- 2 days ago
Ep 9: September. Now 1911 and living in London, Edith Holden is now married to Ernest Smith. But as they settle into their new home, Edith looks back at that crucial time in Scotland where they spent together where their budding romance nearly didn't happen. As Edith's obsession with art eventually risks driving Ernest away, she realizes that she is using it to avoid confronting her fears of commitment, the age gap between them and her growing feeling that the past that she knew and loved is growing ever further away from her.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00.
00:30Cowan Bank, Alton, Warwickshire, Nature Notes for 1906, by Edith B. Holden.
00:42To sit on rocks, to muse or flood and fell, to slowly trace the forest's shady scene where things that own not man's dominion dwell, and mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been.
01:09To climb the trackless mountain all unseen, with the wild flock that never need a fold, alone or steeps and foaming falls to lean.
01:20This is not solitude, it is but to hold converse with nature's charms and view her stores unrolled.
01:39September.
01:57September was the seventh month of the Roman calendar, but is the ninth according to our reckoning.
02:03The Anglo-Saxons called it Gerstmoneth, Barley Month.
02:08The Anglo-Saxons
02:15The Anglo-Saxons
02:36That's it.
02:59Good.
03:06What's this?
03:10One of my old letters.
03:12A list?
03:13That's my box of keepsakes.
03:20You shouldn't read other people's diaries.
03:22You might find out something you don't like.
03:251906.
03:26The year we met.
03:27Is there any mention of me?
03:29None whatsoever darling.
03:30Give it to me.
03:31Come.
03:32We have so much to do.
03:36All the books will have to wait until we have shelves.
03:38Well, I want to look at it later then.
03:40With your permission, my dearest wife.
03:45Oh, there's too much here to do in one day.
03:48Let's relax a moment.
03:50Must be tea time.
03:52Oh, I haven't unpacked the cups.
03:54Well, Sherry then.
03:55Let's open the bottle.
03:57Well, it's time enough for Sherry.
03:59Well, London time anyway.
04:01You have no morality at all.
04:03Well, you have to admit I'm persistent, though.
04:06Well, you gave me very little encouragement.
04:10Or wouldn't any other fellow have given up
04:11after the first year or so?
04:18Where are we now?
04:20September.
04:21September 1906.
04:22September 1906.
04:23Five years ago.
04:24Where were you in September?
04:27I don't remember.
04:28No, you shan't have it if you don't remember September 1906.
04:35You never cared for me, which is exactly what I was feeling at the time.
04:39Scotland?
04:40Yes?
04:41Scotland.
04:42Yes?
04:43I left you in August to go back to London to work.
04:46He loves me.
04:47Yes.
04:48He loves me not.
04:49Best I love September's yellow, morns of dew-strung gossamer, thoughtful days without a stir.
05:04Rookie clamors, brazen leaves, stubble dotted oar with sheaves, more than spring's bright uncontrolled suit the autumn of my soul.
05:27He loves me.
05:34He loves me not.
05:38He loves me.
05:43He loves me.
05:48September the 1st.
05:52Hottest day we have had here yet.
05:55This is the third day of bright sunshine.
05:58Cycled through doom to Dunblane, through well-wooded rolling country with low hills and fine distant views.
06:10The road followed the windings of the teeth for a great part of the way.
06:25Fair on September 1st.
06:27Fair for the month.
06:28Now what did I tell you?
06:29A letter by the first possible post.
06:30You told me a great deal of nonsense.
06:31And mere politeness should not be mistaken for anything else.
06:33Well, I'll weigh in just now and leave you to read it.
06:37But it's not my experience that politeness is quite so prompt, my dear.
06:44My dear Edith, I explained my case to Lanteri.
06:47He looked down his nose a great deal at me as you may imagine.
06:51But if you will permit me, I shall be travelling north again in the second week of this month.
06:52Good Lord.
06:53Fair on September 1st.
06:54Good Lord.
06:55Fair for the month.
06:56I'm sure that boldness is quite so prompt, my dear.
07:06My dear Edith, I explained my case to Lanteri.
07:08He looked down his nose a great deal at me as you may imagine.
07:12But if you will permit me, I shall be travelling north again in the second week of this month.
07:16Good Lord.
07:22Fair on September 1st, fair for the month?
07:24I'll be there for the month.
07:43September the 17th.
07:45Road to the top of Loch Venneker to picnic on the shore.
07:49None of the trees are turning colour as yet.
07:59The break fern on the hills is beginning to turn bronze and yellow.
08:19Oh, I'm sorry, Ernest. I don't mean to be unkind.
08:29But you did look so pompously male as you stepped ashore like that.
08:32Well, I am male. I'm sorry if that offends you.
08:35And I don't see why you call me pompous.
08:37Unless the two things go together in your mind regardless of character.
08:41Oh, I'm sorry, Ernest.
08:43I don't mean to be unkind.
08:45But you did look so pompously male as you stepped ashore like that.
08:48Well, I am male.
08:50I'm sorry if that offends you.
08:52And I don't see why you call me pompous.
08:54Unless the two things go together in your mind regardless of character.
09:13Oh, I'm sorry.
09:15Shall you catch cold?
09:17I shouldn't like that.
09:19Oh, I'd love to see you laugh.
09:21If you want to laugh at me, you can.
09:24And I never catch cold.
09:45On the way home, we witnessed a wonderful sunset across the water.
09:55The reflected light on the eastern hilltops was gorgeous.
09:58All shades of gold and red and brown, deepening into purple and grey shadows at the base of the mountains.
10:06There was a curious gold-brown dust lying all over the surface of the lock,
10:13which we thought must be heather pollen blown across from the hills.
10:26Oh, goodness, that'll be calm, Effie.
10:28I'd hoped everything would be more in order by now.
10:31They know how to value the simple lie.
10:33And Effie loves to think she's bohemian.
10:35Anyway, why shouldn't you sit on my lap?
10:38It's perfectly proper.
10:40We're married, aren't we?
10:42Doesn't feel like it quite yet.
10:44It's the packing cases.
10:46Makes everyone feel unstable.
10:49Ernest, be patient with my sister for my sake.
10:54Of course.
10:58Effie!
10:59Hello, Miss.
11:00You wonderful pair.
11:03What a marvellous mess you're in.
11:04You must let me help.
11:05Everything is quite under control.
11:06Contrary to appearances.
11:07We can even offer you a glass of sherry.
11:08Haven't you brought Carl?
11:09Oh, he's been kept at the Peace Council.
11:10I hope he'll be along later.
11:11Oh, this is a lovely room.
11:12It's beautifully light.
11:13Well, that's why we took it.
11:14Edith will be able to work well here.
11:15Mind you, I think it looked finer before we brought in our world.
11:17Oh, poo to worldly goods.
11:18Let's drink to that.
11:19Oh, no.
11:20That's too unromantic.
11:21May your first few weeks blossom into a lifetime together.
11:25Let's drink to marriage.
11:26Marriage?
11:27To marriage.
11:28Oh, well, you mean think you're impoverished young artists?
11:30I expect you'll have some local woman in to help you clean your house.
11:31I think it looked fine.
11:32I think it looked fine before we brought in our worldly goods.
11:33Oh, poo to worldly goods.
11:34Let's drink to that.
11:35Oh, no.
11:36That's too unromantic.
11:37May your first few weeks blossom into a lifetime together.
11:43Let's drink to marriage.
11:44Marriage?
11:45To marriage.
11:46Well, you needn't think you're impoverished young artists.
11:55I expect you'll have some local woman in to help you clean the floors.
11:58Of course.
11:59Look at her face well, Edith.
12:01And you'll know something of what it means to be really poor in London.
12:05She'll look an old woman and be no older than you.
12:08She'll have had a baby every year and half of them will have died.
12:11Now, Effie, we are hardly the class enemy.
12:14There's poverty everywhere, Effie.
12:16I remember the poor in Birmingham well enough.
12:19It seems to me, if anything, people are more prosperous in London.
12:23Edie.
12:24You know nothing of the world out there.
12:27Cross the river one day and you'll not talk so casually.
12:31Things aren't so genteel in the south or the east.
12:34Why don't you paint some of the human misery you'll find over there?
12:39You can't really be intending to spend all day looking out at two chestnut trees.
12:44No, can you imagine it?
12:47Ernest shall take me to Kew Gardens.
12:50And to the other great parks.
12:53And I shall watch the seasons change here as sweetly as I did at home.
13:01Well, it doesn't look as though Carl has been able to get away.
13:05I'd better go and take him home.
13:08Thank you for coming to see us.
13:11Thank you for coming to see us.
13:13It's a sad thing, Effie's heart is full of love for people in general.
13:20it's a sad thing if his heart is full of love for people in general but somehow I
13:41know it's something in the briskness of her manner
13:50now where were we? Scotland you know without you my love nothing would have led me to spend such
14:02long hours in the countryside I promise you that's not what you said at the time that'll be
14:07too hard on me all's fair in love and war they say but it can't be so I remember how eager you
14:13looked oh my dear I would have climbed mountains by your side I know you mean that to please me
14:20but it's not how I like to remember things
14:24September the 22nd walk to the lake of menteith unlike most of the scotch locks the shores are
14:38flat and marshy and surrounded by large beds of reeds which are a great resort of waterfowl of
14:44all kinds how beautiful the countryside can be when you're with someone who appreciates it
14:50it's so peaceful and yet so full of life I um don't suppose you could ever leave it
15:01earnest what an appetite it gives you
15:05shall we go in
15:08the lake of menteith is noted for the number of large pike it contains the walls of the little
15:26in parlor on the edge of the lake are hung round with fine stuffed specimens in cases that have
15:32been captured in its waters
15:34here when we're together anything seems possible but I dread going back to the studio in London
15:56we'll be apart again with nothing settled between us you expected an instant conquest then don't make fun
16:03stand with me Edith please if you feel anything for me at all don't let me give up hope
16:07can't you at least admit that you'll miss me
16:10no
16:13what will you do
16:16I shall carry on as always
16:19and think of me sometimes perhaps
16:22dear honest yes I expect I shall
16:52Rode across to Inchimahone Priory on one of the two islands in the middle of the lake.
17:06The ruined walls of the priory were green with a tiny spleenwort, and harebells were
17:12waving their purple bells aloft from many of the topmost crevices.
17:19Here were huge old Spanish chestnut trees, supposed to have been planted by the monks,
17:26and the largest nut trees I have ever seen.
17:37Most of the chestnut trees were green and vigorous, with wonderful twisted trunks, and covered
17:42with fruit, as were the nut trees.
17:49.
17:56.
17:58.
18:02.
18:03.
18:09.
18:11.
18:12.
18:13.
18:15.
18:16.
18:17.
18:20.
18:21.
18:22.
18:23.
18:25You're hungry, aren't you?
18:27Of course I am. Aren't you?
18:31Mrs. Adam will leave out something cold for us.
18:33We are a long way from that particular haven.
18:36How can you stand there in this marvelous ancient place and think of food?
18:42You're utterly gross.
18:43Oh, Edith, it's not the food.
18:45Look, we've hardly any time left together.
18:48Is one afternoon too much to ask?
18:51I may as well not be here at all.
18:53You can't say I didn't warn you.
18:55This is exactly why I don't let people come with me when I'm going out sketching.
18:59Am I disturbing you?
19:01Well, considering your promise, you do seem to be getting very bored.
19:04Oh, for heaven's sake, you are inhuman.
19:07All I'm asking for is a little attention.
19:17Oh, Edith.
19:20Look, I had to be with you.
19:22And now here we are.
19:26Alone.
19:27In this beautiful spot.
19:28I just don't.
19:30And you are more interested in chestnut trees.
19:32Yes.
19:37I'm sorry.
19:40I'm wasting your time.
19:41I'm wasting your time.
19:42I'mademyo.
20:01All right.
20:03Oh, my God.
20:33I'm sorry, Edith.
20:38Oh, Ernest.
20:45I thought you'd given me up altogether.
20:54The splendor falls on castle walls
20:56and snowy summits old in story.
21:00The long light shakes across the lakes
21:05and the wild cataract leaps in glory.
21:13Blow, bugle, blow.
21:15Set the wild echoes flying.
21:19Blow, bugle, answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying.
21:28Hello!
21:30Hello!
21:33Hello!
21:34Hello!
21:34Hello!
21:41Oh, hark, oh, hear how thin and clear
21:44and thinner, clearer, farther going.
21:48Oh, sweet and far from cliff and scar,
21:51the horns of Elfland faintly blowing.
21:54I love you.
21:59I love you.
22:00I love you.
22:03I love you.
22:04Blow.
22:05Let us hear the purple glens reply.
22:09Blow, bugle, answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying, dying.
22:16While ripening corn grew thick and deep,
22:31and here and there men stood to reap,
22:35one morn I put my heart to sleep
22:37and to the meadows took my way.
22:40The goldfinch on a thistle head
22:44stood scattering seedlets as she fed.
22:48The wrens, their pretty gossip, spread
22:51or joined a random roundelay.
22:53Crossing the high ridge of hills
23:04between the Teeth Valley and the Menteeth district,
23:07we traversed some extensive peat bogs.
23:10The colours of some of the mosses and bog plants
23:13were very vivid.
23:15The deep crimson and palest of pale green mosses
23:18and the orange seed vessels of the asphodel
23:21being particularly striking.
23:24To paint after you've gone to bed.
23:26To paint a lot on earth and the honey these 해�
23:46They made me a picture,
23:47pero they made me a picture.
23:52All those of them being made
23:53you are quite right there's no mention of me at all
24:17they are nature notes Ernest besides I would not have dared to write what I
24:24hoped when I left Scotland I didn't even confide in mrs. Dennevan Adam poor soul
24:30and she so much wanted to believe in our romance your last entry so gloomy the
24:38end of September is the beginning of winter isn't it the leaves will soon
24:43shrivel and fall off the trees I prefer your choice of mottos fair on September
24:51first fair for the month September blow soft till the fruits in the loft
24:56September dries up wells or breaks down bridges come along my dreamer
25:13so
Recommended
26:14
|
Up next
9:19
1:52:49
1:29:48
1:16
46:00
51:34
52:37