Unanticipat'd responses

I ponder upon the matter Dolly Mutton present’d to me, and at length I summon Dorcas to me.

Dorcas, says I, you will mind when young Josh F- came here – She nods – he had been most exceeding helpt by a kindly lady that set him upon his way, bought him a bun, &C. I went about to find who she was so that I, and his parents, might express gratitude. I have found that she is one Dolly Mutton, that keeps a quite entire respectable coffee-house and lodgings for ladies in Covent Garden.

Dorcas’s eyes widen a little but she says nothing.

Now, Mrs Mutton is a fine philanthropick woman that provides board and lodging as an act of charity to ladies of the trade that have broke down and may no longer pursue their profession –

Sure that is a very fine thing, says Dorcas, somewhat to my surprize.

- and I chanc’d to be having words with her lately and she says that there is a desire in some of 'em for the consolations of religion, so be it not some fierce clergyman that preaches of hellfire and damnation, perchance some lady that might read the Bible and lead 'em in a prayer or two -

O, says Dorcas, Your Ladyship, mayhap 'tis presuming of me, but indeed, this seems to me a call. If it did not interfere with our household duties, might Prue and I go to them?

You, Dorcas? (For I think of her most remarkable fine looks and confide that she may be bother’d does she find herself in Covent Garden.)

Yes, indeed, Your Ladyship, says Dorcas with unexpect’d firmness. Tho’ there have been not’d female preachers among the Methodists, there is a present feeling that women should not preach to men tho’ they may quite legitimate minister to their own sex and I have for some time felt a leading in the matter.

Sure, she goes on, I would not expect you to decide immediate.

This indeed comes a little sudden, says I, for I had thought to ask whether there were any ladies among the congregation at your chapel that might undertake the business, but – should you find any objection, I continue, did I convoke in this matter with Roberts?

Mr Roberts, says Dorcas, is a very fine man that has considerable gifts of preaching, and also deplores the exclusion of women from pulpits. I should entirely submit to any judgement of his on the matter. I will not yet open the matter to Prue.

Prue?

I should, she says, again in a voice of determination, desire Prue as my confederate in any such matter. She is a good hard-working girl and tho’ she tells me that there was a time she was in silly hysterickal state and in fear of damnation, there is no sign of that and she is a fine steady creature. Also she reads the Bible most excellent.

(Of a certainty I am not mistress in my own household, for all this goes on quite outside my knowledge. Tho’ I mind me that Hector has of late been somewhat distract’d and perhaps this also has some bearing upon my ignorance of what has been going forward. I am now in concerns about what secret lives Celeste and Timothy lead.)

Well, says I, I will think on this matter and open it to Roberts, but sure 'tis a very fine thing you offer to do.

Dorcas makes me a little bob and leaves.

I sigh, and determine that I must go a visit to R- House.

I dress very quiet for informal morning visiting, and have Ajax drive me there. Rather than go in by a front door, I enter at the kitchen-door, as I wish to talk to Seraphine.

I see she is about instructing Bess and Meg in some matter of cookery, and 'tis not a good time to disturb her in this task. I merely ask is Roberts at present in Town and she says I will find him in the conservatory. There is some little problem with the ornamental fountain, and he and Mr MacD- go about to amend matters.

(Sure I did not want to encounter Sandy this morn, for I confide that it will be dour Calvinistickal glare about my going to see Matt Johnson concerning the mysterious death of Foliott Fanshawe and not telling him.)

However, when I enter the conservatory, the fountain is playing merrily as it should, and Roberts is about various matters of his craft.

How now, Roberts, say I, how do you?

He says excellent fine, Your Ladyship, was there some matter I wisht to discuss with him?

Indeed, says I, and disclose to him somewhat of what Dorcas has said to me.

He looks thoughtfull and says, indeed 'tis a pity that there is this feeling that women should not preach to men, for he confides that Dorcas has the gifts of the spirit in that direction. Tho’, he adds with a smile, mayhap she would distract men’s thoughts when they should be on spiritual matters, quite aside from St Paul’s requirement upon women to keep silence.

She has most remarkable looks, I agree. But indeed she does not flaunt 'em.

If this business is a matter she desires to do, he goes on, I confide that she should.

And Prue?

He frowns a little and says sure Prue seems much soberer and more sensible and Dorcas is a good influence upon her, so one might at least see how matters turn out.

Thank you, Roberts, says I, I shall not distract you further.

I then go around to the front door to the east wing and enquire whether Mrs F- be at home? The footman considers a little and says that he will go see. He returns and says that I am bid to join her in her study, tho’ this turns out to be his term for my love’s fine family room where she may also work.

Once the footman has gone my darling rises and kisses me very hearty. O, lovely C-: sure you brighten the morning, and I was just wishing for you to advise me.

What’s ado? say I, sitting down, I see you have dispatcht the girls to learn kitchen matters with Seraphine –

Hah, kitchen matters! I confide they go about to make toffee: but I have give Miss N- the day off so that she may go about and show Mr L- the sights. This afternoon they go to dancing class.

That is most exceeding kind of you.

Sure she is an excellent young woman, and we have ever been prepossesst by him.

O, wick’d creature! I think you go about to make a match.

Would that be so bad a thing?

Perchance not. But you wisht my advice?

Indeed, my love. She waves her arm over a tray completely cover’d with cards. Who are these people that wish to know us, and should we wish to know them?

I take the tray and place it on a small table beside my chair and proceed to winnow the cards into people that will be usefull, people that are encroaching nuisances, people that everybody knows, and people who sure they will like most exceedingly.

There, you see how valuable you are. How should we get on without the dearest of C-s?

I swallow. Dearest Eliza, says I, I am greatly in fear that you will consider me quite the worst of C-s do I convey to you what I came here to confess.

Oh, she says, our dearest is in one of her fusses, what is this ado, my darling?

I sigh and look down at my hands and say that I have late had a letter from Admiral K-, that purposes coming to Town about some matter –

Oh, she cries, the boys would quite long to meet him –

- I am sure that might be contriv’d. But my dearest, he is a very old friend of mine that I should not wish to seem proud and haughty towards –

Indeed I have always notic’d you smile in a very particular way when you talk of him.

There is no hiding from my darling’s sharp eyes, says I. My love, you do know that I love you both most exceeding? but I still have a very great fondness for the Admiral.

My love, it does you entire credit. And how could we not feel a certain warmth towards one that has ever been so very kind to our darling? Sure, dear C-, we know that there are those with whom you have very strong tyes of antient affection, and sure we should not wish to act as jealous gaolers. 'Tis a thing we have spoke of together.

O, my dear love, I say somewhat tearfull, you do not mind?

I confide that we may miss our lovely third a little or even a lot, does she find herself preoccupy’d by another, but we should very much rather have her happy than resentfull.

I jump up and kiss her. O, indeed I shall make it up to you!

My wick’d wild girl gives me a knowing look. Sure we shall hold you to that promise! But now I daresay you want to go see our precious naughty bundle that tyrannizes the nursery.