A present from the frozen North

I am at somewhat of a halt in my tale of Neapolitan witchcraft and revolution, and I think that I shall put it aside until the dear Contessa comes to Town and I may ask her a few things that would be most material to the story. Meantime, I find a happy conjunction betwixt my thought of turning Mr E-'s propos’d educational experiment into a Gothick tale and Sandy’s idle jest about a young woman that comes as housekeeper and uncovers horrid happenings.

I sit plotting this out and scribbling little notes to myself while my dearest goes thro’ my household books. Such pleasing oeconomy, she says, without penny-pinching. Tho’, my dear, I quite long to look over the Hon Company’s accounts and see how they writ down that very handsome payment to you in the matter of the Indian Prince.

O, you wick’d prying creature! I cry, sure you do not need to go back that far. But I think it was manag’d by way of dear General Y- and supposedly finding an errour in his favour over some matter of his pension, or perchance the prize money from one of the campaigns in which he show’d so heroick. I wish you could have known him: he was a very fine fellow, that I was most exceeding fond of.

And he of you, says my darling, to leave you so well set-up under his will. Do you ever think of living in the Surrey place again?

Indeed, says I, now that he that was once parson there is safely mur’d up in the fine madhouse for the quality in Sussex, I find myself inclining more towards it, for indeed, apart from him, 'twas a most pleasant place. But the U-s like it so extremely, and show no inclination to move, and pay so well, and will undertake repairs, sure it would be foolish in me to take it back into my own hands. And of course I should not live there permanent but only visit, and perchance give house-parties -

- Sure that would be very agreeable –

- and have my darlings and their family to stay, for would it not be quite delightfull to see the children playing about the garden? Or picking blackberries in my little wilderness?

My darling sighs. Sure the want of a garden is something that particular troubles me about living in Town, even if there are fine parks to walk about in: sure one would prefer one’s own garden where the children might romp.

(Mr Q- has writ me that 'tother Lady B- has commission’d him to look into the needfull matters of making B- House habitable, but he doubts not that Chancery will insist on sending in their own surveyors, and go about very tedious to get bids for the work, so he confides that the place cannot be ready within the next several years. Sure I had suspect’d that it would be some such cumbersome business.)

(I have not yet disclos’d the plans I have on hand to my darling.)

Indeed, says I, while I am sure you would have the entrée to the fine grounds at M- House, 'tis not the same thing.

Indeed not. Sure, I think I now have some notion of what Town housekeeping should be like: 'tis indeed a matter of considerable expense after the provinces, but I confide I see justly what is reasonable now I have seen your books and talkt to Lady J- and dear Susannah W-. I daresay I shall be able to see at once is there any havey-cavey matter goes forth at R- House. Tho’ of course I shall also talk with dear Seraphine.

Comes in Hector and says that one has deliver’d a very large parcel, addresst to Madame C- C-, that has been sent from Canada. O, says I with some delight, it must be something from dear Major W-. Sure he is no great correspondent, and being so remote doubtless had not heard about my chang’d state. I wonder how he does.

There is a letter includ’d within, and there is reveal’d a fine bear-skin, with the head still upon it. I confide, I say, that Major W- has indeed had fine hunting in the frosty forests, tho’ I know not what I should do with a bear-skin. 'Twill not at all suit my pretty parlour.

My darling strokes the fur and says, sure, 'twould be a charming addition to playing bears, and looks at me somewhat saucy.

Oh, you have a notion that it could join my fine tiger-skin in my boudoir?

Would that not be a fine thing?

Indeed so. But I am most tempt’d to present it to you, for I confide that the children would love it exceedingly, yet that might create some comment –

Also, says my darling, that snarling head might frighten Flora.

I am not sure it does not frighten me, says I, contemplating it.

I have been having a thought, o my loveliest C-, that I should have our little angel painted -

O, that would be most entirely charming! Sure I have been going around advancing Mr de C-'s interest – did he not come paint your family some while ago? – but indeed I am not sure that I would want one that is so very close to my household at the business. He is an absent-minded fellow that might let things slip, not meaning any harm.

Have you seen the sketches Martha S- has made of little Essie? They are most exceeding touching and a fine likeness.

Oh, I have not seen them – only some water-colours of fossils that she was about for some essay of Mr S-'s. She purposes to study oils.

Hah, I daresay, for His Grace was most extreme struck by her sketches and was saying what a pity that she does not work in oils.

There is again some objection that she is one that might note the resemblance.

'Tis indeed quite noticeable, though mostly about the colouring - sure some babies that are fair when they are born darken as they grow into infancy, but our little jewel is still as much so as ever.

Tho’ of course, I say a little mournfull, even did I have a likeness I should have to keep it very conceal’d.

Oh, my darling, if there is one particular thing that reconciles me to this Parliamentary upheaval, 'tis that you would not be depriv’d of Flora for such long times. She puts her arm about me. I bury my face against her shoulder, for indeed I feel a little tearfull. There, she says, there, there, kissing my hair, you will ever go about to be brave in the matter, but I know it tears your heart in two.

O, says I, with a shake in my voice, I should be a most dreadfull mother: sure I would spoil her, and let her eat all kind of things unwholesome for children, and not keep good regular hours, &C. Yet - did I not know her with my dearest F-s, sure I should be distraught indeed. But I know that you love her as much as I do, as much as we all love one another: it reconciles me.

O, loveliest C-, you would not be that careless mother: sure you would be ever getting into fusses and worrying and being over-carefull.

Perchance, say I, I should. Sure she is better with you, that understand these things.

Indeed, after the first few, one gets a notion.

They are all such fine children, and do you credit.

And all doat upon their Aunty C-: 'tis quite a constant question, o, do you go see Aunty C- in London? When does Aunty C- come again? Will you not invite Aunty C- for a fine long stay?

Sure could I find my fan, I should smack you with it, for I confide you make up a flattering tale.

She kisses my hair again. Indeed not, my love. And indeed, do we not see the further advantages of being so close to our dearest third?

Sure, says I, I must become a politickal lady, that reads all the debates and can pronounce upon the business; I must go lesson myself with Susannah and little V.

My dearest, you do not need to do any such thing. You need only be our dearest C-, that is so very widely admir’d, that holds such fine soirées and has such excellent connections. I fear our Grand Turk would chide me did I encourage you to put a frown on your pretty face by poring over Parliamentary Debates.

Indeed, say I, it ever strikes me as very tedious stuff, but sure can I bear to listen polite to Mr N- I can put up with a little tedium.

What Josiah would look for from you – he has said this to me - is your judgement upon the fellows he will have to deal with does this all come to fruition. For, he says, our dearest C- has most uncommon insight into men’s hearts and minds.

O, I cry, o, o, that is very pretty in him. I am a silly creature of no education but I confide I do have some understanding of men.

My darling laughs and kisses me and we become distract’d from the various business that we were upon.