the_comfortable_courtesan

I receive a deal of communications from Mr M- in Shropshire concerning my mine, that I conclude I should require masculine counsel to understand fully, and therefore send a little note to R- House to ask might Josiah come explain all to me. For I think it imports that all goes well, but I should like to be sure.

Mr M- also praises the way Mr R- goes about to have the dispensary all in order: his wife is a very fine woman, wonders whether she might go about to run a dame school for the smaller children in the village – why, I cry, what a most excellent plan! – tho’ is also able to assist her husband in matters of nursing &C.

There is also come a letter from Mr R- himself, that expresses himself entirely prepossesst with the house and the matters that have already been provid’d for the dispensary. Mr M- and his wife and Mr McA- all show very pleasant and hospitable.

I am pleas’d to hear that this matter goes forth so well.

I am about my other correspondence when Hector shows in dear Josiah. Once Hector is gone about desiring coffee &C from Euphemia, we embrace and kiss very hearty.

Dearest of C-s, I have had letters myself from Mr M- and I confide that 'tis all good news about how matters come on even better than hop’d about the new steam-pump, and that they anticipate that they may proceed to the improvements to the smelting mill a deal earlier than we suppos’d was like.

Indeed, says I, I thought that was the general tenor, but I wisht to be sure.

I am inclin’d, says Josiah, to see can D- find the time to go visit and cast his eye over the matter, but I confide that the business is well in hand.

Comes Celeste with coffee and parkin.

Josiah then mentions one or two little matters that I might include in my letter to Mr M-, which will assure him that he is dealing with a prudent businesswoman -

La, says I, do I go masquerade in such a character?

- as you have ever been, dearest C-, tho’ in other matters than mining.

I laugh.

He eats a piece of parkin and says, Euphemia certainly catches the trick of it, this is nigh on as good as Eliza’s. But I am appriz’d that our dear wild girl goes take something of a fret?

'Tis so, says I, but I am in hopes that I went reassure her somewhat.

He sighs and says, sure 'tis very irksome that we are oblig’d to go about so hugger-mugger over our affections.

'Tis indeed tiresome, says I, for altho’ discovery would not be a mortal matter, scandal can be exceeding harmfull, and 'twould not affect only ourselves. At best, 'twould be suppos’d some such case as when a fellow prevails upon his wife to accept his mistress, and even go show pleasant to her in company.

Josiah he says he dares say that common gossip would not know how very improbable 'twould be for him to prevail upon our dearest to do anything she lik’d not.

Alas, says I, what people like is an old known story with new characters. Sure that is why all quite eat up the romantick tale of the Admiral and Lady J-.

Whereas indeed 'tis all an even prettier tale.

'Tis indeed, but I must suppose 'twould be caviare to the general.

I go drink my coffee, and then say, sure I have quite the greatest longing to be in triangle but alas 'twill not be answerable this e’en – I am bid to this dinner party the Marquess of O- gives at M. Duval’s eating house –

Josiah groans and says, and 'tis not even the full Season yet, ‘twill be a deal worse in the New Year.

I sigh and say, indeed, we are all becoming such a success in Society, so sought-after, that there is less and less time for ourselves. And sure I hardly have a moment when I might scribble a little upon a tale. 'Tis enough to make one give out that one takes physick and may not stir from home.

Dearest of C-s, you look entire too blooming for such a tale to be believ’d.

And says I, I have a deal of matters upon hand that I must attend to, at which Josiah laughs somewhat immoderate.

He then sighs and says that there are matters he must be about.

We kiss very much and I convey to him particular kisses for our dear Eliza and also for our dear pretty naughty bundle.

I feel a little melancholick after his departure.

But then I speak severely to myself and say, come, C-, there are a deal of matters for you to be about, and you have not yet begun write a fine long letter to dear Abby T- now that you have heard that they are safe in New South Wales. Which is an agreeable thing to embark upon even are there some matters I should not wish to put into a letter. Tho’ then I think, perchance I should delay a little before concluding it until I have had my drawing-room meeting, so that I may tell them how that fell out.

I am about the matter when Hector comes to say that Her Grace of M- calls, am I at home?

Why, says I, indeed, tho’ I was not expecting her.

Comes in Viola, looking somewhat troubl’d.

My dear, is something wrong? – I hope little Lady Cathy does not go take the colick? –

O, 'tis not precisely anything wrong, says Viola, sitting plump down in a chair, but as I daresay you know, we were invit’d to this dinner-party by the Marquess of O- this e’en, and now Biffle finds he must go down to Q- very urgent and cannot attend. Sure I know not what to do. Do I go alone 'twill unbalance the numbers, but sure I should wish to be there for Lady Anna.

Why, says I, after a moment’s cogitation, might your brother not accompany you? Is he not a sworn bosom companion to Lord U-? – that I confide will be there.

Oh, do you think that would answer?

I do not see why it should not. 'Tis entirely a matter of making sure 'tis not an entire family affair. Let us be about sending notes.

So I write to Lord O- at his club – sure I hope he may be found there – and send it with Timothy to wait upon a reply.

Viola gets up for a little anxious pacing. I ring for tea.

She sits down again and asks do I go write a novel at present?

Alas no, says I, there has been so much society of late and philanthropick matters that I cannot settle to one, tho’ I have writ a tale or two for the periodicals.

Comes Celeste with tea and crumpets.

Sure, says I, crumpets may not be genteel, but they are a very fine thing on a dull wint’ry afternoon.

We have a little idle discourse of our circle.

At length returns Timothy a little out of breath with a note from the Marquess of O- to say that he would be entire delight’d did Mr K- come dine along with Her Grace. He hears excellent report of him.

Why then, says Viola, I will go to Papa’s and tell Sebastian what is toward. I confide he has not been return’d long enough to have a deal of engagements yet on hand.

We take our farewells and remark that we shall meet again in a few hours: our expressions say what our words do not, that we do not suppose that it will be a very entertaining occasion.

I desire Docket to dress me in somewhat quiet tho’ stylish, since I am somewhat in the character of a chaperone, and also, should not wish to show up the dress of Lady Anna and Lady Emily –

Docket sniffs and says, must be an entire trial to Brownlee. They have convok’d upon the matter, but, indeed, there comes a time when a gown will not go be made-over any more, with the best will in the world it cannot be done.

- and perchance my pearls?

Entire fitting, says Docket.

'Tis an agreeable enough private dining room at M. Duval’s, that also has a drawing-room where the company foregathers. Lady Anna and her sister both look somewhat sulky, tho’ in the case of Lady Anna, I confide that 'tis an entire masquerade.

Lord U- takes me in to dinner – Lord N- is upon my other side, having taken in Viola – and says in a low voice that he is most exceeding gratefull for my kindness to his Mama.

Why, says I, ‘tis entire agreeable to me.

Sure M. Duval does us very well, is one not us’d to the fine fare that Seraphine or Euphemia prepare.

I observe that the Marquess and Lady Anna behave to one another with chill civility, tho’ I am like to suppose that their feet nudge affectionate conceal’d beneath the table.

I go ask Lord U- about his travels, that he is only too eager to relate, occasional calling upon Sebastian K- to confirm some point. The latter shows extreme civil to Lady Emily, that is even brought to smile a few times. Viola, I apprehend, is being favour’d by the Earl giving her a most detail’d account of some hortickultural matter he has brought off.

With the second course I am oblig’d to converse with Lord N- myself: I bring myself to flutter my lashes and tell him that I go hold a drawing-room meeting for the T-s’ fine work in the antipodes, and there will be a raffle, that I go solicit gifts for. Perchance, says I, His Lordship might have some fine flowering plant in an ornamental pot that he might donate? He says he will go think on the matter, for one would not want too delicate a specimen: I think the notion horrifies him but 'twould be in the worst of ton to refuse outright.

Indeed 'tis somewhat of a relief when the ladies may withdraw, tho’ I cannot suppose that the gentlemen will find themselves such a congenial company that we shall wait long upon them.

When they come in I am pleas’d to see that the Marquess is in lively converse with Lord U- and Sebastian K-. The Earl looks somewhat mopish.