Saturday August 6.

Well! I am really to go with Bummy & Henrietta to Malvern; & this afternoon!— I shall make myself miserable all the time, I dare say; & yet I am pleased at the thoughts of going. Bro & Sam have ridden to call upon Mr. Allen Cliffe,[1] who is “too proud” not to be called upon, before he calls here. How I hate this punctiliousness of mind which can only exist in a petty mind. Trees may be cut into peacocks, when they stand in a small inclosure: but who wd. think of cutting into peacocks, the trees of America’s vast forests?— Who am I, who wd. be severe upon littleness in character? Have I not just been measuring my own?

I had time to finish reading the 7th. book of Marcus Antoninus, before we went to Malvern, which we did not do until four ’oclock. Called at Mrs. Trant’s gate; Henrietta at her door,—& while Bummy & I were keeping the poney quiet, down the hill, came Dominick & Henry.[2] Dominick full of his reported title, & of having given Miss Emma Pocock to Mr. Knowles,[3] & of her being very handsome & 27 & the youngest of four sisters,—& of our going back to tea, & of his having a great deal to say to us. I laughed with him & at him; & then we drove on. Mr. Boyd walking in front of the house. I preceded the carriage to beg him to go into the house while it past. He said with a smile, an apparently pleased smile, that he did not expect to hear my voice tonight. Mrs. Boyd was out; so when I had opened the opposite gate for Bummy & Henrietta, I followed Mr. Boyd into his room. “As they are all out, shall we sit in the drawing room; & will you go & shut the window.”? But he heard Miss Gibbons’ voice, & changed his mind, & did not change his room. We talked a little about reform, & Miss Boadman’s illness, & mine; & then I was asked if I had brought my book—, my Æschylus? No! I did not think that, at that time in the evening, he would like me to read Greek to him. I “might have brought it, at any rate—he would have liked it”. So I proposed reading, & did read out of his folio Æschylus; but we did not read much. He could not have liked hearing me, much. Kind in his manner. Some talking of the Hope End business.

Bummy & Henrietta called on Mrs. Boyd when they called for me; & of this I was glad. It was past seven when we left Ruby Cottage. A happier visit than my last! Oh I would give anything if I could know—not think, not guess—but know, what the feeling is there, with respect to me. I know my own exclusive & exacting disposition; but not to that only — -- —.!-- Tais toi Jean Jaques!--

On arriving at home, we found Sam who had not been very well, very well; Bro not yet returned from Cliffes; & Arabel in preparation & expectation. Had tea & went to bed. Uncommon & memorable occurences!—

No last Man arrived; & after Mrs. Martins’s affidavit! An acceleravit wd. have been more to the purpose.

1. Eliza’s brother, the Rev. Allen Robert Cliffe (1806–97), Curate of Coddington, who had recently graduated from Trinity College, Dublin.

2. The two sons of Mary Trant (née Barrett), distant cousins of E.B.B. Dominick had unsuccessfully contested the Parliamentary election at Shaftesbury in May 1831, standing with his friend Francis Charles Knowles. We are unable to explain the reference which follows to “his reported title.”

3. At their marriage on 26 May 1831.


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