terday [October 23] received a letter from Miss Lister. Tells me a
great deal about him--the way in which he first named me since, and his
keeping the book, and much more that is very, very touching; but I will not
sentimentalize even to my journal, for fear of losing my firmness again."

Meanwhile, gossip was busy coupling her name with Lord John's, and the
Press published the rumour.

_Lady Minto to Lady Mary Abercromby_

MINTO, _November_ 9, 1840

... You will see in the papers the report of Fanny's marriage to
Lord John Russell. It is very annoying to her, and I had a few
lines (very touching) from him begging me to have it contradicted,
which I had already done. If you ask me my reasons why, I cannot
tell you, but I have a sort of feeling that she will marry him
still. Gina says certainly not, and neither Lizzy nor I think her
opinions or feelings changed, but I feel it _in my skin_!!!
Still, these feelings are not infallible.... Will you tell me if
I wish it or not? For I have now thought so much about it I don't
know my own mind. If I knew that she would not marry _at all_,
if she did not marry _him_, then I should most miserably
lament that she refused him; but I also know as certainly, that if
she told me that upon second thoughts she had accepted him, I
should be too unhappy to be able to look as I ought to do. In
short, dearest Mary, I heartily wish it had never happened. I was
obliged to tell John [Elliot] of it, as the report was going to be
made a subject of joking, which would have been very unpleasant for
Fanny. He was very much surprised, and notwithstanding his great
dislike to disparity of years, he regretted her refusal deeply. He
is a great admirer of Lord John's, and was delighted with him when
he was here. He says that in spite of the drawbacks he is clearly
of the opinion that she has made a great mistake, and hopes that it
may take another turn still. You may fancy how I am longing to talk
to your Father about it. He says in his last letter that his eyes
were only just opened to Lord John's being an old man, when he
looked on him in this new light....

MINTO, _November_ 15, 1840

My birthday--it frightens me to be twenty-five. To think how days,
months, and years have slipped away and how unfulfilled resolutions
remain to reproach me. Long walk with Papa--talked