Wednesday. July 6th.
Eliza Cliffe arrived; & brought a note from Eaton in which he agrees to allow £3 for the books exchanged. It is less than their value,—but it is more than their value to me,—they being to me valueless: therefore I will close with him. There is a strong opposition of prudent people against me; but I will close with him.
By Bummy’s desire, I left Eliza at 12 o’clock, & let Gent drive me to Eastnor. Was shewn into the dining room, to wait for Lady Margaret. A coldness & desolateness about the room; an exactness about the posture of the chairs,—which made me think that no one inhabited it, or sate down on them. I[1] could not; but walked about, & looked out of the window, & worked myself up into an agitation in the fear of Lady Margaret’s. However, it was not so. She came into the room with a chearful countenance & unagitated manner. She received me affectionately—said that she had given orders to be denied to everybody except Mrs. Martin & me—& seemed particularly glad to see me. “So much,” she said, “has occurred to each of us, since we parted.” Yes! So much!-- She enquired immediately with respect to our present situation—“Are you stationary at Hope End?”— “But I fear you are likely to leave it?” She told me that she had heard of Papa’s intention of going to Brighton; & that both Lord Somers[2] & herself very much wished it on account of Brighton’s being near Reigate where they intend residing two months in every year.[3] Lord Somers wished that we would pass some time at Reigate. That was kind: & I laid my hand on Lady Margaret’s hand, & said so. But I told her my prejudice against noisy, rattling, brick-dusty Brighton; & my love of silence & quietness & a sight of the green trees & fields out of the window.
For an hour I sate with her, & when she had asked me to visit her once more before she went away on Saturday week, I said good bye. How much pleasanter it wd. have been to have driven home immediately, instead of calling upon Miss Baker at Mr. Pindars! But Bummy had desired me to do it—so I did it. After all Miss Baker had gone the day before. I was obliged to get out & call on Mrs. Pindar, which was a double bore!— I did not stay longer that five minutes,—& got home faster than was safe. Three o’clock—dinner over; & Eliza & Arabel out of doors sketching. Eliza painted at my mouth till she spoilt it,—& then had tea,—& then went home. I tired, too tired to be agreable,—all the evening.
I wrote this morning one line to Mrs. Boyd, to say that Papa’s letter contained no obstacle to our receiving her.
1. Underscored twice.
2. Lady Margaret’s father, John Somers Cocks (1760–1841), 1st Earl Somers.
3. The Priory, Lord Somers’s other seat, was at Reigate.
