Passing By. Baring Maurice
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dogmatic and sometimes almost fanatical.
Saturday, May 15th.
Spent the afternoon and evening with Solway at Woking but came back after dinner.
Sunday, May 16th.
Went to see Mrs Housman in the afternoon, but she was not at home. This is the first time she has not been at home on Sunday afternoons for a very long time.
Monday, May 17th.
A. said he was going to the opera to-night. Housman, whom he had seen yesterday, had told him it would be a very fine performance.
Tuesday, May 18th.
Went to the opera in the gallery. Some fine singing. Cunninghame had been in the Housmans' box.
Wednesday, May 19th.
Was going to dine with the Housmans to-night, but Mrs Housman is unwell.
Thursday, May 20th.
Lady Jarvis has asked me to stay with her Sunday week.
Friday, May 21st.
This morning a man called Barnes came to the office. He is an acquaintance of Cunninghame's; he is in the F.O. He talked of various things, and then he asked Cunninghame whether he knew Mrs Housman. He said she was playing fast and loose with A.'s affections. She was doing it, of course, to convert him. Catholics didn't mind how immoral they were in such a cause. He said that she was well known for it. She had refused to marry Housman till he had been converted. He had been so much in love with her that he could not refuse. I said that I happened to know that Housman had been baptized a Catholic when he was born. Cunninghame bore me out and said it was all nonsense about A. He was sure Catholicism had nothing to do with it. He knew Mrs Housman quite well and she had never mentioned it to him. Barnes said we could say what we liked, but all London was talking of A.'s unfortunate passion and Mrs H.'s behaviour.
"One sees them everywhere together," he said.
C. said: "Where?"
Barnes said: "Oh, at all the restaurants and at the opera."
Cunninghame said he had expected Mrs Housman to dinner, but she had been unable to come.
Saturday, May 22nd.
Called on Mrs Housman to inquire. They have gone to the country until Monday.
Monday, May 24th.
I had luncheon with A. to-day at his flat. He said he had been staying with the Housmans at their house on the Thames. He said he had put his foot in it. On Saturday night at dinner they were talking about Ireland, and he said he had no wish to go to a country full of priests. Mrs Housman told him, laughing, she was a Catholic. He asked me if I had known this. I told him I had always known it. He asked me whether she was very devout. I said I knew she always went to Mass on Sundays, that she had never mentioned the subject to me except once when I asked her a question with reference to a friend of mine. He asked me whether Housman was a Catholic too. I told him what I knew.
Tuesday, May 25th.
Went to the opera, in the Housmans' box. Housman and Cunninghame were there. Mrs Housman did not come. A. looked in during the entr'acte.
Wednesday, May 26th.
A. gave a dinner at his Club. All politicians except myself and Cunninghame.
Thursday, May 27th.
Tuke asked me to take a ticket for a concert at Hammersmith at which his sister is performing on the piano. I have done so.
Friday, May 28th.
Luncheon with A. at his Club. He is staying with Lady Jarvis on Saturday. The Housmans, he said, will be there. Cunninghame is going also. A. told me Mrs Housman has not been well lately. I said I thought she did too much. He asked me in what sort of way. I said she attended to a great many charities and that as Housman entertained a great deal I thought it tired her. Mrs Housman had told him I was very musical. He asked me if I played any instrument. I said none except the penny whistle. He asked me if I did not think Mrs Housman a very fine singer. I said I did. He also said that he supposed she knew a lot of priests. I said I had never met one in her house.
Sunday, May 30th. Rosedale, Surrey.
I arrived rather late last night. Besides the guests I knew I was to meet, was a Frenchman, M. Raphael Luc, and a Mrs Vaughan. After dinner we had some music. M. Luc sang several French songs, by Lully, and others that I had heard Mrs Housman sing. His singing was greatly appreciated and applauded, and it is, I confess, as far as it goes, perfection itself, as regards quality, taste and art, but I could not help thinking the whole time that it would be impossible for him to interpret Schubert.
This morning I sat in the garden and read the newspapers. Mrs Housman drove to Church which was some distance off.
Mr Winchester Hill, the novelist, arrived for luncheon and brought with him Miss Ella Dasent, the actress. At the end of the meal she gave us some vivid impersonations of contemporary actors and actresses.
We sat talking for some time in the verandah. Then Lady Jarvis took Housman to show him the garden, and Cunninghame walked away with Mrs Vaughan and M. Luc.
Miss Housman, Mr Hill, Miss Dasent, and myself remained on long chairs underneath a large tree. Miss Dasent and Mr Hill discussed at great length a play that he is adapting for her from one of his novels. The story seemed to me absurd – it was something about an Italian nobleman strangling his wife's lover with a silk handkerchief.
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