An agreeable afternoon

I very greatly long to introduce my darlings to the T-s, for indeed all the children are quite wild to hear about the antipodes, but the T-s have been persuad’d that they would indeed benefit from a course of the waters at Harrogate, to set them up for their return to New South Wales. So they have gone there to be under the care of Dr J- that did so much good for Mrs F- and myself in times past, for some weeks.

Meanwhile I go about with various diversions, beginning with inviting Bess and Meg to tea with Miss N-. Euphemia goes into quite a frenzie of baking for the occasion.

Hector shows them into my parlour and they all look around very admiring. What a pretty room, says Meg. Oh, says Bess, who is the handsome brown lady in that picture? Miss N- goes to examine my bookshelves as if drawn by mesmeric forces.

That very charming lady, I say, was the belov’d bibi of my dear friend General Y- that was in the Hon Company’s service in Madras, I daresay you recall me speaking of him. He left me some treasur’d mementos such as the dear elephants that I gave to your mother for I thought you would love them. I gave a deal of other matter to the East India Museum: mayhap we could go visit there at some time, can I acquire tickets. The lady that rides the tiger I also had from him.

Comes in Euphemia with a most substantial tea that she has got Celeste to help bring up. Eyes grow very wide at the sight of this feast.

Miss N- puts back the volume she was perusing and remarks on what a fine collection of literature I possess. Sure, says I, reading is one of my great pleasures. But I apprehend that there is a fine library at R- House that I am sure Lord G- R- would be quite happy for you to have the run of. Tho’ 'tis somewhat of a gentleman’s collection. I believe Mr MacD- endeavours to catalogue it in the midst of his other duties.

Mr F-, says Miss N-, gives out that Mr MacD- is quite the cleverest fellow he knows.

He is quite extreme learn’d – can discourse with Lady J- upon classickal matters for hours at a time, has a deep understanding of the law, mixes in a philosophickal set, knows several languages, &C. I add that on the matter of languages, I can recommend several that will come teach German, French and Italian – Her Grace the Duchess of M- is a great student of languages and speaks most highly of 'em.

Bess gives a little sigh and says sure it seems like it will be more lessons now they are come to Town, there is some talk of a dancing-class.

O, says I, I am sure you will like that quite extremely, and 'tis most important to know how to dance. I daresay you will find friends there.

Bess looks as tho’ she is not sure of this. She looks about the room and her eyes fall upon my portrait in my Indian rubies by Sir Z- R-. Mama, she says, tells us you have very fine jewels, more than those we have seen when you come visit.

After tea, says I, perhaps we could go to my dressing-room and look into my jewel-chest. I look at Miss N- and smile and say, sure, it is entirely a matter of vain adornment, but they are indeed very pretty.

Miss N- responds that she confides that it is quite entire appropriate for a lady in my position to wear fine jewellery, and it is said that my taste is greatly esteem’d.

Indeed, says I, I am not sure whether I can claim that accolade, for my advisers upon such matters are my lady’s maid Docket, and Lord G- R-, who is everywhere known for the extreme niceness of his judgements in matters of style.

O, he is a bang-up fellow! cries Meg, as Miss N- shakes her head at the expression. He does not think he has to bowl to Bess and me very gentle, but bowls just as he would to Harry and Josh.

Miss N- says that His Lordship has been most kindly in letting the family know that they are entirely welcome to play in the garden, providing they ask Roberts are there any places where they should not venture, and has been joining in their sports.

He also, says Bess, has offer’d them the use of his box at the theatre and tomorrow e’en they are going to the play. (I daresay she will be about falling in love with Mr J-, she is quite entire at the age for it.)

Sure you are quite getting about in Society, I say. If you have eat enough, we might go and take a look at my jewels and then perchance take a promenade in the Park.

The girls confide that they do not think they can possibly eat any more, and I take them up to my dressing-room and unlock my jewel-chest. Miss N- shows still quite in love with my pearls, but Bess and Meg are most particular taken with my rubies. Docket looks on with an unwont’d benign expression.

She even goes so far as to remark that Miss N- most greatly suits pearls, which makes her blush. She looks thoughtfull at Bess and Meg and says that they are much of their mother’s colouring and she confides should wear the same stones. She drapes my sapphires upon them both so that they can see the effect, and then does the like with my diamonds. But Mrs F-, she goes on, can wear jewels that are quite out of the common, like her fine parure with the black pearls and fire opals.

Sure, says I, I do not think that I would suit that.

Docket also offers a glimpse at some of my fine gowns, including the court dress that I daresay I shall never wear again.

On the way downstairs, I give them a little peep into my fine reception chamber. O, says Meg, may I go look at the piano? She goes and touches it very reverent, and asks may she play a little. Sure, say I, pianos are made to be play’d.

She sits down at it and indeed she plays considerable well. I confide that Miss L- will find her an apt pupil.

We then go out in order to go promenade a little in the Park, with Timothy to escort us. The girls are most extreme taken by him, and he is very kindly in answering their questions, saying that he can say nothing of Africa for he was born here in London as were his parents before him.

As we go along the street our progress is subject to interruptions as one or other points out some sight.

The girls and Miss N- are all exceeding prepossesst by the Park, exclaim upon the cows and sheep, admire the fine horses and riders, and are most greatly impresst by the sight of the Serpentine lake.

And are there really hedgehogs, asks Bess, or is that just a tale to tell Josh?

O, indeed there are hedgehogs but they are proud and haughty creatures: did we see one I daresay it would give us the cut direct and decline to know us. They are like to keep themselves very exclusive and not mingle with the mob.

Miss N- says nervously that there is a gentlemen there that appears to be coming towards us. I look up and see 'tis Danvers D-. Sure, I think, put him next to Lord G- R- and you will see quite the illustration of the difference 'twixt a fop and a dandy that was commended by Brummell himself.

He sweeps off his hat and bows to me, a little less gracefull than he is wont, for he has a small dog tuckt under one arm. Lady B-, charm’d. And who are your lovely companions?

Miss N- blushes but Meg and Bess look at one another and giggle. I make the introductions. The girls can hardly take their eyes off the dog, that appears to be a pug.

O, says I, I see you are going in for dogs.

He looks down at the animal and says 'tis his mother’s, he chanc’d to be calling upon her when 'twas time for its promenade and her maid that normally has the task was abed with the megrim, so she desir’d him to take the little fellow out. But 'tis like the lady in the play that nauseates walking, and would sit plump down with a pathetick air, so he finds himself carrying it. (This is a deal wittier than I have ever heard him.)

The girls coo at it and ask may they stroke it. 'Tis an amiable beast and nothing like Madame Z-'s quite demonick babies that were ever trying to nip at Miss G- and myself when we had to tend them, and I see that they are most extreme taken with it. I daresay that they will be about asking my darling whether they may have a pug, but I confide that she may receive this much as she receiv’d the proposal concerning white mice.

We make our farewells to Danvers D-, and begin to walk towards home.

O, says Miss N-, this has been a most agreeable afternoon, has it not, girls? Bess and Meg heartily agree and give strong indications that they would like to come again.

I send them all home in my carriage, which gives them considerable pleasure.

Sure, thinks I after they depart, that was an agreeable afternoon such I once could never have imagin’d having.