Hi! Do you know of any passages in Anne Lister's Diary where she talks about Ann and Mariana meeting? How did they get on? Thanks in advance :)
Mariana visits the Ann(e)s in 1836. She arrives at Shibden on Friday 4, November 1836 and stays with them for 9 days. I think her visit is really interesting. I’m not gonna share the whole stranscripts (cutting business talk) but I’m including all the parts where Mariana, Ann and Anne are mentioned so that you can get a pretty good picture of the dynamic between them during those days.
I’m gonna put in bold the parts that I think are most relevant to understand what Anne was thinking during those days and how she was feeling, both towards Ann and Mariana. Italic is for things written in code.
Friday 4, November 1836 > No kiss – rainy night – and raining till after 8 this morning – F42° now at 8 50/.. a.m. – breakfast at 9 – A- [Adney] did her French – out about 10 – with the gardener and Robert Mann + 3 planting hollies on the embankment opposite the house till 12 – then went to the Lodge to meet M- [Mariana] the mail – she not come – disappointed – came in to tell A- [Adney] – thought M- [Mariana] might in consequence of the rain have alighted at Halifax and meant to come in chaise – walked to a little way down the new bank to meet her – no M- [Mariana] – came back to A- [Adney] – out again at 2 – heavy rain and hail shower about 2 10/.. – A- [Adney] afterwards rode to Cliff Hill, and I was with the gardner (found Hemingway the Wyke gardener come this afternoon) and Robert Mann (...) Robert came at 3 ¾ to say Mrs. Lawton was at the Lodge – went there immediately – M- [Mariana] a little nervous so kept her out looking about till 5 – soon after went with her to dress – about 6 left her to change my pelisse etc. – wet – dinner at 6 ¾ – coffee upstairs sat talking – shewing the sketches Lodges Mr. Harper drew and Mr. Gray’s 3 sketches till 11 – then shewed M- [Mariana] the cellars and sat talking till after 12 – then wrote the above of today till 12 ½ at which hour F36° – very showery day – damp and dirty and disagreeable – sat one hour with M- [Mariana] talking till 1 25/.. then stood talking in my dressing room to A- [Adney] some time – [SH:7/ML/E/19/0138]
What I find particularly interesting here is the fact that, even if Anne doesn’t write it down, it’s clear that she’s just as nervous as Mariana is for this visit. I love how AL goes out to meet Mariana and in not finding her she goes straight back home to inform Ann Walker. It’s in these little things that the Ann(e)s dynamic comes through, it’s telling (I think) of how much of their life they shared with one another. And in this specific case it looks like it’s Ann the one who’s calm and rational – I think you can tell from this entry that in some moments Anne & Ann balanced each other really well.
Saturday 5, November 1836 > No kiss – breakfast at 10 – having sat ¼ hour with M- [Mariana] – who has not closed her eyes to sleep during the night and would breakfast in bed – A- [Adney] had Mr. Horner about 10 ½ and I went back to M- [Mariana] about 11 (she had got up) and sat with her till after 1 – had talked of Duncan Milne’s marriage, of A- [Adney], of housekeeping, of alterations, etc. of Willoughby Crewe and C- [Charles Lawton] being likely for long life – I spoke quietly but highly of A- [Adney] – no love making to M- [Mariana] but my manner very kind and affectionate – she makes no attempt beyond but I think would intrigue with me gladly if I chose – Luncheon at 2 – sat with A- [Adney] and M- [Mariana] till 3 when A- [Adney] rode to Cliff Hill and M- [Mariana] and I went out, but did not get much beyond the barn in consequence of a heavy shower – M- [Mariana] strongly advised me last night not to change the name from Shibden Hall to Shibden Castle mentioned Mr. Antrobus magnificent new house in the old style called Castle and in ridicule which the people called the castle in the field – I was struck by what she (M- [Mariana]) said, and would not change the name without well considering the matter – M- [Mariana] much approves my taking the name of Mrs. L- [Lister] did not like my plan of turning the barn into the coach house and driving thro’ it to the house but liked my name of Keep for the barn when turned into coach house – on explaining to her my plan this afternoon, she came round to my opinion and much approved it – on coming in sat some time talking in the drawing room – then the sound of my voice making A- [Adney] feel sleepy, made her lie down and left her at 4 10/.. and went out for an hour – [...] – M- [Mariana] had not slept but I found her up at 6 ½ – dinner at 6 ¾ – coffee upstairs at 8 – we sat long downstairs talking over the dinner table – read tonight’s paper while A- [Adney] and M- [Mariana] talked over school matters – from 9 50/.. to 10 ¼ I asleep on the sofa, then came to my study and till 10 50/.. wrote all the above of today – rainy day – hardly a gleam of ½ hour quite fair during the whole day – windy rainy day and evening – raining now and F38° at 10 50/.. p.m. [SH:7/ML/E/19/0138]
Again, Mariana’s nervousness is very clear, she doesn’t sleep the first night and we can only imagine why. Interesting how Mariana and Anne have a very private conversation and how Anne notes that she spoke “very highly of A-”. It’s also interesting that Anne feels like Mariana would “intrigue” with her “gladly” if she chose – Of course, nothing happens between them during this visit. In my opinion what happened on Christmas 1834 is the reason why Anne’s so cold towards Mariana. She doesn’t want a repetition of that, at all. Here we can also see how Mariana and Ann share some interests: “A- and M- talked over school matters“.
Sunday 6, November 1836 > No kiss – ready in an hour – rainy morning – with M- [Mariana] breakfast at 10 to near 11 – then sat with M- [Mariana] and A- [Adney] till all 3 off to church at 2 – Mr. Wilkinson did all the duty – preached 21 minutes from Job xvii 8.9. and 10 – then sat 40 minutes with Miss A.W. [Ann Walker] at Cliff Hill – very glad to see us – then went to Crow Nest – A- [Adney] left some plan and I left one of the coal plans with S.W. [Samuel Washington] – he is to come to measure on Wednesday – he shewed us all over the house – home at 6 10/.. – dressed – wrote and sent tonight letter to “John Harper Esquire St. Leonards York P.P.d [postpaid]” and to “Messrs. Ollivant Exchange Street Manchester P.P.d [postpaid]” and M- [Mariana] wrote to Mr. W. Crewe – he had tasked her to tell him what she thought of A- [Adney] – dinner at 7 10/.. – coffee upstairs at 9 sat till then at the dinner table, very merry – M- [Mariana] had a good night last night and was all the better for it this morning and in good spirits – read tonight's paper – F32° at 10 ¼ p.m. – and then wrote the above of today – perpetual showers of rain or snow during the day – [SH:7/ML/E/19/0138]
For context Mr. W. [Willoughby] Crewe was a man Mariana had a sort of “relationship” with, he was the man she was thinking of marrying in the event of Charles’ death. There was something going on between her and Crewe already in Christaman 1834 and she and Anne talked about him in that occasion as well. Looks like Mariana had known him since 1826.
Monday 7, November 1836 > Tolerable kiss last night – A- [Adney]’s own bringing on – ready in an hour – had Mr. Husband – (...) – some time with M- [Mariana] pour fair sa toilette – breakfast at 9 50/.. to 11 – then sat with her and A- [Adney] upstairs – M- [Mariana] and I went out at 12 40/.. – to the rocks – (...) – took M- [Mariana] to the end of the walk and came in to luncheon at 2 – A- [Adney] rode to Cliff Hill at 3 and M- [Mariana] and I went out again to the lodge – [...] home about 5 ½ walked about ½ hour on the flags in the front of the house then seeing a good fire in the drawing room went and sat cozing there till 6 ½ – dressed – dinner at 7 10/.. – sat downstairs till 8 ¾ – then coffee upstairs – and sat talking till 11 40/.. – read Mrs. Edward’s curious letter to A- [Adney] in York in February 1834 and Mrs. Edward’s queer note last April and told the sort of persecution poor [Adney] had been subject to – much quiet conversation with M- [Mariana] during the day – shewed and explained my different works and alterations – got on very comfortably – M- [Mariana] really likes A- [Adney] and the liking is mutual – from 11 40/.. to 11 50/.. wrote all the above of today – very fine day – F33° now at 11 50/.. p.m. – M- [Mariana] made me say this morning that I did and would always love her – but no shew of anything lover-like on either side – [SH:7/ML/E/19/0139]
I find it interesting how this entry starts. I guess we can only speculate how Ann Walker was feeling during those days but I find interesting that while Mariana is at Shibden Anne and Ann have sex and Ann’s the one to initiate it. Power move!
We also see that (apparently) Mariana and Ann liked each other. At the same time Mariana tries her old tricks on Anne and (to me) Anne seems pretty annoyed by the whole thing. She sounds a bit dismissive in the way she writes about Mariana’s request.
Tuesday 8, November 1836 > A tolerable kiss last night – ready at 9 35/.. A few minutes with M- [Mariana] then had Mr. Husband who wanted to ask if the top cells in the hall cellar must have flags tops over them [...] took M- [Mariana] with me and off at 2 5/.. Leaving A- [Adney] to ride at Cliff Hill [...] came in at 5 ½ – dressed – then sat with M- [Mariana] in our room and A- [Adney] came and sat with us there 1st time – dinner at 6 40/.. – coffee upstairs – Aquilla Green came – went down to him after 9 and in spite of my anxiety to get upstairs again was about ½ hour (till 9 ¾) talking to him [...] drank my coffee on coming upstairs again at 9 ¾ – then opened the box of mourning rings that came this morning from Olivant’s, Manchester – chose the 7 rings wanted – 4 alike for A- [Adney] and her sister and for myself and mine and for M- [Mariana] and different rings for IN- [Isabella Norcliffe] and Mrs. Veitch – then till 12 wrote all the above and today – fine day for the time of year – F34° now at 12 at night – [SH:7/ML/E/19/0139 & SH:7/ML/E/19/0140]
Another kiss. I also think it’s important to notice that Anne seems to be nervous to leave Ann and Mariana alone in a room together.
Wednesday 9, November 1836 > No kiss – fine morning – ready at 9 ½ – with M- had S.W. gave him the other (the clean) coal plan – (...) – F47° now at 11 ½ a.m. off in the brown carriage A- [Adney] and M- [Mariana] and I at 11 40/.. – A- [Adney] left a note in passing at Mr. Outrams’ to say we should be there to see his cloaks and shawls in an hour or 2 – drove to Charles Laws’ – left A- [I think she means Mariana] in the carriage while A- [Adney] and I got out to see the new barn up to the square of the roof within 5 feet (the top chambers being 9 feet high to the square) – all going on well – then returned to Mr. Outrams’ and alighted there at 2 10/.. – Mr. O- taken ill yesterday with another (2nd) paralytic attack, but had been bled, and seemed to be doing well – M- [Mariana] much pleased with the manufacture (from the wool of the Alpacca lama) – had wine and bread and butter – along while choosing shawls and a cloak that A- [Adney] and I are to give M- [Mariana] the stuff not quite ready – to be sent here next week – [...] – A- [Adney] tired lay on the sofa in Mrs. O-‘s parlour till the carriage was got ready – I gave Mr. O- ½ a sovereign for the workman, and we were off at 4 25/.. Having been there just 2 ¼ hours – stopt a little while at Whitley’s on our return A- [Adney] and M- [Mariana] talked over school-matters while I lay sleeping on the sofa till 11 ½ then sat talking – ½ hour with A- [I think she means Mariana] in her room till 12 ½ – talked over her money matters – she has the £200 she had meant for William Milne in the Brazilian funds which pay 6p.c. invested in her own name in trust for her own use with Mr. Lawton’s consent by her trustee Mr. W. Crewe – said I thought I had best pay her the balance of the account between herself and me – she thought so too if it was not inconvenient to me – No! Not at all and we are both pleased and satisfied that the money should be paid to M- [Mariana?] now – A- [Adney] and I both satisfied and glad of this arrangement – I advised M- [Mariana] to pay for Percy’s education as she intended, but try to do it out of income and keep all principal for herself – not give any part of it away during her life to which I think M- [Mariana] agreed – fine morning – [SH:7/ML/E/19/0140 & SH:7/ML/E/19/0141]
This entry may look very mundane but I think it really shows how Ann and Anne really acted like a couple. It’s fascinating how Anne talks about herself and Ann always as a pair “A- and I”, and it’s interesting how a lot of the choices they make are taken together or carried out together.
Thursday 10, November 1836 > No kiss – (...) – breakfast at 10 – M- [Mariana] and I off at 11 ½ a.m. in the yellow carriage to call on Mrs. Henry Priestley – [...] – home at 4 25/.. – were to have been back to luncheon at 2 – M- [Mariana] and A- [Adney] took luncheon at 4 25/.. And I sat with them – [...] M- [Mariana] and A- [Adney] and I off to the school at 5 ½ – 40 minutes there – M- [Mariana] and A- [Adney] much interested – M- [Mariana] surprised at the goodness of the house and school rooms and seemed please at the scale and manner of conduction the school – (...) – home at 7 10/.. – dinner at 7 40/.. – ½ asleep on the sofa – coffee had waited for me – the plans of Shibden arrived this afternoon from Mr. Harper – with a letter dated the 9th [?] from York – he will be here most probably next Wednesday – M- [Mariana] much pleased with the drawings and much interested in the plans – talked them over – A- [Adney] going downstairs came back and took down M- [Mariana] and me to see the pig-tub – shameful waste of good meat – from 1 35/.. To 2 35/.. I turned out the contents – called up and had Cookson and M- present at the turn-out – the pieces of meat when I had turned out only about ½ the stuff filled a large dish – told M- to sent off the cook (Sarah Ward that Mr. Jubb had recommended to help us) in the morning and sent for Oddy – this determined upon – sat a little while with M- [Mariana] in her room – the stood reading in my dressing room, my letter, kind, from lady Stuart Whitehall – 2 ½ pp. Captain Stuart just returned from Persia, so no room for A- [Adney] and me at Whitehall – full of regrets – perhaps it is well – sat talking to A- [Adney] F34° now at 35/.. Tonight – [SH:7/ML/E/19/0141]
We see Mariana and Ann share an interest. And, again, this entry may seem very mundane but I love that it gives us a detailed look at the Ann(e)s dynamic at home.
Friday 11, November 1836 > No kiss – ready in an hour – breakfast at 10 to 11 – (...) went to M- [Mariana] and A- [Adney] and somehow began talking of the plan of the house – M- [Mariana] joined A- [Adney] against building the East Tower – this led to a long discussion – I gave way – said their observation were good, and the East Tower should be given – then they thought I gave up my own way too hastily and had better think about it – I said I saw the thing clearly and my mind was as satiflied as it could be with the ten days consideration recommended – M- [Mariana] went to her room and A- [Adney] and I remained in the drawing room – I satisfied her that I was satisfied – and the East Tower is given up now after the warking plans are come! Then went to M- [Mariana] explained that I was really satisfied and had convinced A- [Adney] I was satisfied to give up my East Tower – M- [Mariana] said we should not be much here – she saw A- [Adney] would prefer a house in London – would be glad to get out of the way of her relations, and it was foolish in me to lay out so much money here – [Mariana] thinks A- [Adney] very sensible – [she is] satisfied to leave me to her – etc. etc. – dinner at 6 ¾ to after 8 – then asleep on the chair over my coffee upstairs – on raising up about 9, looked over M-’s account – found the balance in her favour only £304.9.7 up to 31 December next, instead of £400 as M- [Mariana] and I had talked and as she evidently expected – she behaved very handsomely, sure I was right – I was sure too but yet I felt dissatisfied and uncomfortable on finding M- [Mariana] less rich by a hundred pounds then she expected – (...) – M- [Mariana] went to her room at 12 and I went and sat a little with her – then with A- [Adney] uncomfortable – A- [Adney] would have me turn to my journal of the time – (vide October 1833) I did do so, and found an extract from a letter of that date to M- [Mariana] satisfactory explaining the business – went back to M- [Mariana] explained satisfactory – talk about my inattention to Percy – M- [Mariana] had always been annoyed about it – she said Percy had observed my inattention in London (July 1833) and would always keep out of my way as well as she could – I explained – in vain – W.C. had always been as attentive as I was the contrary – the fact of my being out of the way (abroad) escaped M- [Mariana] she had magnified her fancies into realities; and the circumstance of my not much observing the child when in my room in Dover street (July 1833) had passed with M- [Mariana] as proof positive of my habitual indifference and neglect – thoroughly rainy day – F45° now at 2 tonight – [SH:7/ML/E/19/0141 & SH:7/ML/E/19/0142]
Here we can see Ann and Mariana “joining forces” in telling Anne that her idea of building the “East Tower” is bad. I just think this is a pretty funny and endearing scene, the three of them discussing this East Tower and Anne being defeated by her wife and her ex. lol.
Anyway, I love how as soon as the discussion is over, and Mariana leaves the room, Anne and Ann take their time to really be sure that the other is okay with what’s been said – “I satisfied her that I was satisfied” – I love this because it implies either that Ann wanted to make sure that Anne was alright with the decision of not building the Tower or that Anne felt the need to privatly reassure Ann that everything was fine and she was okay with the new decision.
Again, I love how from this entry we can see that Anne & Ann really worked as a team and as a couple – I love the bit where, after talking with Mariana about money matters, Anne goes to Ann and it’s Ann Walker the one to suggest what to do to: “A- [Adney] would have me turn to my journal of the time – (vide October 1833) I did do so” this means that Ann Walker knew what kind of things Anne wrote in her journal and with what kind of attention to details. And you know what? I also love the fact that Anne goes to Ann and basically shares with her everything she talked about with Mariana.
In this entry we also have another confirmation that Mariana really likes Ann: “[Mariana] thinks A- [Adney] very sensible – [she is] satisfied to leave me to her”. Now, we’ll never know if she was just being kind and polite of course, we don’t know what Mariana really really thought of Ann, but from what Anne writes we can assume that she liked her.
Saturday 12, November 1836 > No kiss – fine morning, ready at 9/50.. And went to M- [Mariana] for a few minutes – then went down to Mr. Husband – (...) – breakfast at 10 2/4 – found M- [Mariana] had come down ready for being off – she took leave of A- [Adney] about 11 ¼ and we set off – looked about us a little at home and then walked to the Lodge – there from 11 ¾ to 12 25/.. When the mail drove up, Duncan Milne jumped off from the outside and handed M- [Mariana] in (Robert, and footman, too, in waiting) and she was soon out of sight – I had just had time to shake hands with D.M. [Duncan Milne] and wish M- [Mariana] goodbye – I think her visit has been a satisfactory one – she said so – but I think she did not expect to find me so really satisfied and attached to A- [Adney] or so proof against all her – M-’s [Mariana’s] – blandishments – she has reminded me constantly and very much of Mrs. Milne – she would have intrigued if I would – but I have returned all her open lipped kisses chastely tho kindly – always saying “Mary thou art a great pet” no symptom of passion for her has escaped me – in saying once that if anything happened to A- [Adney], I should feel quite lost and must have someone, M- [Mariana] asked if I would take her – I got off and made no reply – I think she was often disappointed at my calmness – the fact is I am not sorry she is gone – in speaking of our going to Lawton, M- [Mariana] seemed uncertain whether C- [Charles Lawton] would be civil to A- [Adney] – hinting at her family – I said that would not do – M- [Mariana] to let me know in some I but not A- [Adney] could understand whether C- [Charles Lawton] would receive A- [Adney] well or not – if we go to Lawton in passing, told M- [Mariana] we should only stay 2 days – said lastly our going at all was uncertain – on my return home at 12 35/.. Robert Mann waiting for me to shew me the drywall groined arching – (...) – came in to A- [Adney] at 1 ½ for ½ hour then out again – (...) dinner at 7 10/.. – afterwards asleep on the sofa till coffee between 9 and 10 – from 9 ¾ to 11 25/.. Wrote out the whole of Thursday, yesterday and today – fine day F49° not at 11 25/.. P.m. rainy night – Oddy returned yesterday and cooked for us today 1st time, very well – [SH:7/ML/E/19/0142]
Last day. Very very very intersting what Anne writes in code here. She says that Mariana said her visit “has been a satisfactory one” but then she slips into code and writes that really she thinks Mariana “did not expect to find” her “so really satisfied and attached to A-”. From what comes next we can also assume that Mariana tried, more than once, during those days to get closer to Anne: “she [Mariana] would have intrigued if I would but I have returned all her open lipped kisses chastely tho kindly”. Looks like Anne’s behaviour was really impeccable this time.
Anyway, I guess this is it – the nuances we can read in Anne’s diary are endless – especially when we read about the Ann(e)s who shared a life and spent each and every day in each other’s company for 6 years.
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