The whole of Yesterday occupyde with our Visit. I love Lady Falkland well, yet her religious Mellanchollie and Presages of Evil have left a Weight upon my Spiritts. To-daye, we have a Family Dinner. The Agnews come not, but the Merediths doe, we shall have more Mirthe if less Wit. My Time now draweth soe short, I must crowd into it alle the Pleasure I can; and in this, everie one conspires to help me, saying, "Poor Moll must soon return to London." Never was Creature soe petted or spoylt. How was it there was none of this before I married, when they might have me alwaies? ah, therein lies the Secret. Now, we have mutuallie tasted our Losse.
Ralph Hewlett, going agayn to Town, was avised to ask whether I had anie Commission wherewith to charge him. I bade him tell Mr. Milton that since we should meet soe soone, I need not write, but would keep alle my News for our Fire-side. Robin added, "Say, we cannot spare her yet," and Father echoed the same.
But I begin to feel now, that I must not prolong my Stay. At the leaste, not beyond Father's Birthday. My Month is hasting to a Close.
Sept. 21, 1643.
Battle at _Newbury—_Lord Falkland slayn. Oh, fatal Loss! Father and Mother going off to my Lady: but I think she will not see them. Aunt and Uncle Hewlett, who brought the News, can talk of nothing else.
Sept. 22, 1643.
Alle Sadnesse and Consternation. I am wearie of bad News, public and private, and feel less and less Love for the Puritans, yet am forced to seem more loyal than I really am, soe high runs party Feeling just now at Home.
My Month has passed!
Sept. 28, 1643.
A most displeased Letter from my Husband, minding me that my Leave of Absence hath expired, and that he likes not the Messages he received through Ralph, nor the unreasonable and hurtfulle Pastimes which he finds have beene making my quiet Home distastefulle. Asking, are they suitable, under Circumstances of nationall Consternation to my owne Party, or seemlie in soe young a Wife, apart from her Husband? To conclude, insisting, with more Authoritie than Kindnesse, on my immediate Return.