Page:Margaret Fuller Ossoli (Higginson).djvu/241

Rh health in her face, but a harried, excited, over-stimulated state of mind. Home at the confectioner’s, a sweet little English home, with modest, gentle, English Jane to wait. Her courtesy about Eddie [Edward Spring]. Many such little things show us how natural is the disgust of the English to the bad manners and careless habits they find in America. Their ways of driving over these excellent roads are even amusing from their care.

“Evening at Mrs. Derby’s, sister-in-law of Sir Humphrey. Her mother, aged seventy-six, a fine specimen of what I have heard of the Scotch lady. Next day drive with Mrs. P. Handsome dwellings on the banks of Windermere. Evening at Miss M.’s. Mr. Milman, Dr. Gregory. Stories about Hartley Coleridge, and account of Sara C., author of ‘Phantasmion.’ Note the chapter she has added to the ‘Aids to Reflection’ now about to be published.

“It seems the cause of Coleridge’s separation from his wife and family was wholly with himself: because his opium and his indolence prevented his making any exertions to support them. That burden fell on Southey, who, without means, except from his pen, sustained the four persons thus added to his family. Just as I might do for — if I would. Hartley Coleridge’s bad habits naturally inherited from his father. Waiter offers to keep ‘the talking gentleman’ to board him, to clothe him. Oh don’t, don’t take away the ‘talking gentleman!’ How wicked to transmit these morbid states to children! Mr. Milman’s hard and worldly estimate. Introduced to Dr. Gregory. A man of truly large, benevolent mind.

“Next day Grasmere, Rydal Mount. I was disappointed in the habitation of Wordsworth. It is almost