Page:William Jerdan.pdf/39

204 "Saturday, July 19.

",

"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