Friday July 1st.
After breakfast Henrietta came up stairs to propose to me that we should drive to Allen’s the overseer[1] about the Irishwoman. As Bummy wished me to go, I went. At the gate however we found the poor girl better, but indisposed about the overseer; therefore instead of driving to Allen’s, we drove to the Whyche. Before we arrived quite at the usual resting point, I proposed climbing the hill with Henrietta. So we commenced operations & Bummy suspended the same; she being left as garrison to our wheelbarrow. I climbed the hill quickly enough, but with so much fatigue!— At the summit there was the sight of the tops of Mr. Boyd’s chimneys; & I sate down & looked at them. I sate down & looked at them. I could not do any more. I could not run down the hill as I wished to do—because tho’ facilis descensus,[2] how was I to get up again? My feelings today were not as pleasant as they were, when I was near this spot, nearly a month ago. Not so pleasant in any way! Whose fault is that? Partly the fault of circumstances, & partly--!! Henrietta & I slid down Bummy’s side of the hill, & drove home. I was so tired & exhausted, that attempting to stand when I got out of the carriage, was a vain attempt. Bro carried me to the sofa; & I soon got better—indeed well enough, for Bummy to propose our drinking tea with the Martins.[3] I did not feel equal to it: but as she wished it, I agreed!— Henrietta & Sam walked; B, A, & I in the wheelbarrow. Bro had preceded us, in consequence of an invitation to shoot rabbits. On the way, Bummy said to me that she had a proposal to make for tomorrow which I was sure to like; but that before she made it, I must promise one thing. I was about to promise, when Mrs. Cliffe’s carriage appeared. Mrs. C. Mrs. Best & Fanny!![4] Mrs. C appeared to me, out of humour; but whether about our going to the Martins, or about our putting her upon quarantine,[5] deponent saith not. I asked after Eliza—“Eliza is at Malvern where she has spent the whole day!!!”
I wonder where she has been. At Mr. Boyds?— Perhaps she may have been painting with Miss Steers! — —
After Mrs. Cliffe had past, I, imagining that B’s proposal might regard Mr. Boyd in some way, was anxious for her to re-mention it. She did not. Arabel even asked her what it was. She had forgotten all about it. For forgotten, read changed her mind. Had tea with the Martins. I & Mr. Martin discussed about Ld. Byron. The Biddulphs called while we were there. I annoyed—felt so. B annoyed—looked so. Mrs. Martin proposed that I shd. drive to Malvern with her on Tuesday. Tuesday a long way off; but better on Tuesday than not on Tuesday. And yet why shd. I wish so much to be with a person, who certainly does not wish so much to be with me. Why shd. I take pleasure in lacerating myself, & kissing the rod?--Tais toi! again. Got home & to bed—at last! Intolerably tired! So tired as to lie awake instead of sleeping,—& to dream when I did sleep, of my teeth tumbling out.
Arabel told me today that there is to be an auction at the farm on Monday, of all Papa’s crops. And that papers are printed & hung up at the farm & at Ledbury, to that effect.[6] Henrietta & Bummy do not know it,—& I swore Arabel to silence, for fear of distressing them. No letter from Papa today; & Bummy rather elated about that? Is there any reason why I should be elated about anything?
1. “An officer (appointed annually) to perform various administrative duties mainly connected with the relief of the poor,” (Oxford English Dictionary).
2. “Easy is the descent” (to Avernus: Virgil, Aeneid, VI, line 126).
3. James Martin (1778–1870), a member of the banking family, and his wife Julia (née Vignoles, 1792–1866), who lived at Old Colwall, adjacent to the Hope End estate. Despite references to Mrs. Martin and herself as “oil and water,” E.B.B. kept up a correspondence with the Martins until her death.
4. Mrs. Best’s infant daughter.
5. Because of the measles.
6. The sale was announced in Berrows’ Worcester Journal, 23 and 30 June 1831. The notice also appeared in the Hereford Journal, 29 June 1831. The crops comprised 160 acres of grass, 26 acres of wheat, 12 acres of peas and 4 acres of beans.
