Wednesday, March 14, 1832

 1832 March

Wednesday 14

9 5/..

1 20/..

Very fine morning, F 57° at 9 5/.. in my room and 50° at 10 in the balcony –

Downstairs and breakfast at 10 35/.. About 1/2 hour at breakfast – Afterwards staid down talking till 11 3/4, when came to my room and Miss Hobart sat with me 1/2 hour –

As by her appointment, I had employed the half hour’s tête-à-tête with Mr. Stuart. In talking of her, I was to try to get him to speak to old Lady Stuart about Miss H-’s going to Italy, but we, Mr. Stuart and I, agreed Lady Stuart de Rothesay was the fittest person to speak next to Miss H- herself, who was in fact the only one that would be minded.  We talked all this over with much interest, I suppose, to him.  I mentioned that Lady Gordon might perhaps be induced to go with us, which would be better as increasing our family party and society, to which he agreed, and thought Spain would be better than Italy.  He is more in favour of Madeira, but said Vere was prejudiced against, and she had best go somewhere where she liked.  I said I had thought but not determined upon going by Dover direct.  If it had been possible to arrange anything now I would try to suit it to my plans.  Could even arrange for two months, but in the present state of things, my waiting might seem suspicious, and I thought the sooner I was [off] the better, to which he seemed to agree.  The fact is, I could manage all for her well and easily enough if I liked, but she has cooled my ardour rather too soon.

On coming upstairs, told her something but not really much of what had passed.  She is now anxious to be fixed for Italy (by the way, I made out Mr. Stuart will probably go to Italy next winter instead of to the northern courts this summer.  Good he likes her. I see perhaps she will have him at last, and after all, she will be perhaps as good a match as he will get).  She would not see much ardour in my manner about her and when I just named Lady Gordon and Spain, she said, well, but why not we two go to Italy. Le jeu n’en vaut pas la chandelle –

Sat musing 1/4 hour,  then wrote the above of today till 1 10/.. –

Then wrote part of copy of letter to Lady Gordon.

Went out for an hour at 2 1/4 with Miss H- and Mr. Stuart – Walked to St. Leonard’s – East wind – I thought it would rain, and it did, the whole way back – Changed my dress – Much trouble in having my wet hair done – Went downstairs at 4 1/2 for just an hour then came away to leave them half hour to themselves before dinner.  Perhaps they would gladly not have had me at all – N’importe –

Reading a little of  No. 1, Physical Geography, published by the Society for Promoting Knowledge – Dressed – Dinner at 6 3/4 – Coffee – Tea – Music – I read a little of No. 2 of Physical Geography – Then all talking travelling stories and talking very agreeably.  He certainly in love with her and she looks like future reflexing.

F 63° at 12 tonight in my room and 39° at 1 1/4 in the balcony –

Mr. S- to go by the little van at 8 tomorrow – Came upstairs at 11 3/4 – A moment in Miss H-’s Hobart room.  Appearances very smooth.  She kissed me, saying good woman as she generally does when pleased.

Much rain in the night – The fine morning did not last long – Windy and disagreeable till near 3 then rainy afternoon.

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/15/0039