Sunday July 10th.
Uncomfortable night between the rush light & dark thoughts. This morning I refused to go to church, because, if I went, somebody wd. be obliged either to walk or stay home; neither of which, they might like. I am in a fever about the letters—and the fever must last some time longer, as it is now only five minutes past twelve, & I have no spurs for Time. If a letter comes, I wish Eliza wd. not come!—
Neither a letter nor Eliza came; but a thunderstorm! However the thunder grumbled courteously at a distance until we had done dinner,—& then it lightened until five oclock. Minny protected Bummy & Arabel in the library,—& I lay down on Minny’s bed meo more.[1] No going to church or chapel of course.
A letter from Mrs. Boyd who tells me that whenever the weather has been good, Mr. Boyd has said “Well, I think Miss Barrett might have come on such a fine day.” I was there last Monday & Tuesday; Mrs. Boyd was here on Thursday: therefore only on Friday & Saturday, was there a possibility of my going when I did not go. I am pleased, very much pleased, by his seeming to wish to see me. Mr. Spowers,[2] Mrs. Boyd says, is coming on Tuesday—(provoking Mr. Spowers!) & Mr. Boyd would like me to come on Monday if I could,—if not early on Tuesday. He must like me to be with him, I think.
Now we are going to the Bartons to drink tea tomorrow evening,—& if I shd. not be able to have the carriage tomorrow morning—why then I must wait until Tuesday.
Arabel felt Bummy’s pulse for me on the subject. Decidedly unfavorable. “Nasty Boyds”! she said—but Arabel did not tell me that, or I shd. have been sulky instead of goodhumoured. I wd. have said no word more about it—wd. have staid at home tomorrow,—& set off the next morning! But in my blissful ignorance, while B was curling her hair, I asked her why she objected to my going,—elicited that she was afraid of my being late, & making her so, at the Bartons; promised to behave punctually;—& got leave of absence. I am going tomorrow morning at 8, & am to leave Ruby Cottage at half past 3.
“Nasty Boyds”! Arabel said she was not in her particularly best humour at the time,—but what an expression! Why shd. she dislike them?—at least Mr. Boyd, whom she never saw, & has heard noting but good of?—
I am very glad Papa did not write by this post. Now, he cant write (i e. we cant get his letter) until Tuesday, & cant come until Wednesday. And as his coming would be his dispairing, I am anxious for him not to come. Prayers—& read the bible,—& wrote about the biblical MSS. of course. But on the whole, & thro’ the thunderstorm, an idle day.
1. “According to my custom.”
2. On p. x of The Agamemnon of Æschylus: A Tragedy (London, 1823), Boyd referred to “my learned and much esteemed friend, Mr. Spowers of Hampstead, … I embrace this opportunity of acknowledging and recording the obligations which I am under to Mr. Spowers, as the instructor of my youth, and my initiator in those studies which have been the amusement of my riper years.” Mr. Spowers died in 1841, at the age of 77.
