[Montreal—Sunday, 30 June 1867]
Sunday went to Mr Cordner’s church to hear Mr Hale—good sermon “the one thing needful” pleasant church—sat with a certain Mr Allen who is “immensely” kind. I felt for him because I wore my large hat & attracted much observation, as he was a gay fashionable sprig I dare say he did not enjoy that part particularly. Nor would I have done this but coming unexpectedly from the country thither there was no choice but this, or staying at home.
Very warm day—sat with Mrs Field in the afternoon, drove in the evening through the french quarter of the city and stopped for a moment at the Jesuit Church. Who should advance to meet us but Miss Gilpin & her dog. This old woman is of English descent and a traveller by Nature as well as constitution and her small dog seems a natural accompaniment. We have not seen the last of her. It appears that poor old Mr Disturnell has clung gallantly to her fortunes and is now at the hotel with us. I think “Hartley” would class her among the people who have “refined self interest”—but what is to save poor single women from this vice? At least I know, believing firmly in the justice of heaven that this will not be counted to them as unrighteousness.
This reminds me of a chapter of “Sybaris” by E.E. Hale still unpublished, perhaps ever to remain so but which I should like right well to see in print, where the laws are enforced that all men and all women of a certain specified age shall marry.
The first time we saw poor Miss Gilpin was wandering toward the Hotel at Lake George in the mists of Evening murmuring verses to herself and urging her dog by a string to follow her steps. What was our surprise the next day as our boat stopped at Bolton’s, a way station ten miles from the hotel at about 9 o’oclock in the morning, to find the old woman had walked thither since 4 that morning. She [went] immediately to a seat by our side and the acquaintance proceeded regularly!!
