FRESH DIFFICULTIES.
In spite of the harmonious relations existing between this curious pair of friends, another storm was brewing. The basis of this was a ridiculously slight matter. Miss J. was a stickler for all forms of deference, and carried this weakness to the verge of absurdity. Upon this was founded the quarrel. On the same day with the last entries given from her Diary one finds the following:—
"This morning I received the first letter from the Duke since his departure from Town,—and felt surprised at the alteration in the Seal,—being plain! and unlike any other before received, which I consequently acknowledged with the feeling that a want of apparent respect where the deepest is merited ought to call forth ... My feelings were I not afraid of offending God would incline me to seal up all the Duke's letters and return them, conscious that I merit an increase rather than a diminution of respect. Except such is bestowed the Duke need not be surprised at any step The Lord may incline me to take."
One may be pardoned for the suspicion that the feelings attributed to the Lord were in fact derived from quite another source. The next day she continues to harp on the same subject:—
"September 15th. I rose this morning with the determination to write to the Duke, and did so before breakfast, when I took it to the Post Office myself, leaving the result with Him Who doeth all things well and leaveth nothing after Him."
A copy of the letter is appended:—
Sept. 15th, 1835.
My dear Duke,—As you only acknowledge in yours of the 13th, two letters, I beg to say there were addressed to you by yesterday, three; One, written on Thursday, another on Friday and the last on Saturday. And I take this opportunity of making two enquiries respecting which my mind is not at all satisfied.
The first is; Why I am to receive a change of style in the appearance of your letters with regard to the Seal thereof? and the next, called forth thereby; Why you ever ceased to sign your Name at the conclusion of your letters? If either of these changes sprang from disrespect or want of confidence in my integrity, confidence, Christianity and friendship, I shall without hesitation or delay return Your Grace every letter I have in my possession, as in that case they will cease to have any value in my estimation. I will also beg to decline all further intercourse, knowing that the sincerity and purity of my friendship merits both consideration and respect.
You will perhaps wonder at my noticing your omission with regard to Signature after the receipt of so many letters. I should not have done so, however incomprehensible the same may have been and was to me, had not this additional circumstance tended to strengthen a momentary feeling experienced when your first letter signed W. reached me. But this I overcame, fancying you were in the habit of doing so to all your correspondents of any and every rank, and imagining you superior to the capability of taking advantage of circumstances. If I am mistaken with regard to this being a general habit, I am justified in asking—Why such an unwarrantable liberty was taken with me? I assure you that however great my affection may be, it is not of a nature to submit to any feeling that is not accompanied with the deepest respect as well as esteem, nor could the latter be either durable or acceptable under other circumstances.