Authors, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence; Eden, Emily, 1797-1869 -- Correspondence
Mary says Mr. H. Greville[207] is so cross she does not know what to do
with him. What if it is love for Isabella Forester.[208] She is sorry he
is so foolish, and if it is bile--she is sorry he does not take more
pills.
Why, Foolish the 5th, don’t you remember my white muslin gown with tucks
and blue stars between them, and the body done with blue braiding, and I
wore it the Chatham day, and it smelt of the tobacco old gentlemen were
pleased to smoke in our faces, so I would not let it be washed for their
dirty sakes till Wright showed it me by daylight and told me I was
probably not aware I had worn it 30 times. And to be sure it was not the
cleaner for it. Still, it grieved me to have it washed. I shall go and
see our Caroline [Vansittart] in town and shall come down with all my
hair stroked up the wrong way by her remarks. Your most affectionate
E. E.
[The year 1826 brought many troubles and great unhappiness to Lady
Campbell. Her sister Lucy, who had always been an anxiety to her,
had married Captain George Lyon, R.N., in 1825. Lucy evidently had
her full share of FitzGerald beauty and charm, large dark eyes and
beautiful chestnut auburn hair.
In January she arrived at Calne, where the Campbells were now
living, in a great state of misery, having just parted with her
husband, who had gone to take up an appointment in Mexico. The
couple had sailed together, but for eleven days the ship tossed
about in a storm and finally was obliged to put back. Mrs. Lyon was
ill, and she decided to remain in England; her husband left her at
home, hoping to rejoin her in a year and a half.
In February Lady Campbell’s cousin, Arthur de Roos, died at Boyle
Farm, and in the following autumn her two elder children were
dangerously ill with scarlet fever. Her friend, Miss Wellesley, and
four of the servants also caught this illness, and her sister Lucy
died of it at Thames Ditton when her child was born.
“I have had eight persons ill of the fever. As soon as they come
into the house to help _do_ for us,--they fall sick.”]
_Lady Campbell to Miss Eden._
[CALNE,]
_January 13, 1826_.
MY DEAREST EMILY, I never was so provoked in my life at anything, and I
cursed the aristocracy of the country, and I was told of it[209] as
coolly as if it was a distress in Ireland. Seriously, what provoked me
was her never telling me till after it was all given up, and put an end
to, for thank Heaven I have a small house, and therefore can always make
room, and I could perfectly have put up Fanny, and you, and your maid.
I had the gratification of seeing the whole party swamped in Crambo, and
water-logged in Charades, and a large party writhing in the agonies of
English Xmas conviviality, without any young ladies, without any music
to break the awful solemnity of the evening, and no Lord Auckland to
make them gamesome.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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