“You quite misunderstood what I said about your coming
to Boulogne. As regarded myself, it is both a convenience and a pleasure. I
spoke entirely with reference to yourself, and if I see you there, I shall be
as glad as it is possible to be. I have now settled everything for my
departure. The Diligence La Fitte
leaves Paris on Sunday, and arrives at Boulogne on Monday morning. The packet
sails in the evening; if there, you can easily ascertain at what inn the coach
stops. I had a long kind letter from Mrs.
Bulwer; but she did even worse than you, for she wrote on the
thickest paper and put a huge seal: it cost me six francs. You seem very much
to over-rate my gaiety. I have only been twice out of an evening—to the theatre
each time—and, to be candid, have found these said evenings very dull—not the
theatrical ones. The mornings have been dreadfully hot, so that I have gone out
because it seemed so ungracious to refuse; but verily it has been making a toil
of a pleasure. I went to Père la Chaise yesterday. It is a striking and
beautiful place; but oh, I was so hot. I never sent my letter to Lady Granville till yesterday; she called that
very evening—unluckily the second time I went to the theatre. Lady Kingsmill, who was here to-day, tells me
her calling was the greatest possible compliment, and that if anything is given
at the Embassy I shall be asked; but nothing is going on of gaiety just now. I
would joyfully have come home at least a fortnight sooner if I could have found
any sort of escort; but a journey alone in the French Diligence would have been not only
disagreeable but so unpleasant to have it said that I did such a thing. What I
| L. E. L. | 205 |
“The eating here is delicious; but I have no appetite. I am obliged to force a little down: ice is the only thing that I enjoy. The people appear to take the greatest interest in English politics. How odd you should tell me that you had read the end of ‘Francesca,’ and not say what you think of it. How can you justify such an omission?
“I have written a good deal of the Drawing-room Scrap Book, and translated some French poetry; but for the heat, which makes one so idle, I should have got a good deal of work done.
“I hope this will be in time for the post to-day.
“Your last letter but one—so amusing!
“This letter is re-opened by myself.
“Yours truly.
“I find that we arrive at Boulogne on Sunday, and that we must spend a night there, as the steamboat sails on Monday at 3 o’clock.
“I was delighted with my visit to-day. Madame
| 206 | AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. |
“I must not enter into details, for I have no time.”
