| Description | [Diary Transcription]
136
1826
March
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about 1 1/2 — shewed M- [Mariana] the new walk, new footpaths etc. walked all up and down — along Lower brea lane and
past Wellroyde — in passing through the gapstead in the lowmost field there M- [Mariana] set her foot on a loose stone, over
a little grip, and hurt herself exceedingly — James Smith brought us a chair, and she sat 1/2 hour (I think) before being able to stir.
yet afterwards it did not seem like a sprain or dislocation of any bone, however great the pain — we sauntered
home then up and down the approach road — Where I confessed all about Mrs Milne how she had asked me to write
etc. etc. very honestly poor π- [Mariana] seemed hurt but behaved very well through her tears she laments
Mrs Milne’s want of principle feels uncertain what she will do at last and then if anything happened
I should nott like to have herself (π- [Mariana]) on that account oh no said it would make no difference in my
feelings towards you — we came in at 4 40/60 — my father here — in agreeing with Mr. Carr to ascertain
the proportion of assessments and land tax — M- [Mariana] had her foot and knee rubbed (bathed) with hot vinegar, which
did it good — dressed — dinner at 6 20/60 — tea and coffee at 8 1/4 — afterwards (at the bureau downstairs) wrote the whole of this of today —
Fine day, but cold, and little or no sun — Jackman finished the wearing at the bottom of the great sycamore
tree in the Dolt wood, this morning, then began to break up the new footpath along Lower brea wood (it had
sunk in the middle) to raise it — James Sykes and John Booth in the garden both yesterday and today — Barometer 4 3/4 degrees above
changeable Fahrenheit 42° at 9 25/60 p.m. at which hour went up to bed — E.. [above] o. — then added the latter 1/2 the 2nd and 1/2 the 3rd page
[margin text:] to my letter to Anne Belcombe began on Wednesday and wrote a note in my aunt’s name
to Mrs. James Stansfield to inquire the direction to a servant who had lived with Mrs. Stansfield of
Leeds, recommended to my aunt by Mrs. Stansfeld Rawson and Catherine who called this
morning while M- [Mariana] and I were out, and sat sometime with my aunt —
Friday 17
10
1 1/2
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Sat up talking about the propriety of π-’s [Mariana] continuing with L- [Charles Lawton] at least for the present if she did not all the world would think she had taken the opportunity of my uncle’s death to come to me and about
Mrs Belcombe and the settlement business π- [Mariana] thought I said things against her family which I de
nied but owned that I disclaimed being the particular friend of any of them but π- [Mariana] went to her twice
last night and the same number of times just before getting up this morning and had eight kisses — my
letter (finished last night) to ‘Miss Belcombe King Street Scarborough)’, and the note to Mrs. James Stansfield, went early this
morning — Breakfast at 11 — Dr. Kenny and Mr. Sunderland came — saw them — they think my aunt in a very precarious way — Mr. Sunderland
does not seem for our going abroad — Dr. Kenny still maintains his former opinion — medicine can only palliate —
change of climate the only thing, and, if my aunt should die abroad, he should think she would have died equally soon or sooner
at home — A distant she might not get another winter over the swelling of her legs dropsical the
fear was of its being a general break up of constitution — M- [Mariana] and I went at 12 1/2 — along the walk
(saw James Sykes finish the tracing it out to the flags over the drain at the bottom of the Calf croft) Lower brea wood — upper brea lane to take a view of Shibden and the Godley land we are about buying — then walked up
and down the new path along the Tilly and Sown holms for about an hour — Talked over our affairs — my aunt’s income, and mine,
and my father’s — of the Swansea Listers etc. Their relationship that I thought of taking one to bring up and how I should make my will according to my uncle’s
desire then talked of our living together as if it would take place a year or two hence — we came
in at 5 — M- [Mariana] not tired — had felt no inconvenience from her foot she hurt yesterday — during our absence my
father and Marian had called — Dinner at 6 20/60 — tea and coffee at 8 1/4 — my aunt went to bed before 10 — M- [Mariana] and I
sat downstairs an hour longer talking of Mrs. Milne — Read π- [Mariana] the copies of her letters as written in
my journal — Very fine day — Barometer 4 degrees above changeable Fahrenheit 44°. at 10 50/60 at which hour went up to bed — E.. [above] o..
Sat up reading π [Mariana] the copies of my letters to Mrs Milne and her last but one I had only read about half the
copy of my last letter when I thought π- [Mariana] could bear no more and I stopt she seemed for a while quite
insensible then a little incoherent for a moment or two as if wandering I expressed my deep sorr
ow is it said she because you will never see her anymore I noticed the cruelty of the remark then bec
ame so agitated with weeping that it recalled π- [Mariana] to her and she said she could do anything if she might
137
1826
March
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but see me calm she forgave me but was horrified at Mrs Milne’s depravity she had no principle she
had tried to make excuses for her did not think her so bad as this she now believed all that business
about Mr Meeke solemnly as Mrs Milne had sworn against it but π- [Mariana] promised me her manner should not
betray what she felt Harriet should not find out I had told her but she hoped she would not go
with her to Scarborough she would no more ask her to Lawton would make L- [Charles Lawton] an excuse then told me of Mrs Milne’s
trying to intrigue with Mr Hugh Cholmondeley saw her take a rose from her bosom and give it him
I would ask to have my letters returned she said Mrs Milne would refuse her desk was full of such
she would declare she could not bear to part with them must have them as a remembrance of me said I would anticipate this by offering her
a better remembrance a diamond ring or something with my hair in it π- [Mariana] would not hear of her
having my hair could not bear the thought I never said she had got some already and I some of
hers I said the letters would be cheaply bought at any price π- [Mariana] agreed said they were far too flatt
ering would not for worlds have them seen but she would not let me give more than six or seven
guineas and if she saw a pair of earrings for instance at Barbers in York she would buy them for me to give
we mutually professed our love and she her entire forgiveness saying I was more sinned against
than sinning — M-’s [Mariana] cold and sore throat bad tonight and she in wretched spirits and far from well —
Saturday 18
10 1/4
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Went once to her last night and twice this morning and had three good kisses we were just going to get up when
a few minutes before 10 Watson brought in a letter for me from Mr. Charles Lawton (Lawton hall) 2 ppages — to say I had
sometime ago done him the honour to make an overture of reconciliation which he regretted he did not directly
accept, as then he might not have had to apply to me on this present occasion insinuating that his not accepting
my offered reconciliation, and [illegible] that circumstances respecting her own family had been the cause of her leaving her
home — If I was still inclined to hold out the hand of friendship he would meet me in all sincerity of heart —
what he wrote was in perfect confidence — I knew not how much he wanted a friend — If all was known he
might not seem so much to blame π- [Mariana] looked over me while I read it but dwelling on his havi
ng written in perfect confidence we agreed I was to consider myself not at liberty to
shew her the letter and she was to know nothing of its contents we lay about half quarter hour talking
and chuckling over the thing whatever happened his writing to me and the way in which I would behave would acquit me to the world
in fact I really did say and had said positively the moment I heard of the thing on Wednes
day night that she must go back this time π- [Mariana] was down quarter hour before was very
confidential to my aunt but played off the farce to her as before to Watson of not
my saying I was not at liberty to shew her the letter — M- [Mariana] down at 10 1/4 I at 10 1/2 to
breakfast — I pulled a very long face apparently wishing to avoid the subject before π- [Mariana] M- [Mariana
and little Offley Crewe and Watson (no man servant) all off for York at 11 1/2 — staid talking to my
aunt till 1 40/60 She said she should not be at all surprised if π- [Mariana] left and went abroad with us sseeming
rather satisfied than otherwise or at least as if she had got over all ibjection [objection] for as I
observed L-’s [Charles Lawton] letter to me quite altered the case quite acquitted me — went upstairs at 1 40/60, and feeling
tired and harassed, and unable or unwilling to do anything, leaned my head on the pillow of my bed, and slept till near 3 — then came
down — talked a while to my aunt, and went out at 3 40/60 — Sauntered along the walk and Lower brea lane — James Sykes had
finished (he began it yesterday) tracing out the walk from where we before left off to the near end of the flagged way over the drain
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