Consequences: Chapter Nineteen
…Mary busy making plans for Mayor’s party – altering her dress etc. She still looks very trim & not at all revealing her true state. Am very proud to be seen with her. It is something joyful to know one's name is now on the lips of my little pretty sweetheart grown now into the bloom of womanhood, handsome & worthy of all admiration…
Charles Simpson Walker, a young man who was forced to wed in a hurry, now delights in married life and is proud of his wife. Jean Day continues her vivid recreation of life in Victorian times. To read earlier chapters of her engaging novel told in diary form click on Consequences in the menu on this page.
Charles’s Diary for July
1 July FRIDAY
Mary busy making plans for Mayor’s party – altering her dress etc. She still looks very trim & not at all revealing her true state. Am very proud to be seen with her. It is something joyful to know one's name is now on the lips of my little pretty sweetheart grown now into the bloom of womanhood, handsome & worthy of all admiration.
5 TUESDAY
Letter from Russell’s of Bromsgrove offering invitation for us to go over & appointing next Sunday. Wrote back with apologies, mentioning Mayor’s party that weekend. Mary, Mrs. Jones, Pruey & I up at the garden; came to rain, in the bower singing etc. then back to our house.
6 WEDNESDAY
Letter from William Arrowsmith, who I knew slightly several years ago. He now lives in Bristol & works as a printer compositor. He helped us with our P I & P publications in the past. Must ask him if he will do another for us if I can get one organised. He mentions now being married to Jane. His father Isaac, also a printer, has taken over a printing firm in Bristol & took his family with him.
7 THURSDAY
Mary & I walked up to Wilson’s together. Great anticipation of Saturday’s party. Very amusing sketch in Punch showing a cricket pavilion, but the ball was being fired from a cannon at the poor batsman defending the stumps. It was entitled Cricket: Capitol Practice for the Round Bowling of the Period. It is by John Leech.
8 FRIDAY
Surprise letter today from Charles Alforth, who now lives in Surrey. He and Charles Alcock and I had some wild times together when they were private dragoons but Charles is much tamer now- married to Maria, with daughter Lizzy & doing well as a traveler in the lumber trade.
10 SUNDAY
Wonderful party & feeling very much part of the business & political life of Worcester. Mary was dressed in excellent taste, was quite blooming & arrayed with unusual grace. She was very pleased to make new friends too & one in particular who is married to someone I vaguely know, Fredrick Boyce. We must plan to see more of both of them. At the Garden before breakfast to cut asparagus & afterwards walked up to Boughton church service; went to Wilson’s for dinner; made our debut as artichoke-eaters which none of us liked; after dinner to the garden for dessert; worked away at the weeds. Came back home to tea. Mary busy with her secret writing; seems very engrossed in it, but has not yet had the confidence to show me her work.
11 MONDAY
Letter from Father. Worcester Races commence today. Mary & I walked down to race Course, to see the Shows; were bored by Fred Jones & in trying to quit him, lost one another; saw Mr. & Mrs. George Birley; had not seen Mrs. Geo for some time, much older looking.
13 WEDNESDAY
News of preliminary treaty to end the Austro-Sardinian War. Told Mary but she doesn’t have much apparent interest in current affairs & looked blank. At Garden last night; came home; ran up to Wilson's house, admired the extensive & beautiful sweep of scenery from it, came back to our much more modest dwelling & wrote long letter to Father.
14 THURSDAY
Last night Adelaide came to the garden & picked my roses & ate my fruit. We discussed other matters, all treated in a good-humoured, but kind - deep hearted manner.
15 FRIDAY
After work walked with Adelaide back to Sansome Walk. At garden all the evening. Mary making objections to her coming to our garden, with small cause, I think. Mary as the offence-taking party in the quarrel, whereas I am deeply & justly concerned, she has heard uncalled for, prejudiced remarks, all which is very wounding to Adelaide.
16 SATURDAY
In the town this morning at Deightons for "Illustrated London News" which was remarkably dull. This evening Mary & I left by the 7:45 train for Bromsgrove taking day ticket to return tomorrow or Monday if required; put up by Mr. Russell at the Golden Lion; Mrs. Russell is a cousin of mother's. Mr. & Mrs. Russell are an excellent couple.
17 SUNDAY
Slept very comfortably, not up til nearly 9 & after breakfast we went to Church & heard an excellent sermon, from the text of "Come & see" from the Rev. Mr. Millers, an exhortation to the Scriptures. Had a splendid dinner with the Russell’s & found no chance of getting over to Hagley to see my great-uncle there, who is, however, hearty & well. Walked with Mr. Russell to see the new workhouse & after tea Mr. & Mrs. Russell walked us to the station to set off by the 5:45 train so we were in Worcester by 6:30.
18 MONDAY
Letter from Father this morning. Mr. Barnesley who is in Worcester visiting his mother, also came over & with Jones here as well, we had a round game of whist; Mary improves all the time.
20 WEDNESDAY
Last night Barnesley, Mary & I went to Wilson’s to tea; Talked about new developments in science - Queen Victoria & President Buchanan exchanging messages over the transatlantic cable & electric home lighting demonstrated for the first time in the U.S. We have still to make a success of gas lighting.
22 FRIDAY
Letter this morning from Uncle Cox. Richard came to tea last night & then went up to help in the garden giving me hints; digging celery trenches etc.
24 SUNDAY
Reading Richelieu last night & finished it today. Mrs. Barnesley came down today this morning by 10 o'clock to meet up with her husband & see to her mother-in-law who is not very well.
26 WEDNESDAY
At Hilbournes yesterday morning & in the evening at garden picking fruit, gathered 30 lbs. red currents for preserving; Mary has found receipt which she thinks might convert for making jam.
27 THURSDAY
Rain prevented further fruit harvesting; Mary busy preserving all day; Alarmed by a fearful bill for sugar. Adelaide Hilbourne came down for the afternoon to render her assistance. Mary was cold and distant towards her.
28 FRIDAY
Wrote yesterday to Charley Cox. Met Jones after work & then we went to the Theatre to see Othello by Act of Parl, exceedingly well played very respectable company of players & a good house. First play Mary has seen in Worcester & she thoroughly enjoyed it.
30 SATURDAY
Letter also from Lindsay who has been in Wales & in reply to one written him on Wednesday. Had all the black currents stolen from the garden. At garden last night. Hard at work all day.
