Saturday, October 17, 1829 Travel Journal

 Transcriber's note:  All of this material is crossed out in the travel journal, presumably when transferred by Anne Lister to her regular journal.

 

1829

October

Saturday 17

9 1/4

2 3/4

Some time waiting in my room – Breakfast at 10 3/4.  Talked to Miss Hobart about my not being an advocate for learned classical ladies.  They must necessarily know things of which they had better be ignorant.  No tenderness between us.  She had said yesterday I might follow her about if I liked.  It would not be long, but if I lived with her, it would be a great bore.  So I thought I would not be too attentive so immediately.

After breakfast, copied a little from Lord Graves’s journal – Madame Zamoyska called for a minute or 2 – and Lord Blantyre also called –

At 2, all 3 went out in a fiacre to the banker’s, Danoot’s, for Lady Stuart to get money – Then went to her upholsterer’s about the footstool – Not done – Then to the marché in the place of the Hotel de Ville, and bought 2 ounces Brussels sprouts seed and 1 ounce lettuce ditto for 3/10 cents. 

Then at 5 minutes within the hour, left Lady Stuart in the rue de la Montague to go home in the carriage – Bought 3 little gold enamelled boutons for Cosmo, then called and sat 20 minutes with Mrs. Taylor and her mother Mrs. Beckingham –

Then walked along the boulevards past the Porte de Louvain to the botanic garden, and thence in a straight line along that good street home at 5 – This upper part of Brussels really a handsome town – Good houses all along the town side of the boulevard planted with trees – Pretty look down the boulevard from the gate of the botanical garden –

Mrs. Taylor asked us to go there this evening – Could not, on account of going to lady Isabella Blatchford.  Finding the Taylors not going, I made up my mind not to go – Miss Hobart to go with Madame Zamoyska – She said nothing against it. 

We had a stupidish walk.  I said but little, but turning round often to find her (not walking arm in arm), she said do you suppose I dislike your doing.  No, it amuses me.  I said she ought to praise [me] for behaving so well today.  I had not pothered her at all.  She did not give any direct answer.

Dinner at 5 3/4 – Talking of her not knowing anybody tonight, said I, you can talk to Madame Zamoyska.  Oh, said she, I don’t want to talk to my chaperon.  That would be being reduced to knowing nobody indeed.  Then, thought I, it is not to me only she would not talk if I went with her, and this rather consoled me.

Sir Charles Bagott arrived about 6 and called about 7 for 10 minutes or 1/4 hour – Handsome, gentlemanly, well-bred person –

When she came in from dressing, I was reading De Bourrienne’s Memoirs.  Not happening to turn a leaf or apparently move my eyes, she said archly, you are not reading.  You are not thinking of the book, meaning I was thinking of her,  and I let it pass.

Coffee at 8 – Madame Zamoyska called for Miss Hobart at 8 20/60 – Lord Graves came almost immediately afterwards and staid till 11 40/60, when Madame Zamoyska and Miss Hobart got back – Stupid party – Madame Zamoyska owned to their having baillé and having en sommeil – 4 gentlemen and 5 or 6 ladies – Madame Zamoyska staid till 12 10/60 – All very merry – and Lady Stuart sat up writing, that I did not get to my room till 12 1/2 –

Lord Graves very amusing this evening, thorough gentleman and thoroughly amiable person – Gave up being Lord of the Bedchamber (£699 a year) when he was made Commissioner of Excise (at £1400 a year) – Said he had been near marrying Lady Cowley.  Had before spoke of how miserable to love a husband or wife in the height of one’s affection and adoration, but if there was a mutual dying away and forgetfulness between the parties, astonishing how emotionless they could meet afterwards

Miss Hobart would not let me wish her goodnight in bed for fear I should stay half [hour] so stood five minutes with her in her room just before she got into bed, and then she spoke to me afterwards, and I stood talking through the open door near quarter hour.  Joked and said she was a tiresome person.  She laughed and said ‘Then you will get another nail and you will write and tell me when you do’ I wish I could, said I.

On asking why she would have Lady Gordon when she might be dressing and not me, she said, because she would not remember what she saw, and you would never forget it – She will scarce let me touch her, says I don’t know how I tickle her –

When I joked her the other day about returning me the bottle of eau de cologne, she said, ‘I should not do it now.  Now I’ll take all you will give me,’ and she never has refused anything I have given her.  Does she like me or not?  I said, this is our last night at Brussels.  You ought to say something pretty. ‘Why should I say anything pretty?’  Because, said I, you never do, and to let us have a little change –

Wrote all the above of today since coming to my room and the last 20 lines since wishing Miss Hobart good night at 1 50/60 –

WYAS Finding Numbers SH:7/ML/TR/4/0005 and SH:7/ML/TR/4/0006