having dared to trust myself alone with her.  Then, said she, you might have written one line to prove it was not unkindness. I begged forgiveness. She held out her hand and soon shewed that it was my fault if we did not flirt as much as ever. She looked and said, but you are quite altered and grown fine. Ah, said I, do not. That tho I ought to hope it, said I should even now to make my apology had I not been going away on Tuesday. I laughed and told her she was very agreeable.

Mrs. Duffin and Miss Greenup went away, and I was some time again left tête-à-tête with Mariana.  Some chance of her going with me on Tuesday and of our going either to Holland or the Giant’s Causeway.

Mrs. Milne and Anne on the stairs as I went away. Shook hands with both. Mrs. Milne just turned halfway downstairs to give me a parting kiss of the hand.  Oh, oh, thought I, we might have all over again if I liked. But I am too old a bird now. Perhaps we should have been better as we were before? But I shall be out of her way.

Home at 1 55/.. Mrs. Duffin and Miss Greenup came soon afterwards.  All but the latter went to Trinity Church.  Reverend John Graham did all the duty.  Preached 22 1/2 minutes from Mark xii 24?

Dressed.  Wrote little note to Mariana to say I heard Mrs. Best and Ellen, and Norcliffe and little Tom were expected to tea, which though I had only a moment to spare before dinner, I hastened to tell her, not knowing what effect it might have on her intention of walking up here this evening.  Desired Cameron to go as soon as she could with my note to ‘Mrs. Lawton, Minster Court,’ having begged to send me 1/2 a line to say whether I should call for her tomorrow to go with me to Steph at 11 1/2 in the Minster, this and afterwards to Mr. Henry Belcombe in Stephenson’s Lodgings Coney Street while their house is painting.

Dinner at 5.  Came up to my room, and till 7 1/2, wrote the above of today, at which hour F 75° on my dressing table.  Sat reading 20 minutes.

Little note from Mariana to thank me for mine, from which she should benefit and not come here this evening.  Went down at 7 50/.. Mrs. and Miss Best and little Tom Norcliffe come to tea.  Tea soon after 8.  Norcliffe came about 9 1/4 and they all went away at 9 40/.. Little Tom rough and riotous and sadly spoilt – far from the child he was at Langton. No conversation worth listening to, and as for Mrs. Duffin, she always wearies me to death.  Nothing but praises or imitation or senseless histories of insignificant people I care not to hear of.

With Mrs. Duffin in her room and Miss Greenup there about 1/2 hour, and came to my room at 10 1/2.  Then read from page 61 to 93 Christison on Poisons, and wrote the last 7 lines till 11 1/2.

Very fine and very hot day – F 75° now at 11 1/2 p.m.

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/E/14/0093 and SH:7/ML/E/14/0094