Tuesday Oct: 4.
Will there be a letter from Papa today? If there is .. , what will it be—rainy or sunshiney?
I have been reading again the 6th. & 7th. of Romans. Mr. Boyd is certainly right.
We are going today to Mathon. I wd. rather stay at Hope End. And yet it is not kind to Eliza to think so; & after all I shd. like to see her drawing, before it is exhibited. One oclock—we shd. go now if we are to go at all.
How provoked I am. Henrietta has determined not to go, because Sam will want the horse at four—or rather (the only sufficient reason) because she dislikes it. She says that Eliza Cliffe is my friend. My friend!!! As if I ever did, or cd., or wd., apply that word so lightly!! I never applied it to any person but one; & that person is not Eliza Cliffe. I like her on many accounts; I am grateful to her on many accounts;—but she is not, & never cd. be my friend!—
No poney caught—because either H or I was careless. B says I: I say H—of course. Both of us, perhaps. So we did not arrive at Mrs. Cliffe’s until nearly three, too late for the drive to Colonel West’s.[1] Glad of it. Eliza’s drawing for the Worcester Exhibition, is perfectly beautiful.[2]
Got home at 6, or past six; & had tea. From what Bummy said afterwards, we discovered that she had heard from Papa. No good, from her manner. My squirrel very well.
1. The visit was postponed until 24 November.
2. The exhibition of the Worcester Society of Artists, held 19 October–26 November 1831. The Worcester Herald, 22 October 1831, noting the opening of the exhibition, said: “There are altogether 164 pictures, and we find amongst the exhibitors most of the principal professional artists of this city and county, as well as some talented amateurs.”