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201/ out & drove in the Lientaal; one of the loveliest drives I know of; that evening Hooker & Mr Kane both dined with us; we had a very jolly dinner, though it was extremely difficult for me to act towards Mr Hammersly, as if I were unaware of his proposal. - On Wednesday morning Sister & I were in the reading-room, & we had not been there long when one after another the three youths appeared; how they all managed to appear just then is beyond my comprehension. - Mr H. in a feeble way was nearly frantic, en costume de voyage, & with the dirtiest pair of gloves I ever had the pleasure of beholding. - Mr Kane was in a very funny state; he could not make up his mind, either to go or stay; Mr Little played "Don Carlos" & talked alternately, he was going at midnight, & no doubt about it. - We talked three hours; bemoaning in hypocritical terms, our sad fate; for were we not be deserted, by three gallant knights, who were leaving us in the most heartless manner, (yes

202 they were leaving us, but one because he had been rejected, & the other because he couldn't help himself. - At 3. P.M. the great Mr Hammersly, retired from the scene. - I went up stairs, & presently Mr Little's card was brought in. I sent word I was lying down! At a quarter past four the waiter brought another. This time he got in. Sister received him, I came in afterwards; it was very extraordinary his calling twice in succession that way! He was rather excited, & did not act just as usual. - He asked if he might take "Adelaide Proctor" with him to England, & send it back when he got to Nice. I said he might. - Sister was on the balcony when he said this. She went out of the room for about ten minutes; when she came back she said my cheeks were in a blaze: perhaps they were! it is such an annoyance to have a pale transparent skin, the slightest change is instantly noticed. - I saw him again in the evening, at the concert; he walked home with us, stayed a moment