Monday, September 11, 2006

04Jun1861, Servant Problems

LONDON, Tuesday, June 4th, 1861.
—Slept like a top, and eat vigorously, but I had a nice upset with Wheeler's proceedings. She has for some days been tiffy with the nurse, thinking she (Wheeler) was reckoned a p.h., and such-like nonsense, and has treated me to one scene, for which she begged pardon afterwards. But now it has been settled that the nurse is to go to Sheen with me : two can't go, so the Grim One must stay behind. She should have had a holyday meanwhile, but she flew into a passion with Atie. P., and gave warning to me rather impertinently, so as I ain't a horse yet, I was put into a regular tremble and heart-beatings. It's a most lamentable thing, the want of common Christianity in servants. Suppose it was an unnecessary fidget to take the nurse (which it ain't, as Atie. P. won't be much there and there's no doctor near), one shd think it a very simple duty to give up one's own wish and swallow one's own pride rather than kick up a dust, especially with a Hinvalid [FN: She had just had typhoid fever]; but they wd never dream of such a thing. I could kick her.

07May1861, Scampishness

LONDON, Tuesday, May 7th, 1861.
—We went to Miss Coutts's [FN: Afterwards Baroness Burdett-Coutts] to hear the tragedian Fechter (whom everyone raves of) read a particularly scampish French play in the most beautiful way. Poor Miss Coutts sat on thorns, not anticipating the scampishness, and a Bishop or two stalked out ! Aggy and I dined alone.

02May1861, Painful Sotto Voce

LONDON, Thursday, May 2nd, 1861.
—The Duke and Duchess of Argyll dined here and Mr. Norton, and I at once fell into a fit of Cliveden [FN: She had met the Duke and Duchess of Argyll at Cliveden, where the Duke of Sutherland lived] shyness. Uncle W. was hoarse after another great speech, Atie. P. silent, and the three guests would speak below their breath, so we were sotto voce to a painful extent.

30Apr1861, Gladstone in Rollicking Spirits

LONDON, Tuesday, April 30th, 1861.
—Uncle W. in rollicking spirits over his Budget, and very kind to me.

29Apr1861, Dizzy Against the Budget

LONDON, Monday, April 29th, 1861.
—We went with Atie. P. to the House and stayed till 2 ! Uncle W. spoke quite admirably in defence of the Budget, and Dizzy admirably against it ; so I am left in the wood.

24Apr1861, The New Budget

LONDON, Wednesday, April 24th, 1861.
—A squash at Ly. Derby's, which was very amusing ; he in immense spirits, poking fun at Atie. P. about the Budget, which, however, it is expected will be accepted and approved : ld. off the income tax, duty off paper, but left on tea and sugar, which I believe I ought to rage at, being a Conservative ! Am I ? I don't quite know.