Tuesday, May 5, 1829 (Partial Entry)

1829

May

Had 1/2 hour’s nap – From 1 to 2 3/4 wrote out Saturday, Sunday, and the 1st ten lines of yesterday.

At 2 3/4, M. Doseur came about the apartment au seconde, No. 11 rue St. Florentin – Said he had a person who would give 2700 francs, yet it seemed he wanted to have and would take of me 2500 francs – Said he had best let it for 2700/. I would give him 2000/., as offered yesterday, but no more, therefore it was useless for me to say another word about it, and, surprised perhaps to find me so little inclined to talk about it, he went away – He had let out yesterday, that it was let before for 2200/., –

Then immediately came to my room, and sat musing on my sofa till after 4 – Shall we try to take M. Séné’s apartment, rue Neuve de Saint Augustin? Perhaps my aunt had better go to Shibden with the prospect held out of returning here on the death of my father; and for the present I can travel with Mrs. Barlow?

At my desk again at 4 10/60 – At 4 1/2, M. Van Raveschot, the tapissier, 5 rue Pot de Fer St. Germain, recommended by Madame Droz, came – Thinks I could furnish a salon (including tapis 600 francs) for 3000 francs, and at 12 per cent on this value, could hire furniture for 360 francs per annum – But on handsome new furniture one sometimes paid 15 per cent.  M. Droz had bought his carpet himself, un tapis Anglais at 300/., and this man made it – Asked him to value my bed, bois de lit, and all as it stood – He said it was a bois de lit of 30 francs – New mattresses, 80/. chaque – If I gave 160 francs my bed as it was , it would be enough – Said I was disappointed of the apartment I fancied I had got yesterday and must therefore look for another, but had determined to employ him, and would write per post as soon as I had made up my mind –

Finding one could furnish at a reasonable rate has set me rather at ease – I will wait a few days to decide – Perhaps after all we may get this rue Saint Florentin apartment, if my aunt does not go to Shibden.  Had I less fear of hampering myself with Mrs. Barlow, I could decide at once –

At 5 1/2 the ambassador’s carriage stopt and there came up a packet from Miss Hobart, enclosing a little note from herself, 7 or 8 of her humourous anecdotes copied from her journal that she read to me in coming, and a letter from Miss MacLean – 17 Duke Street, Portland Place, and the bills belonging to our journey here. 

The note is,

‘Dear Miss Lister,

I send you a letter from our Sib which came last night.  I am quite ashamed to be so long in your debt, but I cannot get hold of the maitre d hotel to change my English notes.  I have copied the cream of my anecdotes for you according to your desire, but you must write them in your own clean hand.  

Was it not too extraordinary that I should not have seen you once in the course of the evening of the 30th.  We are this instant going to a breakfast at the Austrian ambassador’s  How it will pour by and bye. 

Ever yours sincerely,

V Hobart’, No date –

Well, either she really did not see me or she is indeed a finished worldling. She is apparently in a good school at present, but Lady Stuart has really behaved well enough to me.

2 full sheets from Miss MacLean – 1st dated 28 April. 

Very cold weather in London.

Miss MacLean gives a good account of herself ,but owns having the worst cold she ever had in her life, and that she had expectorated the last 5 days a pint per day !

She has now the wash at home but is ‘considered cured’ of the uterine cancer ‘without the aid of what you dreaded.  You will one day think differently of the honor of one who has acted in this case, the reverse of what you expected and would have done, as you said, had the case been yours’ –

Likes her new lodging, 17 Duke Street, Portland Place. 1 1/2 guineas a week including kitchen fire and cooking and attendance – No sofa, but hires one – This will look better to Lady Stuart, who has called twice and is all kindness, but repeats the same thing again and again.  Her memory fails, poor old Lady. Vere will be spoilt for her by and by. ‘I am so happy you dined there as she was quite captivated by your manners and the style of your dress, which it seems in the morning she did not so much admire. 

As for my, Vere she loves you with all her heart.  She says ‘Miss Lister is . . . . . . . It is impossible to tell you how much I like her and admire her in only two days time.  She might laugh at a very warmly expressed opinion, so I will not venture what you too might quiz, but I can say my drive to Dover was delightful and no people can to all appearances agree better than we do.  If you were with us at Rio would be too much happiness (for me) and one must fall out or fall sick’  This was from Calais and you have lost nothing as you proceeded.

I rejoice to hear Lady Stuart de Rothesay called on you and invited you to the ball.  It was just what she ought to do’ –

Somehow my heart misgives me in reading all this.  Is really all true on Vere’s part, does Miss Maclean know her as she really is, is she a little flippant – . . .

It was parting with Vere put you in the vapours, so put away your dulness by seeing as much of her as you can, she is a treasure’ It seems she does not care about Henry Yorke.  She took all I said in good part.  She thought it very funny that the first people she met at dinner were the Radnor Sabs family.  She says he must have given up all thought of her, else he would have reappeared before now. How could he when forbid the house’ –

Great deal about Mr. Long – Mr. Scott of Bromley is now all for him – He has still fears about Margaret Roxburgh, though she seems going on well – A widow with two children well provided for and fifteen hundred a year has offered to him and a charming young lady who has just by the death of an aunt got a considerable addition to her fortune and a nice place in the country. 

All this Miss MacLean knows.  She sees the letters, I suppose.  Does he write them himself?

She says she does not mind the heat of Paris ‘as if I relapse I can run back again.  He will then have a wife, and I can, with due decorum, occupy the large ‘front bedroom long allotted for me. I drove with him to Richmond by promise to call on the Skinners’ . . . .

Well how is it that I doubt so much and she not at all.  What he really is will surely appear by and by.  He certainly does not seem to be curing Miss MacLean.

Miss Bury has almost killed herself by the folly of riding out on a wet day, but is getting better. Captain Bury almost well – Mrs. Teed, Miss Parker that was , does not appear to have made a good match as to fortune – ‘a boy all in dirt and rags opened the door, one sleeve almost off – I suppose Mr. Teed by this not to be over rich’ –

Dinner at 6 – Came to my room at 8 – Read my letter from Miss MacLean – Wrote copy of note to Miss Hobart.

Coffee at 9 20/60.  Came to my room at 10 1/4 – Just after dinner, the man brought Laugier’s ‘Cours de Chimie General’ 46 leçons – To have the 8 more by and by – Just before dinner Mrs. and Miss Barlow came to say, they do not come tonight, nor do they quite know when – Sat reading the 1st and 7th leçon, Laugier’s Chemistry, till 11 10/60 –

Very fine day – ‘Le Docteur Tanchou de la faculté de Paris’ left his card for me this morning –

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/12/0015