Ottolinisms: Billy

There are infinite stories, remembrances from Ottoline's contemporaries and from her own memoirs, diaries, letters & photograph that give US a  vivid portrait of  her "life in full." Her memoirs were edited by a great friend- Robert Gathorne Hardy.  In The Early Memoirs of Ottoline Morrell his introduction is full of "Ottolinisms" and  it is a pure delight to read. Many of the things here at Ottoline Divine will be glimpses from her circle of friends , giving US that portrait we desire of this most uncommon female in an indulgently & effortlessly-for the sheer enjoyment.


His remembrances are at one moment of the lionizing sort and at the next turn we are given a razor sharp slant on the Lady's character.
Was she malicious he asks? What he concludes is -Yes, can't we all be so? Any accusations that she was- are quelled by the woman's charm  & in the testimony he gives of these moments.

This particularly struck me as amusing and very human.

from Roberth Gathorne Hardy's introduction:

ottoline with her dog of choice- the pug.
from her photographic albums, captioned "O" in her distinctive hand
from the NPG here.

... a guest, whom I will call billy was leaving in the phaeton.

'Good-bye,billy,' she cried, waving her hand, as it moved towards the corner which would take it out of sight;

'good-bye dear billy!', waving still and calling always a little more shrilly as the distance increased:

'good-bye, billy; come again',

and then, as the phaeton vanished, Like an old pug, isn't he?'