Thackeray & Russell have just left - the
latter to invite us to dinner on the 28th
T - asked for the children, saw all except
baby & gave each a half crown - expressed
much pleasure at seeing us again &
repeated several times that he was glad
to see me looking unchanged, as fresh &
bright & happy as ever - Mr B is quite sick
today & I am sorry was not entitled to a
similar compliment. Mrs King of
Charleston said to him once at Dinner,
after she had tried to show off & he had
taken no notice of her “People told me I
wouldn’t like you & I don’t” & “I’m sure
I don’t care a pin about it” - this he says
is a true story, the other a lie about her
saying she heard he was a gentleman &c
B says Mrs Gaskell is a horrid creature
so conceited & consequential - I rather
think she is modest & appears haughty
because somewhat embarrassed. Have
just written a reply to Miss Bird’s note - a
very kind one it was asking us to spend a