Wednesday April 4.

I read yesterday in Mr. Joseph Clarke’s Sacred Literature, that Nonnus is an author whom few can read, & fewer admire.[1] So that my opinion is nothing outrageous. I do not feel well; & look like a ghost. Mrs. Martin called, & thought so too!—

Henrietta & Arabel are both of opinion that B is trying this morning to speak to Papa. They are right. She has spoken. She has been here to tell me that she is going to Kinnersley[2] tomorrow to stay away until Tuesday!!! only Tuesday!! & wishes me to go with her. Now that I hate—& I have made over the pleasure, such as it may be, to Henrietta!— B tells me of having proposed to Papa, her going on Friday,—& of his objecting on account of his being unwilling for her to pass thro’ Ledbury on the day of the church missionary meeting without attending it. Something is certainly the matter,—or B wd. not go to Kinnersley for so very short a time,—or so suddenly as not even to let them know of her intention. Either we are going,—or Papa is going to London. Oh I hope—I do hope he is not going away from us again.

After dinner, B & I lay down on the bed in her room; & talked. I said something about the probability of Papa’s going away, & her answer was—“I shd. not be surprised— I think, Ba, you are anxious to leave this place altogether.” I acknowledged I was—considering everything. Mr. Curzon came today with his little boy, & is to sleep here. While he was coming, B H A & I were sitting on the grassy green hill above the rock, basking in the lovely sun.

He was agreable this evening.

1. Adam Clarke and Joseph Clarke, A Concise View of the Succession of Sacred Literature, 2 vols. (London, 1830–32), II, 124–125: “Paraphrase of St. John.—Here the beautifully simple and sublime Gospel of St. John is converted into an inflated Greek hexameter Poem: few have or ever will read it, and those who have taken this trouble have met with nothing to please the taste or gratify curiosity.”

2. Kinnersley Castle, some 12 miles N.W. of Hereford, was the home of Bummy’s elder brother, John Altham Graham-Clarke (1782–1862).


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