Monday, February 18, 1833

1833

February

Monday 18

9 10/..

11 1/4

Grubbled her last night, she on the amoroso and wanted to be nearer to me; that is, have my drawers off, but I thought it better not.  She would sleep in my arms, and snored so shockingly I could scarce bear it.  Gooded myself with the thought of its being the last night. She seemed as if she was going to leave all she liked best, and could scarce have enough of me.  Poor girl, she could hardly leave me in the morning, and this made us so late.  She was a little on the amoroso again.  I touched and handled her and grubbled a little, but would not do much  –

Miss Walker and I down to breakfast at 9 3/4 – Found Captain and Mrs Sutherland had begun breakfast –

She had given me last night the little bible (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) promised me some time ago – having written on the fly leaf next the title page, ‘February 18th 1833. Psalms 91.11’ and on the back (at the end) AW to AL.’  I did not see this till tonight, when I turned to the reference, ‘For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways’ and the sight of this affected me.  Poor girl, what a pity she has not more mind to be happy herself and make others so.  

She seemed to the last thinking of being back before I was off, and of going with me.  She said she should never let me leave England without her, and once let slip that she must hear of me or she should write to me herself.  I said I would tell Mrs. Sutherland all I knew of my plans when I wrote.   Should not be here longer than till the end of June at farthest, but should be off as much sooner as I could –

Miss W- and Captain S- went to Cliff hill (for 20 minutes there) just after breakfast – Mrs. S- and I sat chatting.   She said yesterday she supposed Miss Walker had fifteen hundred a year now.  She rated her at two thousand and asked me, but I said I did not exactly know her income, but it was as good as her sister’s.  She asked if any love affair was on her mind. No.   If she thought of Sir Alexander MacKenzie (Mrs. S’s nephew).  No, I knew she did not like him.  It came out he had offered to her on a three days’ acquaintance and thought at first he had reason to hope, but she changed her mind.  I said he must have mistaken her civility for something else. She was always civil.  Mrs. S said she refused him on the plea of having another attachment.  He meant her to have paid his large debts.  He had not a sixpence, and besides, had his mother and her family to keep.  I said I thought Miss Walker would not marry to pay anyone’s debts nor ought she.  Surely Captain would take care that proper settlements were made – She looked as if not expecting this.  Poor girl, they want her for some of the kin if they can get her.

Miss W- busy over 1 thing or other, but seemed very low at going – Said she would rather go with me – Knew she should be miserable there as she was before.  Felt as if she should never come back, yet smiled and rallied when I joked her about running after me.  She seemed quietly bent on being back before June, when she thinks I am to be off –

Miss W- gave me the little bronze taper-stick she constantly used and which I had asked for some time since, but had now forgot – At last I saw them off at 1 1/4 – Miss W- and Mrs. Sutherland inside, and Captain S- and James (McKenzie, Miss W-’s manservant) in the rumble behind.  Heaven be praised, said I to myself as I walked homewards, that they are off and that I have got rid of her and am once more free –

Called at Washington’s and left with Mrs. Walker a sovereign for Mrs. Armitage, which Miss W- had forgot to give her, on the account of the Missionary Society, and a message to Washington to tell him to pay for 2 children at a little school –

Returned along my walk – Home at 2 10/.. – Mrs. Henry Priestley and Mrs. Dyson of Willowfield and Miss Edwards of Pye Nest here –  Went into the drawing room to them for 20 minutes – Very civil to all, particularly Mrs. H. P. – Then from 2 35/.., all the afternoon with Charles and James Howarth in the library, fitting the wainscot doors to the 2 large book cupboards till dinner at 6 1/4 –

Afterwards read the 1st 62 pages, Latrobe’s ‘Alpenstock’ or Travels on foot in Switzerland – Asleep some time – Went into the little room at 9 1/2 and came upstairs at 10 1/2 –

Rainy, windy, wild sort of day and evening, and very high wind now at 11 p.m., at which hour F 47° –

Found on my desk, on coming home, kind letter from Lady Stuart, but I did not open it, determined to leave it till I could answer it tomorrow  --

Hare this afternoon from Miss Norcliffe, Langton – directed by Charlotte Norcliffe –

Sent by John tonight to the post the 2 letters Mrs. Sutherland gave into my charge to ‘James Sutherland, Esquire, Waterloo Estate, St. Vincent, West Indies’ and to ‘Mrs. Alexander MacLeod, Tourama Estate, St. Vincent, West Indies’

Sent my kind regards to Mrs. Sutherland and begged to tell how Miss Walker was on her arrival at Inverness, as I thought it better not to write to Miss W.  It would only be a harass to her.  The Captain looked said nothing, but seemed surprise[d]? Mrs. Sutherland senior to tell me how Miss W- bore her journey to Edinburgh –

[In the margin:] Captain Sutherland recommends P. Lawson and Sons, Seedsmen, Edinburgh – They told him they received cuttings from America stuck in a potato, and Captain was thus taking some rose cuttings back with him to the Highlands –

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/16/0018