We are now able to control those ardours

In due course I have a note by a similarly covert route from Biffle, appointing a time when he may come see me very discreet.

When he arrives we kiss as we were ever wont, but matters do not follow their previous wont’d course and we sit down in facing chairs. Biffle looks a little puzzl’d at this turn of events. (I have made sure not to wear my antient scent but the new blend made up by the fine perfumer.)

I condole with him on the death of his mother-in-law – I never had a chance to know her well, he says, she was already very ill when I marry’d dear Viola, but one must observe the conventions of mourning – and congratulate him upon the happy prospect.

He looks dolefull. Dearest C-, he says, sure I know one is suppos’d to be entirely happy at this prospect, but indeed I was in some hopes that Viola would prove in a similar case to her sister –

Martha S-, says I, is now increasing and quite ecstatickally happy.

Sure the news has not got around yet, he says. (Indeed I can suppose that the S-s may have an almost superstitious desire to keep the matter under cover for the moment.)

Then, says I, I must beg you to be discreet upon the matter, it is purely by chance that I came to learn of it.

- for I am in the most dreadfull fear for her.

My dear Biffle, says I, I can quite apprehend why you should have such a feeling. But, my dear, she is a very young woman, that has just lost a belov’d mother, and I confide is a little uncertain over your affections towards her, and all in all, very liable to get into a most undesirable state of the frets.

What, cries Biffle, I am really most extreme fond of Viola – altho’ 'twas by no means the great romance that I had with my dear Kitty, I find myself really becoming more and more attacht to her as time goes by. Is she not a fine delightfull creature? Indeed I am disinclin’d to comparisons, but I think I come to love her as much as I did Kitty, tho’ in a different way perhaps.

Well, indeed, dear Biffle, she is a different person and has different, tho’ equally admirable, qualities. – He nods – Tho’ indeed, I say, mayhap I am not the one to discourse of such matters, for I have ever found it possible to love different men in different ways, which is a thing that Society is given to frown upon.

Indeed, says Biffle with a slight thoughtfull frown, I still have quite entirely the greatest esteem for you, dear C-, tho’ I will admit that I am pleas’d to note that we are now able to control those ardours that us’d to quite overpower us: sure that was somewhat embarrassing.

Quite so, my dear. I ever hold you as one of my very greatest friends, which is why I desire to see you entirely happy with such an excellent wife as Viola. She is in great need of someone that she can lean upon in this troubling time for her.

Ah, says Biffle, I see what you aim at. Sure I should act the man and conceal my own fears for she has quite enough to worry her. Dearest C-, I confide that my years in the Diplomatick convey’d me some skills in that direction and I am most gratefull for your advice in the matter. I will also go about and ensure that my sister does not say or do anything to upset Viola, which would all, of course, be with quite the best of intentions.

I entirely confid’d that you would see the matter in this light, says I.

I then turn our conversation into lighter channels, including some animadversions upon Sir V- P- - sure one has seen actual sheep that have more apprehension – that make Biffle laugh. Sure my father thought him a safe fellow, but he is safe because of his entire inaction. Indeed I am most extreme pleas’d to have got F- into the seat, he is like to show very well.

We part on quite exceeding good terms and I confide we both congratulate ourselves at having passt an interview together without a tumble upon a sopha.

The afternoon of the same day comes Miss N- for the desir’d meeting. I have request’d Euphemia to lay on a good tea, tho’ I cannot suppose that Miss N- is being starv’d at R- House.

Indeed she is looking very well and I think has put on a little flesh which is quite entirely becoming to her.

I ask how she is finding life in Town now that the household is getting settled and into habits.

O, she says, Lady B-, it is quite entirely wonderfull. She was, she goes on, in some little concern about how matters would go at R- House, but, really, she is no longer quite struck dumb by Lord G- R- after she has seen him so very kindly and playfull with the dear children, not in the least what she expect’d from his reputation. He can only be a good influence upon the boys –

Indeed, says I, he would not lead them astray, but he knows enough of the world to be aware of the dangers.

And such opportunities, she continues, for educational excursions, and tutors in particular subjects, and also the company that visits the nursery: how very prettily responsible Quintus shows with the smaller infants.

He also, she says, shows a very apt pupil in the first steps in learning, is already on reading short words and doing simple sums.

O, she says with a sigh, I am most extreme fortunate to be in such a household, so unlike the experiences of my poor dear sister.

She eats some cinnamon toast and drinks her tea and says, but there was a particular matter she wisht to open to me.

Say on, says I, I will disclose no secrets that you tell me.

Oh, 'tis not exactly a secret, she says, but she would desire some advice from a lady of experience that knows proper usages.

You may recall, she says, Mr L-, that was the editor of the local newspaper?

Indeed, says I, a very amiable fellow.

We have been in some correspondence, she says with a little blush, and I have late had a letter from him to say that he has heard of an editor’s post open on one of the newspapers – well, not in Town as such, but in an adjacent part – that he comes to discuss with a possible view to taking it up. But while he is visiting, he would very much like to go about with me to see some of the sights, and perchance go to the theatre.

Why, my dear, can you be spar’d from your duties, I cannot see any objection. I am sure he is a well-conduct’d fellow that will behave with all propriety.

Oh, she says, indeed he has always behav’d quite entirely civil. (I wonder does she wish he would be a little less civil and a little more affectionate.)

I daresay, I go on, that I could go about to solicit passes for the theatre from my friends there.

O, that would be most exceeding kind. But there was another thing, she goes on, that he request’d could I contrive. He is most desirous of meeting Mr MacD-, having read some pamphlets of his composition and finding them of very great excellence, and wonders can I bring about an introduction.

She wrings her hands. I must confess, she says, that I find Mr MacD- far more intimidating than His Lordship and altho’ he is always quite perfectly civil, we are not on conversable terms.

(Indeed I can quite imagine this. Sandy’s shyness and reserve must quite entirely give this impression.)

Why, says I, he is quite the most agreeable of fellows do you get to know him, but he is not one of those hail-fellow-well-met kind that will immediate be on easy terms with anyone. I will, I say, write him a little note on the matter. I confide that he will be most happy to meet Mr L-.

O, thank you, Lady B-. I know 'tis a great imposition.

Not in the slightest, says I, it has long been the case that Mr MacD- has given me the most exceeding great assistance in matters of law and business and we are entirely on terms of friendship.

I go at once to my desk and write a little note for Sandy. I fold and seal it and give it to her, and says she should desire one of the R- House footmen to deliver it to him.

She says that when they first mov’d into to R- House she was also greatly intimidat’d by the footmen, but is growing us’d to the very different state that is kept in Town.

I feel the teapot and say it grows cold, shall I ring for more?

No, no, cries Miss N-, I have had quite enough. Indeed I should be going, I have presum’d upon your time and good nature too long already.

Silly girl, says I, 'tis a pleasure for me. Stay a little and discourse of some of your excursions.