Wednesday, October 14, 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

Wednesday 14

9

2 35/60

Cross last night thinking of Miss Hobart.

Breakfast at 10 1/4 – Dawdling over breakfast, then at the piano till Lady Stuart came to us at 12 – Had breakfasted in her room as yesterday –

Took out two or three gray hairs from Miss Hobart.  She would not let me keep them.  At last gave them up, saying I would not bring her gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.  Yes, said she, quickly, but you will.

Lord Graves came soon after 12,  then Messers Taylor and William Brook Northey and Dr. Drever –

Very rainy morning – Yet went out (leaving Lord Graves) at 3 as far as Gardiner’s, to get Hallam’s Constitutional History of England for Lady Graves – Brought back ‘The Odd Volume’ 1 little octavo said to be by Grattan –

Nobody there with us, and I read aloud from the above volume The Elopement and part of Mrs. Margaret Twistletoun, the latter an account of the Scotch court of James 1st of England –

1 person or other (to order footstool for lady Stuart etc.) interrupted us –

Fair about 4 1/2 for the 1st time today, and had a coach and all went out for 50 minutes from 5 10/60 to 6 – Called at the door opposite the Porte de Louvain and Lady Stuart left her pencil-written name and compliments for Lady Charlotte Fitzgerald – Then went to a shop or 2 –

Dinner at 6 1/4 – Coffee at 8 – The Tyrolese singing as last night, and sent for the Zamoyskas and Lord Graves.  Madame Zamoyska and her little girl and governess came and Lord Graves staid with us till 11 1/4 – He talked incessantly – Vindicates the conduct of the duchess of Cumberland as princess of Psalmes, queen to the late queen of Prussia, and vindicates the duke in the business of Sellis – Speaking of dress and undress waistcoats, the latter should be white with yellow over the linen; therefore, should not be blue or green – The great object is to make the linen look white – Nothing better or therefore more becoming than yellow –

Soon after his going away, Miss Hobart sat down to the piano and sang till after 12, till lady S- Stuart left us at 12 10/60 – we then came to our rooms – I wrote all the above of today till 1 25/60.

Thoroughly rainy day till about 4 1/2 – then fair and a little sunshine, but rain again after dinner – Miss Hobart gave the singers (Brussels Tyrolese) 3 francs for tonight and last night.

Then forty minutes at her bedside.  She is less and less ungracious.  Asked if she would come to me if I was ill.  Yes, if she might.  Then said I should like to be ill.  She said I spoilt.  Said I would not do that.  She said it was done already.

There was some opportunity which she took to say I must be sorry for her when I was gone.  No, said I, I shall be sorry then for myself.  She said when I told her I should like to have an illness for the sake of having her to sit by me, ‘You are the most extraordinary person I ever met.’

I fought off saying Sibbella and I thought alike and were very much alike.  I was always glad to take shelter under her authority, joking about animal heat.  She said Sibbella would not like that.  That, said I, I do not pretend to know.  I do not boast of any experience on that subject. This arguing that my feelings were not the same to both seemed to please her.  

I perceived a little shaking, but took no notice, in rubbing my chin on her shoulder.  She asked if it was my tongue.  I remarked on the strangeness of such a question, saying my tongue is in my mouth.  Oh, said she, nothing would be strange now.  She had before said I had not time to spoil her now, then said no, if it was not done already.  I had told her she was pretty had the prettiest mouth I ever saw, all which she took very well.  In fact, tis now clear? she likes me.

Wrote the last 26 lines in 20 minutes till 2 1/2 –

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/TR/4/0003