Jonty Claypole

So she's feeling a bit stuck in a corner.

And then Mr. Barlow arrives at the house unexpected.

And her mother quickly vacates the room because her mother thinks it's, you know, rather a good idea if she ends up marrying this man.

And she later that evening writes down the exchange that happened.

So it's completely fascinating.

She writes that after some time, after kind of pleasantries, he stammered out something of hoping and beseeching, which gathering more firmness, I answered, I am much obliged to you, sir, for the too good opinion you are pleased to have of me.

But I should be very sorry you should lose any more time upon my account as I have no thoughts of changing my situation and abode.

So she's saying no.

She's taking it upon herself to say no.

She says he seemed to be quite overset, having therefore so freely explained myself.

I then asked him to sit down and began to talk of the weather.

Isn't that wonderful?

250 years ago, people in England covered up social awkwardness by talking about the weather.

But Mr. Barlow is not a man who takes no for an answer.

And he keeps returning to the subject.

He keeps saying, you know, please don't say no.

Please don't write me off.

And she has to keep finding ways of sort of rejecting him.

He won't take no for an answer and he stays for hours.

So she then goes on to describe, he remonstrated very earnestly, this is the severest decision.