Page:Mrs Shelley (Rossetti 1890).djvu/90

78 what selfishly indifferent to some of Shelley's caprices or whims ; but this was with the pardonable weakness of a man who, although he liked character in a woman, still considered it was her first duty to indulge her husband in all his freaks. However this may be, we have constantly recurring such entries in the joint diary as: "Nov. 9. Jane gloomy; she is very sullen with Shelley. Well, never mind, my love, we are happy. Nov. 10. Jane is not well, and does not speak the whole day. . . . Go to bed early; Shelley and Jane sit up till twelve talking; Shelley talks her into good humour." Then "Shelley explains with Clara." Again " Shelley and Clara explain as usual."

Mary writes—"Nov. 26. Work,—&c. &c. Clara in ill humour. She reads The Italian. Shelley sits up and talks her into humour." Dec. 19.—A discussion concerning female character. Clara imagines that I treat her unkindly. Mary consoles her with her all- powerful benevolence. I rise (having already gone to bed) and speak with Clara. She was very unhappy; I leave her tranquil." Clara herself writes as early as October—"Mary says things which I construe into unkindness. I was wrong. We soon became friends; but I felt deeply the imaginary cruelties I conjured up."

It is clear that where such constant explaining is necessary there could not be much satisfaction in perpetual intimacy.

Mary is amused at the way Shelley and Claire sit up and "frighten themselves" by different reasons or forms of superstition, and on one occasion we have their two accounts of the miraculous removal of a pillow in Claire's room, Claire avowing it had moved