Betsy? I asked.
I’m happier here than any place else I might be, Master Richard .
I said: I’m going away, Betsy. I’m leaving here on Tuesday and I don’t know when I’ll come back .
I think that’s for the best, sir , she said with her back to me as she lifted a pan onto a high shelf.
It wasn’t the response I had hoped for. I said, perhaps rather impatiently: Why are all you females so anxious to make me go? Is there some sort of conspiracy amongst you to get rid of me?
Now she did turn to me. She looked discomfited. Her mouth was slightly open and her eyes seemed huge in the shadows. In spite of my irritation at her remark, I felt a strong desire to lean forward and kiss her.
Sunday 20 th of December, 10 o’clock.
Have just written to Bartlemew. Shameful to be asking him for a favour.
2 o’clock.
Set off for church. As we approached the village Mother told me to run on quickly and take my letter to the post and then catch them up. There was nobody in the dark little shop apart from Mrs Darnton who scowled as she took the letter from me.
Memorandum: OPENING BAL : 9s. 9 ½d . EXP : Stamp: 1d. FINAL BAL : 9s. 8½d .
It suddenly occurred to me to ask her the postal direction of Davenant Burgoyne. She glared at me with open contempt and said: Why? Do you intend to send him a letter?
What business is it of hers if I do? And why the emphasis on him as if I’ve been handing in other letters?
As I left the shop Old Hannah, the letter-carrier, came out behind me and I suddenly heard: Young fellow! I stopped and she caught up. Don’t let Madame Sourpuss know I’ve told you, but the earl’s nevy lodges in the rear premises of his uncle’s house .
Castle Parade? I asked.
It’s round the back. It’s the same building but it’s called Hill Street .
I thanked her and ran on and caught up with Mother and Euphemia and we reached the church with some time in hand.
· · ·
Was Mother misleading me deliberately or did she not realise the two addresses refer to the same building?
· · ·
We found General Quance mounted on the steps of the porch and reviewing her forces. In response to our bows and smiles we received only the curtest salute.
At that moment Mrs Paytress appeared at the lych-gate and hurried towards us with a smile, raising her veil. Mother looked straight at her and when she was only a few yards away, showed the poor woman her back. While this was happening, Euphemia fiddled with a ribbon on her dress and then turned without raising her eyes and followed Mother into the church. I saw a look of dismay appear on Mrs Paytress’s face and then she lowered her veil and slowed her pace. I tried to catch her eye but I don’t think she noticed me.
Mrs Quance’s pebbly little eyes lurking in their folds of flesh had watched the whole episode unfold and I saw an expression of gratification pucker her mouth with anticipation. At the end of the service as we came out she rewarded Mother with a smile that was more unnerving than any grimace and then engaged her and Effie in conversation: How were we settling in? Did we need any advice or information to make our lives more agreeable?
We have crossed the lines and are now marching under the Quances’ colours! I’m ashamed of Mother.
½ past midnight.
Warm only in bed. The air like a blunt knife scraping against my skin. We all have chilblains and cold-sores though we wear mittens indoors. Our hands are chapped as if gnawed by the frost.
[A page is left blank here in the Journal. Note by CP .]
Monday 21 st of December, 9 o’clock in the evening.
E verything has changed. Euphemia wants me to stay! And to accompany her to the ball!
And to cap it all, Mrs Yass is leaving.
Yet today began badly. After Effie went off to Lady Terrewest’s, Old Hannah brought Mother another letter from Uncle Thomas. As we sat over the remains of breakfast, she read it with a frown.
Then she said: I don’t understand. Why does someone called Webster demand
I’m happier here than any place else I might be, Master Richard .
I said: I’m going away, Betsy. I’m leaving here on Tuesday and I don’t know when I’ll come back .
I think that’s for the best, sir , she said with her back to me as she lifted a pan onto a high shelf.
It wasn’t the response I had hoped for. I said, perhaps rather impatiently: Why are all you females so anxious to make me go? Is there some sort of conspiracy amongst you to get rid of me?
Now she did turn to me. She looked discomfited. Her mouth was slightly open and her eyes seemed huge in the shadows. In spite of my irritation at her remark, I felt a strong desire to lean forward and kiss her.
Sunday 20 th of December, 10 o’clock.
Have just written to Bartlemew. Shameful to be asking him for a favour.
2 o’clock.
Set off for church. As we approached the village Mother told me to run on quickly and take my letter to the post and then catch them up. There was nobody in the dark little shop apart from Mrs Darnton who scowled as she took the letter from me.
Memorandum: OPENING BAL : 9s. 9 ½d . EXP : Stamp: 1d. FINAL BAL : 9s. 8½d .
It suddenly occurred to me to ask her the postal direction of Davenant Burgoyne. She glared at me with open contempt and said: Why? Do you intend to send him a letter?
What business is it of hers if I do? And why the emphasis on him as if I’ve been handing in other letters?
As I left the shop Old Hannah, the letter-carrier, came out behind me and I suddenly heard: Young fellow! I stopped and she caught up. Don’t let Madame Sourpuss know I’ve told you, but the earl’s nevy lodges in the rear premises of his uncle’s house .
Castle Parade? I asked.
It’s round the back. It’s the same building but it’s called Hill Street .
I thanked her and ran on and caught up with Mother and Euphemia and we reached the church with some time in hand.
· · ·
Was Mother misleading me deliberately or did she not realise the two addresses refer to the same building?
· · ·
We found General Quance mounted on the steps of the porch and reviewing her forces. In response to our bows and smiles we received only the curtest salute.
At that moment Mrs Paytress appeared at the lych-gate and hurried towards us with a smile, raising her veil. Mother looked straight at her and when she was only a few yards away, showed the poor woman her back. While this was happening, Euphemia fiddled with a ribbon on her dress and then turned without raising her eyes and followed Mother into the church. I saw a look of dismay appear on Mrs Paytress’s face and then she lowered her veil and slowed her pace. I tried to catch her eye but I don’t think she noticed me.
Mrs Quance’s pebbly little eyes lurking in their folds of flesh had watched the whole episode unfold and I saw an expression of gratification pucker her mouth with anticipation. At the end of the service as we came out she rewarded Mother with a smile that was more unnerving than any grimace and then engaged her and Effie in conversation: How were we settling in? Did we need any advice or information to make our lives more agreeable?
We have crossed the lines and are now marching under the Quances’ colours! I’m ashamed of Mother.
½ past midnight.
Warm only in bed. The air like a blunt knife scraping against my skin. We all have chilblains and cold-sores though we wear mittens indoors. Our hands are chapped as if gnawed by the frost.
[A page is left blank here in the Journal. Note by CP .]
Monday 21 st of December, 9 o’clock in the evening.
E verything has changed. Euphemia wants me to stay! And to accompany her to the ball!
And to cap it all, Mrs Yass is leaving.
Yet today began badly. After Effie went off to Lady Terrewest’s, Old Hannah brought Mother another letter from Uncle Thomas. As we sat over the remains of breakfast, she read it with a frown.
Then she said: I don’t understand. Why does someone called Webster demand
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