Angels do not go about to do as I did

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

I mind me that Bess and Meg may be feeling a little desolate, with the worry over Josh and their mama’s absence, so I cut a meeting about the optickal dispensary, tho’ I daresay this will mean I have a deal of brangles to untangle at the next one, in order to go take tea with them and Miss N-.

Tho’ indeed I also hope to see my darling treasure Flora.

But when I arrive they seem as much full of bounce as usual. Bess tells me all about her visit to the theatre in Lady J-'s box, what a prime bang-up lady she is, and sure it quite exceed’d. I mind that I have not yet fixt a day to go view a rehearsal, and I must be about that.

But then their faces fall and they say, what a tiresome matter this is, that we must be going home, and leaving Town, 'twill be quite excessive dull. There is no company, no musick, no plays -

What, says I, are these the young ladies that show’d themselves so very reluctant to come to Town? But indeed, my dears, Town in summer is quite a desert, all the good society gone into the country or to take the waters at Bath &C, as well as being horrid hot and a pest-hole of miasmas.

That is just what I tell them, says Miss N-. Why, there is no dancing-class over the summer, Mr J- is taking the company touring, Lady J- is going visit the Admiral, so there will be nothing in the way of musicales: so they will not be missing anything.

However, she looks as tho’ she says this as a matter of form, and I perceive her not entirely chearfull, that I daresay is because 'twill not be answerable for Mr L- to go visit her while they are out of Town, because of the press of his business.

The girls then urgently desire to me to say that I will come visit while they are in exile.

Why, my dears, of course, 'tis quite a settl’d matter. Sure I have many visits to make but I will certainly come visit you, 'twill be an entire pleasure in the midst of so many dull formal house-parties (I do not add, that I confide I shall be greatly pester’d by fellows seeking my favours for one reason or another).

We go to the tea-table, and I observe that they have been about beguiling Seraphine into producing an exceeding fine spread.

Bess manages the tea-pot very elegant, and I praise her for acquiring this essential skill of a lady.

O, says Meg, I have not yet told you – imagine! she goes on, Mr K- has sent me some exceeding pretty musick he found on his travels, and a letter. Is that not exceeding kind and thoughtfull of him?

O, entirely, says I. (I confide that Sebastian K- does indeed like Meg, but I would not be surpriz’d does he also think of how very suitable a match she would make when she is a little older.)

Bess looks thoughtfull and says there is one thing about going home, she will be able to talk to Mr D- about contriving stage-machinery for the toy theatre, for he is very good at mechanickal contrivances.

Indeed, says I, your dear papa encourag’d me to invest a little money in one of Mr D-'s contrivances, and it does very well.

You should ask him, says Bess, whether he has any notions about lead-mining: Papa said the late Marquess left you a lead-mine?

He left me a nice little estate in Shropshire where there is lead-mining going on: I have been a sorry bad businesswoman and never gone visit the place, 'tis quite shamefull. I am glad to see that your mama brings you up upon better lines.

But you were brought up in the theatre, says Bess. And you know a deal about so many things.

Not lead-mining, I say.

O, says Meg, I daresay did you ask Mr MacD- he could find you books upon the subject.

All I know of lead, says I somewhat pathetick, is the leaden casket in the Merchant of Venice -

Miss N- begs me to give them the speech, to which I concede.

After our tea-party is done, I go to the nursery, where Quintus tells Flora she should not always be asking Aunty C- to be a tiger - Flora pouts a little but does not make the expect’d request. O, says I, but I came here quite on purpose to go be a tiger, but perchance you no longer play at tigers?

I confide that Quintus is like to think that 'tis one of the childish things he should put away now he is advanc’d to the schoolroom, but once the game is begun he joins in with a great relish.

I then go, a little dishevel'd, to the conservatory, as Miss N- discreetly desir'd converse with me there before I depart.

She is sitting beside the fountain trailing her fingers in the water.

How now my dear, says I, how d’ye do?

Excellent well, she says, except I am a little wistfull at being away from Mr L- for so many weeks. But, dear Lady B-, I had a little worry about Ellie - sure, she is quite well, or was when they were at the Cape – but, o, Lady B-, I fear she is falling in love with Mr T-, she writes so very enthusiastick about him, even is she just as enthusiastick about Mrs T-, that can play a fine game of chess while feeding the twins. Sure that can come to no good.

Why, says I, 'tis a good thing, thrown together as they are, that she has such warmth of feeling towards them, for such a situation may exaggerate differences and bring about great hostility 'twixt parties thus thrust together and unable to escape one another's company. Once they reach the austral shore there will be more society – for the T-s are entire accept'd in what passes for society there – and her feelings are like to become more moderate.

And, I go on, they must pose a contrast to those horrid D-s that must impress itself upon her most forcefull and be quite entire delightfull to her

Oh, she cries, I am sure you are quite right. And indeed, she goes on, I daresay there are some fellows that have been transport'd that were unjustly accus'd or convict'd upon politickal grounds.

Quite so, says I. Also there are the members of the scientifick expedition that will sometimes return to Port Jackson with their reports and specimens.

(I do not comment that perchance 'tis my dearest Abby with whom Ellie N- is quite in love.)

I look out into the garden and see walking up and down, smoaking cigars and talking very ardent, Josiah, Sandy, Milord and Biffle. I daresay they are about politickal matters, but I am sure that they will not mind do I go out to ask Biffle how Viola does.

I express this intention to Miss N-.

She declares that I have quite entire set her mind at rest about Ellie, and that she should be back so that those girls do not go riot.

So we take our leave, and I walk out into the garden. They turn to look at me as I go over to them. All greet me very civil. I say that I am sorry to interrupt their convoking upon heavy matters, but I was most eager to have news of Her Grace and how she does.

Indeed, says Biffle, she gave me messages to convey to you – might we step aside a little that I might give them?

Our companions recede to a polite distance where they cannot be suppos’d to desire to overhear our converse.

Biffle clasps both my hands. Oh, Viola is most extreme well, and a little put out that she must remain lying-in. Had a most easy time. And such a fine child!

What do you call her? I enquire.

Viola was in great desire to call her Catherine after her poor late mother and indeed I think that most entirely proper.

It does not trouble you with sad memories? I ask.

Biffle smiles down at me and says, 'tis the strangest thing, there was a time he could hardly bear to think of his belov’d Kitty, 'twas so entirely painfull, and yet, now, it is somehow become quite the happyest of memories. It encourages him to go back to the account he start’d about her for little Essie to read when he is grown, especially now that dearest Viola has gone about to finish the work she did upon the catalogue of the paintings. What he does quite greatly regret is that they never knew one another, for he confides that they would have been the greatest of friends.

And anyway, he continues, I daresay we shall call her Cathy or Kate within the family.

I smile back at him, and say that is all quite entire charming.

And Viola greatly desir’d me to say to you, she knows that you have a deal of invitations on hand, and of course she is still not out of mourning, so we shall not be entertaining at Q-, but do you find yourself in the neighbourhood she would be extreme delight’d did you call.

'Twould be an entire pleasure, says I. But indeed I should not keep you any longer from your business.

He lifts both my hands and kisses them. Dearest C-, he says, that was my good angel.

I laugh and say that 'tis not writ anywhere that angels go about to do as I did, but 'tis very pretty of him.

Comments

[redbird]

Is it not written that angels not only bring happiness to many, but protect the innocent, and smite evil-doers? Madame C- has no flaming sword, but she has brought evil-doers to ruin.

[violsva]

This narrative continues to make me so happy.

[entirelydisregardablelout]

'twill not be answerable for Mr L- to go visit her while they are out of Town, because of the press of his business.

Good pun!