Friday, January 5, 1827

1827

January

Friday 5

7 10/60

11 20/60

Hard frost Fahrenheit      27 3/4         at       8        a.m.

white on the ground       28                         –        noon 

                                      ––––––––   6        p.m.

                                      25               –        10      –

In my room at 8 – From 8 5/60 to 11 1/2, read aloud to myself the 9 last pages of the introduction (have read these pages 2 or 3 times before) to Montlosier’s Dénonciation, and the 2 first Chapters, the first 28 pages, of the Denonciation itself – Read the whole of this morning’s paper. and breakfasted at 9 50/60 –

At 11 1/2, finished dressing and went out at 12 1/4 – Saw my aunt for a few minutes –

Then through the gardens to Quai Voltaire – asked Mrs. Barlow to put on her things. and go with me to her tapissier, M. Moulin, rue Godot de Mauroy No. 34, wishing to see what it would cost to furnish an apartment from a tapissier’s –

Looked at several apartments in this street – None that would at all suit us but a premier at 2500 or 2600/. very nicely furnished, No. 8 – 400/. a month thus furnished – But might make some better arrangement with M. Charles Calenge, Faubourg. Montemartre No. 5 – No remise –

Then went to the tapissier – According to his charges, it would cost us 300/. a month to furnish an apartment to suit us, and in about 3 years or less time we should have paid him as much as would have bought better furniture than he would let us have –

Looked at an apartment, a premier, in the rue des Champs Elysées at 2000/. a year – Too dark, but plenty of room, as such as it was (had before going to rue Godot looked at a premier rue Mont Thabor at 2500/.  No remise – would not do), and then came home for a few minutes –

Then went home with Mrs. Barlow.  Got there at 4 – Staid with her till 5 20/60 and got home at 5 40/60 –

Jane and Madame Alexandre in Mrs. Barlows bedroom, she and I in the drawing room sitting on the sofa, she with her legs over my knee, very conveniently for me.  She had drawers on for the first time that I have been with her, but loosed them and lay on the sofa so that I got to her most comfortably.  My right middle finger up did it well for her, and told her she had never before done so well since my return.  Her passion was evidently strong and much gratified. 

She is less and less tearful.  We are now quite accustomed to each other.  I do the thing for her without much ado.  She takes me as she finds me and there is an end of it.  What would π [Mariana] say.  She will never know.  Mrs. Barlow seems to have a strong presentiment of my disliking and thinking ill of her by and by, but I think she will not pother me much more about her letters.  In fact she is my mistress and I merely regard her as such but never let her have cause to see or dwell upon this –

Dinner at 6 10/60 – Dessert, as yesterday, in the drawing room – Slept the greatest part of the evening.  Wrote the last 15 lines, and went to my room at 10 –

Hard frost all the day – Fine, clean walking, as yesterday – The ground all white this morning whether from a sprinkling of snow, or merely hoar frost I know not – Perhaps only the latter –

Mrs. Barlow and I in passing through the gardens this morning met Dr. Lefevre (about 1 1/2) – Not distinguée, but a good-tempered, amiable looking man –

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/10/0042