Tuesday. Sept. 20th.
So Bummy has agreed to join Mrs. Cliffe’s pic nic today; & so I am to go!— Heigho!—
B A & I set off in the wheelbarrow; H & Sam on horseback, & arrived safely at the wind’s point.[1] Mrs. Cliffe & Co had begun their ascent, but Eliza returned to be our co. I mounted Henrietta’s “high horse”, & Sam took the bridle,—& when we had overtaken the other squadron, Mr. Allen Cliffe took the bridle, & talked very .. uninterestingly, until we had topped the hill. Glorious hills! How finely they seemed to overlook the great expanse, as if they exulted in their own beauty. But the wind blew away all reverieing! I got off the horse, & ran about a little in my allegro style, until dinner was ready. The exposè of Henrietta’s lamb & tarts, threw her into an embarras! The union between England & Ireland wd. affect her much less!— Si sic omnia, I shd. have been sick, instead of eating my dinner.
Mr. Davis[2] who with Mr. C & Sam, made our triumvirate, may be in love with Eliza Cliffe, as she seems to wish—, but I hope he will never be in love with me. They say he is clever. He may know something of antiquities, & something of many things besides; but as to his being a clever man, I cry you mercy!--
After dinner my high horse, & Eliza my leader, took me up to the summit of the Herefordshire beacon. Nota bene. The Worcestershire side IS finest!! What with the rain & wind & height & sight, I grew altogether inebriated,—& after leaving the “high horse”; to Sam’s guidance, began to run & slip down to the bottom. Quoth Mr. Davis to Sam, “What immense spirits your sister has.”!—
Ah if he knew!— But I felt then, as if I were ten years old, & as if that were my birthday!
We were rained upon until we took refuge in Mrs. Clarke’s cottage[3]—& there we remained until our hair & stockings were dry. The excitement had gone off, & I felt quite exhausted!— Got home, where we found Mr. Jefferson who had breakfasted with us & shot with Bro. After tea, music began. I glided off to bed at eight, unwell with overfatigue. These kind of things do not agree with me.
I read only until twelve today. I wish I had stayed at home, tho’ I did enjoy about an hour of the time, when we were on the H beacon. With a few abstractions, the party wd. have been pleasanter. As parties go, it was very well.
1. Wynds Point, on the northern slope of the Herefordshire Beacon, about 2½ miles E.S.E. of Hope End.
2. Not positively identified; possibly the clergyman at Cradley, a story about whom E.B.B. recounted to H.S.B. (letter of [30 May 1831], BC, 2, 310–311).
3. Not identified.
