Tuesday, before sunset, Sept. 19th, 1837.
I was pleased to find, my dear little Eugenia, that you inherit your father’s good-will towards me. I must thank you and Mademoiselle Longchamp for your kind offers of assistance, but I must decline them, having taken a determination not to have anything more to do with the doctor’s family than if it did not exist in the country. I should forget my situation and rank in life were I to condescend to dispute and make daily explanations to my inferiors. To avoid this, I must give up all thoughts of making your acquaintance, although you are an object of interest to me, as would be all the children of the doctor, even if he had a hundred. Request him not to think about my letters or anything else that relates to me; only let him take care of his health. If I can be useful to a sick person, nothing is unpleasant to me; but, when I cannot, or rather am not, permitted to be, the history of the progress of sores is not very agreeable. I do not wish to hear of him till he is recovered. Writing must fatigue him, and I would rather be without letters from you or him.
I have had a letter from M. Guys to-day, in which he tells me he was thinking of taking a ride to see some houses to hire for your family. I shall send to Beyrout on Thursday before daylight, and the doctor’s letters will go by that messenger. He had better write a few lines more to M. Guys, to explain what situation and what sort of a house he would like, as it would appear that I am grown a fool in my old age, and neither know my right hand from my left.
The doctor is aware that he may command anything my house contains which may be useful to him; but I shall neither send him anything, nor inquire after him, as my messenger was thus ill received:[79] and I do not think I can be called upon to put my eyes out by writing, when I more than want the sight I have left for my own affairs.
Believe me, dear little girl, yours sincerely,
H. L. S.
The frame of Lady Hester’s mind at this period may be further understood from the following letter, which was sent to me, with a secret injunction to read it to my wife.
To Dr. ——, at Mar Elias.
Djôon, Sept. 23, 1837.
Whilst waiting for M. Guys’ answer, I have some remarks to make, worthy of your attention. I do not speak in wrath, my dear doctor, but I do not see how, at this period, you are to help yourself; and it is plain to perceive that you will not be able in any way to accomplish the objects you came for. Therefore, I should deem it as an act of folly to stick you up as a sort of maskara[80] in the public eye at Beyrout, merely to write a few letters. The whole of my business M. Guys offered to undertake before I sent for you, and to come here and write for me; but I had reasons for wishing you to come, which no longer exist; for under no circumstances do I see that you would be comfortable near me, nor should I wish for it, either at present or in future. Therefore, if you like to pass the winter at Cyprus, where, perhaps, you would be more comfortable than at Beyrout, you are at full liberty to do so. When my affairs are settled, you might then, if Cyprus pleases you, purchase a little terre there, or return to Europe, as you like best.
I am very glad that you wrote to M. Guys yourself; for I had described a country-house near some village, and you have described a sort of coffee-house near the gate of the town. You talked to me of Mrs. ——’s great love of retirement (which I laughed at, at the time,) and therefore she chooses a house upon the high road. But leave all that childish vulgar stuff; I do not wish for a hasty answer, as this subject requires reflection. Try and make yourself comfortable, and I shall find means of settling my business to my satisfaction; only I must have a clear and distinct answer, that I may make arrangements accordingly.
Your sincerely,
Hester Lucy Stanhope.
PS. Should my messenger retard, it is for M. Guys to be able to answer your letter about the house. I enclosed your two letters to be forwarded to England. Do not fidget yourself about me. I have made many awful sacrifices in my life; surely I can make a small one, when I know what it is. This is what distinguishes the truly great from the low and vulgar.
On returning to the Dar, I remained there eight days. Our conversations turned principally, during this period, on her father’s seat at Chevening, the people in that neighbourhood, and the happiness of her early days there. She recollected the names of all the gentry thereabouts, of the farmers, as also of her father’s servants, and could tell anecdotes respecting them with such a minuteness of particulars, that the individuals, to their surprise, after the lapse of so many years, would have found she remembered more of them than they did of themselves.
FOOTNOTES:
[70] A piece of money worth 16 piasters.
[71] Shaykh Omar ed Dyn was a Turk of the old school; that is, a man rigid in his religious observances, one who knew not the taste of wines or spirits, and of inconceivable cleanliness, in which points the modern Syrians are somewhat remiss.
[72] The sunflower.
[73] Her ladyship appears, from having lived a long time in Downing Street, to have acquired some knowledge on a subject which has lately created such lively discussions in the House of Commons.
[74] The book here meant is M. Lamartine’s “Souvenirs de l’Orient.” What Lady Hester here refers to as incorrect relates to her journey into the Desert with Mr. Lascaris; about which, and about the dispute with Mr. L. it is not likely that M. Lamartine could know the particulars; nor does this in the least deprive M. Lamartine of the just merit accorded to him, of having been the first traveller to give Europe some accurate notions about Lady Hester in her retirement.
[75] A coin of alloyed gold, of the size of a shilling.
[76] The Prince de Joinville, son of Louis Philippe.
[77] During the autumnal months in Syria, the bite of a horsefly, a simple excoriation, even a musquito bite, if scratched, will readily inflame, fester, and sometimes become a wound.
[78] A great philosopher reasoned on this point like Lady Hester. According to him: “La femme et le mari sont bien destinés à vivre ensemble, mais non pas de la même manière; ils doivent agir de concert, sans faire les mêmes choses. La vie qui charmeroit l’un seroit insupportable à l’autre; les inclinations que leur donne la nature sont aussi diverses que les fonctions qu’elle leur impose: leurs amusemens ne différent pas moins que leurs devoirs; en un mot, tous deux concourent au bonheur commun par des chemins differens, et ce partage de travaux et de soins est le plus fort lien de leur union.”—Let. xiv. 3me partie Nouv. Hel.
[79] I had declined rather pettishly some articles of dress which Lady Hester had sent me, and to this she alludes.
[80] Maskara means a sort of show. This Arabic word is either derived from European languages, or they have borrowed a corresponding expression from it.