[Boston—Tuesday, 21 May 1872]

Tuesday May 21. Call from Mr. Emerson, Mrs E. and Ellen. They came in a body to thank me, which Mrs Emerson did in a little set speech after her own fashion at which we all laughed heartily—especially at the “profit” clause. Indeed we had a very merry time altogether. Mr. Emerson gave Queenie permission to look all about the room “for indeed there was not such another in all Boston—no indeed (half soliloquizing) not such another.” Then he looked about and told them the wrong names of the paintings and would have been entirely satisfied if he had not referred to me, when I was obliged to tell the truth and so from that time he made me speaker. He said he should do his very best for the University class for women next December to make up for having served them so badly this winter. He said I had very gently reminded him of his entire forgetfulness to fulfil an engagement or half engagement to come to speak to them this winter. “Queenie” told me she was one of the few persons who had read Miss Mitford’s poems, Blanche and all the rest, and liked them very much, so the various portraits of the old lady interested her much.

They came down to Boston Mrs E. said on purpose to make this call. I had just returned home from a long drive about town on business, so it was the best possible moment for me.

Our first thought this morning (J’s and mine) was how could Mr. Emerson finish his course of “Conversations” which had been so brilliant until the last, in so unsatisfactory a manner. His matter was for the most part old & he finished with reading well known hymns of Dr. Watts & Mrs Barbauld. I fear we were all disappointed. Some of the lectures (especially the one on “Love”) have been so fine that we were bitterly disappointed.

Celia Thaxter came to go with me. Some one had told her of a cruel report in circulation of her divorce. This never will be, except the divorce which death may bring—so it was especially sad. Met Hunt flying along the street, just back from Pomfret—went to see my Irish Washerwoman who told me she would not work for her, Mrs Hunt, because she looked up everything and called her by her Christian name when she was an ag’d woman and was always called Mrs [illegible name].

Today appeared our prospectus for the Lectures for Women which are to forerun a University we hope for Women in this city—Jamie has made all the arrangements.


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