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7 November 1899 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Tuesday. 7th [November 1899]. I was driven out of the house by carpenters upholsterers electric light men—who came to put double windows in & lay carpets & arrange the house for the winter so I left soon after breakfast & walked to Palazzo Clary to call on Ersilia Canevaro. Found that the Admiral has been very ill & is only just on the mend. After sitting some time with her I walked on to the Montalbas to enquire after Clara who was said to be unwell. It proved to be a small ailment. I walked back to Palazzo Rezzonico where I am staying for 2 nights while my rooms at home are being arranged for the winter—carpets laid down double windows put into the place of the outside shutters &c. I went at 1 o’cl to lunch with the Curtis to meet Sir Wm & Lady Thistleton Dyer. I had to hurry back to Palazzo Rezzonico at 2.30 to attend a meeting of the Committee of the Sailors institute. Mrs Browning, Signor de Zuccato, the V. Consul, Mr Christie the Chaplain & I made up the Committee—a letter from Mr Horatio Brown was read in which he gave his resignation as a member of the Committee on account of my behaviour & mentioned me by name as having insisted on the dismissal of Mr Hansen the late manager. This is the more unjust as Mr Brown himself in concert with Mr Christie had given Mr Hansen notice to quit in the summer while I was absent in London. We agreed not to accept the resignation & I explained that altho’ I had long been of opinion that the Hansens shd be dismissed I could have had no power to insist upon it, as I was only one in a committee of 5 people & could have been easily outvoted had the Committee wished. I cannot help being hurt at the attitude towards me of a man who has received nothing but kindnesses from myself & my husband when I remember that Mr B. owes his appointment by the Master of the Rolls to the Archives here to Henry’s help & strong recommendation—& how when he was a young man & utterly unknown we never omitted to ask him to come to this house that [he] might make the acquaintance of any useful & pleasant literary persons we might happen to be entertaining. So it is that some people kick down the ladder by which they have mounted when no longer of use to them. How small minded & ungenerous is such conduct towards a lone woman! After the meeting Fanny & I went to the Eden’s garden for a bit & had 5 oclock tea there. Mr & Mrs Christie dined at the Rezzonico at 7.30. Mr Christie was full of regret abt Mr Brown. | |
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