the_comfortable_courtesan

Indeed I am sorry to depart from Q-, but altho’ Biffle and Viola endeavour to prevail upon me to make a longer sojourn, 'twould be most incivil to cut Lord P-'s house-party even by a day or so. I promise that I will do my best to make another visit before we all return to Town.

Docket and Sophy regale me as we drive along with tales of Tibby’s fine sitting-room, the consequence she enjoys in the household, &C&C. She holds her head very high, says Docket with pride, quite crushes any fellows in the place that think they may go make suit to her. But will show kind to the women and girls and advise them on dress: 'tis a most prudent course.

I am like to wonder whether Tibby has communicat’d to Docket that Titus has obtain’d her preference? Titus, I have heard from the devot’d ladies, goes perform at Bath for a short season.

Docket descants a little upon Tibby’s excellences, which I confide is to lesson Sophy.

Sophy gives a little sigh and remarks upon how well Tibby is turn’d out.

Docket gives a complacent little smile and says, 'tis an excellent thing to obtain interest with a crack dress-maker. Tho’ it cannot hurt that Maurice is some sort of cousin of hers.

O, says Sophy, when I was little Maurice would ever be making fine dresses for our dolls.

Docket looks upon her kindly. Sure I am glad she takes so to Sophy, for I think she feels the loss of Tibby even does she feel exceeding pride at how well she does in her fine place.

'Tis late afternoon when we arrive at Lord P-'s fine estate in Shropshire.

Docket directs the footmen over conveying my trunks and boxes – sure there are a deal of 'em – and I am escort’d to the chamber assign’d me. There is fine hot water ready for me so that I may wash the dust of the journey from me. I should also change.

'Tis a most excellent fine large chamber with windows that look across the gardens to the lake, which is not’d for its fine array of ornamental water-fowl: 'twas Lord P-‘s father start’d the collection of these birds: they are indeed a deal prettier than cows, tho’ one hears that there are those, such as Lord P-, think nothing so lovely as a cow.

There are some several of the guests and I daresay members of the family go promenade by the lake. Even at this distance I can discern the Titian hair of il bello scozzese, that is talking to a lady that I do not recognize.

I look a little further over the scene before me to the gazebo in the likeness of a Temple of the Winds that stands upon a little mound, and observe with a sinking of my heart one that stands outside it in a poetickal attitude.

Docket, says I, should I require a parasol as well as this exceeding fine hat?

Docket looks considering and says, 'tis the time of day when she confides that the sun’s rays are less deleterious to a lady’s complexion; and yet, there is a certain effect to carrying a parasol that Your Ladyship carries off extremely.

Docket, says I, are you sure you feel quite well, and have not been toucht by the sun or some such? 'Tis not your wont to praise me.

She hands me my parasol as we look at one another with some affection.

I go, she says, about taking tea with the other lady’s maids to see what’s afoot. Sophy, she adds briskly, go about furbishing up the gowns &C that Her Ladyship will be wearing here.

I take another look out, and observe that Sir H- Z-, with Lady Z- on his arm, strolls down to the lake. 'Tis quite a picture of conjugal harmony. (Perchance I shall find occasion to convoke with Lady Z- while we are here.) He greets Sandy very civil, and there are introductions made.

I take my parasol and go down and out onto the lawn. I observe that there are swans that glide upon the lake but I do not endeavour to emulate 'em, 'tis an effect more suit’d to a ballroom.

Comes up Lord P-, makes a leg as I curtesy, shakes me by the hand and makes exceeding civil towards me. Wishes to introduce his wife to me – Lady P- does have somewhat of the bovine about her looks but is a most agreeable lady. We exchange pleasantries.

I observe that 'tis quite a large party.

Oh, indeed, says Lord P-, if one is at the bother of holding a house-party one may as well make it something substantial. They go about to hold a ball two nights hence to which they invite the county.

(I apprehend that Lord P- desires to despatch a large number of social obligations at once so he may get back to his cows with no further interruption.)

He lifts a hand to beckon over a young fellow. Permit me, he says, to introduce D-, that is my son, has some desire to go into politicks -

Lord D-, that is a serious rather stout young fellow somewhat under thirty, says that he sure hopes that 'tis many years hence that he will be oblig’d to undertake the responsibilities of his rank in the Lords - with a respectfull glance towards his father, that is seldom seen there but when there is some matter of cattle-plague or such - but greatly desires to gain understanding of the government of the nation in the Commons first.

'Tis a view that does you great credit, says I, for sure there are fellows for whom those responsibilities sit very lightly.

Lord P- goes on to say that they have interest in a cozy little borough, but before the next election young D- intends going about in politickal circles to acquire some apprehension of the matter.

Why, says I to Lord D-, I must send you a card for my next soirée when Society returns to Town – and did I not hear that you had quite lately marry’d? and for your wife as well. Of course, I say with a little laugh, I do not understand the intricacies of politicks myself but there are a deal of fellows in my circle that do. ('Tis probable not the moment to mention the ladies in my circle that also have a very fine apprehension of politickal matters.)

Indeed, says Lord D- scanning the company, and waving towards a lady that is feeding the ducks, my wife, that was a Miss S- of the Derbyshire S-s, most entirely enters in to my ambitions.

Lady D- comes over and we are introduc’d to one another. She is a young woman of a pleasing plumpness with a serious expression to match her husband’s. She declares that she has heard much of Lady B-'s fine philanthropick works and after a little converse I am able to deduce that she and her husband incline towards the Evangelickal set.

What a fine lake, says I, sure I quite long to go see more closely those exceeding colourfull waterfowl. But indeed, Lady D-, we must talk further about good causes.

She shows some inclination to go on talking of such matters but Lord D- lays a hand upon her arm to remind her of les convenances, remarking that there will be plenty of time to discuss these in the coming days.

O, she says with a blush, indeed there will, but I have heard so much of Lady B-'s fine works 'tis most exciting to me to meet her at last.

I say we must sure have a good tete-a-tete in the next days, and proceed on to the lakeside.

Sure the fam’d waterfowl are quite noisy, with their quacking and gobbling and honking, but they make a pretty sight upon the water.

I observe Lady Z- waving to me and go to join their group. Sir H- Z- greets me exceeding civil, as does Sandy (that is most exceeding well-turn’d-out suitable to the company and the occasion) and they desire to introduce to me Miss S-, that is the sister of Lady D-.

Whereas Lady D-'s plumpness is of an entirely pleasing nature, her sister’s, alas, is of a more lumpish look and she has a round moon-like face, tho’ an expression of great amiability. I am like to suppose that she is the female relative they have on their hands and seek to dispose of with advantage.

Lady Z- exclaims much over my fine muslin gown and we both praise Maurice’s abilities.

Miss S- says that she has heard so much about Lady B-'s readings from Shakspeare: but, she says, putting a hand to her mouth, sure I should not seem as if I go demand a performance.

Sandy looks at her with considerable kindness and says that Miss S- has a very fine taste in poetry and is sure that Lady B- would greatly enjoy conversing with her on the subject.

Miss S- blushes and says in some confusion that she sees her sister beckoning to her, and scurries over to Lady D-.

Sir H- Z- says that if MacD- has a moment or so to spare before we all go change for dinner, he would be glad of a word or two about certain matters. They stroll off together.

Lady Z- ventures to put her arm thro’ mine and says, dear Lady B-, is there any chance we might contrive a conversation in confidence?

Sure, says I, 'twould be an excellent notion, tho’ 'twill be a business ensuring we are indeed in confidence.

I look about the grounds. Perchance, says I, did we at some time in the next day or so walk up that pretty winding path to the gazebo, where one can observe does any approach from a good distance –

'Tis given out, she says, that there are fine views to be seen from it.

We smile at one another, and walk together back towards the house.