A Narrative to Caroline's Elopement (picture) Post
Posted by P. Bingham on May 05, 1998 at 00:24:24:
I was greatly grieved to leave my poor, long suffering mother, who had been so unvariedly kind to me. I hardly know how I kept from breaking down. She always went to bed early, and after kissing her as usual on parting for the night I retired to my own room, locked myself in, and changed my light-coloured summer frock for one of dark cachemire.
As for the watch-dog that was kennelled under my bedroom window to keep guard over my slumbers, the good mrs. Firth gave it some harmless drug which removed the danger from that direction. At half-past eleven I lit up my room, opened wide the window, and sat down to wait. At a quarter to midnight, on Wednesday the 19 June, William was under my window, having posted from Doncaster and left the chaise at the end of the lane so that the noise of wheels should not disturb the house. I threw my soft bundle of belongings out the window, and then by means of torn-up sheets fastened to a heavy, old-fashioned sofa, I swung out and, wonderful to say, got down without a scratch. We ran for our lives to where the chaise was stadning, the object of getting posters from Doncaster instead of from Robin Hood's Well (only a mile from Burghwallis) being to leave no clue behind for pursuit in the morning.
We posted through the nigh, and all next day, until we reached the Blacksmith's house at gretna Green at 6pm on the evening of June 20th, when we became man and wife.
L.E.O. Charlton, Recollections of a Northumbrian Lady.
Also: I found a Diana Sperling print c.1815-20, of a two ladies and two gentlemen relaxing in the garden, one of the ladies is watering a plant and one of the gentlemen seated on a bench (two others are relaxed on the ground) playing the flute with a couple sheets of music in his lap. they are Dynes Hall. Found this in A Country Home Companion by Mark Girouurd. Another book I forgot I had. Perhaps H has this print available?
- It's Plate #54, H.C. (nfm) Laura W 00:45:13 5/06/98
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- Thanks, Laura... P. Bingham 12:28:54 5/06/98
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- Thanks, Laura... P. Bingham 12:28:54 5/06/98
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