and Stanton with him to ride, & the Grimkés were upstairs writing. Mary came into the room and as my suspense soon became intolerable, I asked Mary Ann to go out with me. As soon as we were alone she burst forth; it appears, that the day before, at Dr Cullers' on her declining Slave Labour, some how or other, the mine exploded & she had a sad time "Dont ask me to tell you any more" said she "As if I talk I shall get to crying; I cant go to hear the Grimkés and father has forbid my coming over to Groton to stay at all and he is not going to let me go back to you after vacation."
I quieted & comforted her all I could, gave her free labour blanc-mange & cake, and told her the storm would blow over. Pepperell I suppose was the worst place she could possibly be in, for the meeting house had been refused to the Grimkés, and therefore notice had been given that they would speak in a barn. With things in this state, of course there was not a soul in Pepperell whose feelings were not outraged to the utmost, & who more than the minister's right hand man Dr Cutter? I could not keep M.A. out long. After I returned, Angelina chanced to come in to the room. I introduced M.A. as a stranger to Miſs G & they met as such. M [...]venport politely bowed, and she went immediately out. Mr D in answer to our invitations to MA to come to Gorton said she would like to much, but that probably, her engagements would not permit. As she was going out however she whispered her thankfulness that he was going to Boston on Monday & after that she hoped just to ride over some morning. Tell him I shall side over there, and "He cant call Ensign Barrington to account" at least, I shall like to see him try. He had better attend to his family affairs in the West Indies. To tell you the truth, I could not bear him tho' his manner was polite in the extreme, but I suppose, I saw him in a prejudiced state of mind. In the afternoon, the Grimkés & I proceeded to Pepperell. The Dr did not go, for he wished their going to appear to be the work of the Abolitionists there. Mr Houtwell,(?) a Pepperell man came & took Sarah, Ange(lina) & I in a carryall. The barn in which the meeting was held was a long one & picturesque & pretty it looked. There was nothing in it, no hay or ought of that kind
