VISIT N°. 3
MUSTERS

Colder ― but fine, though gray. ―― By nine, in the breakfast room, ― breakfast with Walter, Fleet, & Hutchinson ― who told me some of the Miéville’s deaths. ―

After a little dawdle & walk ― poor Mrs. W. was done ― always cheerful & lively, though now a cripple. ― At 11 shewed all the Palestine drawings ― a very pleasant lecture. One of Charmside’s daughters is here too; & the children are very nice. ― Then walked some way with W. & F. ― but turning back, went alone on towards Newstead ― & into the Park. A dim & lonely Autumn wan feeling over all those silent glades, & leaf-covered path, & silent trees: & the gray=bright water: ― the home I did not see. It seemed to me that the poet was walking there ― & I but 10 or 12 years old.

The Chaworth hills were all beyond. Sad, I turned back & reached Papplewick for Lunch. After that I sang & played to Mrs. W. & the children till 4 ― & then the carriage came to take me away. ― Walter & Fleet accompanied. They are good & pleasant people, though W. is too fussy. ―― At the Linby station, Musters had not come ― so W. insisted on driving on ― with all the luggage.: of course we met the Annesley vehicle ― but W. would drive on.

It was nearly dark as we drove through the Deer Park, & to the Hall ― a real Hall this ― very interesting & beautiful apparently. ― W. would show Fleete about ― I thought not in all good taste. ― presently Musters came ― & was hearty enough. ― He however went to attend the W. ― & I came indoors. Fine old hall: ― good modern dining room. ― Then came Mrs. M. ― who is assuredly most sweet & charming. ― Poi ― went to my room ― comfortable & small ―: but while writing this, I was ‘axed’ ―  “invited” to go to M.’s room. There were one they called “Dick” (Dashwood) & one “Frank” name unknown: ― the first seemed a butt ― & good tempered: the 2nd more refined, & stammered. At 6½ dressed. Party in drawing-room ― 2 more ladies, both young, & nice looking. ― Dinner ― not a la môde Walter ― but sociable, & pleasant: ― all the rest being of the family somehow. ― M. after the ladies went, hearty in manner & with much good in him. ― Later ― sang: a very good piano ― & the room good for voice. ― (Mrs. M. had told me before dinner, of the gt. disappointment to them & to me ― that Newstead couldn’t be seen! ― The widow Mrs. Wildman being there still. ― Certainly a gt. vexation ― but they have evidently tried to alter it, so I said as little as possible. ― Not much good music. [gr.]! ― ‘a little rift within the lover’s lute!” ― ―― a portrait (miniature) of “Mary Chaworth ― & the original lines “Hills of Annesley” ― framed! ― how quaint & old all this. ― How many years I thought of Mary Chaworth ― (& how absurd that seems now!) with a strange sorrow. All the 3 ladies shook hands heartily, which I liked. ― Bed before 11.

X6

[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]