'Tis consider'd a most romantick story

I have Miss A- sobbing into my lap as she has not done this long time, as I stroke her hair, and remark to her that sure Admiral K- will be away for great lengths of time.

Sure, she cries, lifting her tear-drencht face, I apprehend that, but I am in the greatest fear that Lady J- will decide to go live in Hampshire and I shall never see her.

O my dear, says I, I confide that that is not at all likely. Lady J- has entire too much on hand here in Town to go live elsewhere, I daresay she may be to and fro, but I cannot suppose that she would go reside in Hampshire.

Her sobs begin to quieten. I continue, Sure 'tis only Hampshire, that she could be there and back in a day does she wish, with the fine good roads and the M- carriages: 'tis not as tho’ she goes retreat to Wales.

Miss A- blows her nose and says sure she is a foolish fond creature, but indeed, she is very attacht to Lady J- -

Sure no-one doubts it, dear rogue –

- but Lady J- never spoke to her about her long-ago meeting with the Admiral, or that she desir’d offspring.

O, says I, I daresay there are matters that you have not confid’d to her.

Mrs N- is shown in and remarks that already the on-dit has come full circle back to her, and she is told about the romance of the poor young Navy lieutenant and the Duke’s daughter, that may now find matrimonial happyness.

This sets Miss A- off sobbing again: sure my skirts are getting quite soakt. Mrs N- pats her upon the shoulder and goes sit down. I wave at her to help herself to coffee.

She goes on to say 'tis still not discover’d who horsewhippt that coarse musician, even tho’ there are those that would give him a medal or at least subscribe for a crack lawyer to defend him did the matter come into court. But 'tis given out that Herr F- intends to return to Munich, having so greatly fail’d at making his fortune in London.

Doubtless, says I, he thought he would make it with something other than his violincello (I make a somewhat vulgar gesture.)

Mrs N- remarks that did he so, sure there is quite enough of that among true-born Englishmen.

And indeed, Welshmen, says I (for Mr J- is generally suppos’d to have originat’d from those parts).

Mrs N- giggles.

Miss A- sits back on her heels, dries her eyes and says perhaps she will take some coffee.

As she drinks coffee I go about to distract her mind by putting it on other business, viz.: Bess F-'s great desire to visit backstage at the theatre and be made acquaint’d with her.

O, says Miss A-, that would be entirely delightfull: and sure you are a great favourite among the theatre people, as one of their own that has done very well for herself.

Well, says I, I hope I do not forget my origins.

She is quite entirely recover’d by the time she leaves with Mrs N-.

In the afternoon I go visit Viola, for 'tis some while since I did so, and also I greatly wish to discover how Lady J-'s intend’d marriage is being receiv’d in M- House. (Sure I should desire Docket to invite Tibby for tea and a good gossip.)

Her Grace is indeed at home to you, Lady B-, and when I am shown in I see that Martha is already with her. They are both looking quite exceeding well, even tho’ still dresst as they must be for months yet in the sombre garb of grief.

They both greet me with very great enthusiasm, and Martha says, sure I expect dear C- already knows our news, is she not quite the best-inform’d creature about such matters?

Oh, says I, sitting down, is there news, my dears?

Viola says she can still hardly believe it herself, but Lady J- goes about to marry most exceeding hasty Admiral K-, that all speak of very highly as a most gallant sailor that was commend’d by Nelson himself, that she met many years since when she was making her debut in Society and he was a penniless creature with his career to make, but now he has inherit’d a most eligible property and may speak at last. Is it not quite entire like a romantick novel or a play?

I had heard somewhat to the case, says I.

Martha remarks that Mr S- once met the Admiral, was it not at one of your soirées, C-? and found him a most amiable and interesting fellow, they discours’d somewhat of his work with the Hydrographick Survey.

O yes, says I, he was ever part of our set when he was in Town, which indeed was not often. Has been to the China Seas and the West Indies and the Cape, is now post’d to the Mediterranean. I do not think he has ever been as far as the antipodes, but he is a most widely-travell’d fellow.

I see them exchange a quick sisterly glance and apprehend that they may have deduc’d somewhat of my connection with the dear creature.

Indeed, says Viola, B- - His Grace my husband says he is the most excellent of fellows tho’ perchance he himself is more than a little surpriz’d by this sudden engagement: but says he was a scrub of a schoolboy when his sister made her debut, recalls complaints made that she was scorning some very eligible suits, but nothing to this matter.

Why, says I, I am most exceeding happy for them. Does she, I go on, propose to sail with him? Sure I could see her as a fine naval wife bestriding the quarterdeck &C.

Oh no, says Viola, she confides that 'twill need one with a knowledge of managing an estate to take care of his inheritance while he serves the nation at sea.

She most certain has exceeding abilities in that direction, I remark. Sure Mrs F- was entire prepossesst at how well she ran affairs at N-, and her fine talent about dairy matters.

But, says Martha, I find it most exceeding sad that having found one another again as 'twere, they will then be separat’d once more by the demands of his profession. But Lady J- is ever, I confide, rul’d by what she considers her duty and she must suppose the care of this fine property he inherits must be that course.

There might also, says I, be considerations that being tosst about upon the waves might be inadvisable.

They look at one another with silent sisterly speculation again. Why indeed, says Viola, Lady J- is none so old that she may not hope for a pledge of their affections.

Martha adds that travelling about is sure not wise in such a case, and she and Mr S- therefore will not be at Q- for the Christmas season this year but stay quietly at home.

Tho’ indeed we shall be very quiet at Q- this year, says Viola. They reach out to grasp each other’s hand. 'Twill be extreme dull for Sebastian and Papa.

I say that I suppose that this year we may not hope for the S-s’ fine Twelfth Night party.

The sisters look at one another again and Mrs S- purses up her lips very thoughtfull and says, a small occasion with a few good friends -?

Oh, Martha, that would be most exceeding delightfull! cries Viola. (I confide that they find the restrictions of mourning most greatly oppressive, even tho’ I am entire sure they have immense sorrow over the loss of the late Mrs K-.)

If the dear T-s might come? murmurs Martha. For one hears that they purpose a return to New South Wales and their convicts: sure they will be greatly misst.

They advance the names of a few more close friends that might be invit’d. And of course, says Viola, we should greatly welcome you, dear C-.

I smile and say do I find myself in Town I shall of course delight to come. (But I am not yet sure whether my darlings purpose a return home over that season.)

I leave them still happily discoursing of the matter.

Thomas comes up to me and says could I spare a few minutes His Grace would be exceeding gratefull for a word or two. Oh, says I, I should be quite happy to do so.

Dearest Biffle is in his office, clad in mourning and about various matters of business, when Thomas shows me in.

As he closes the door Biffle remarks that he understands from various sources that Thomas has been disappoint’d in love by my cook.

Alas, says I, that it must be so, but he is a fine well set-up fellow and I daresay that there are many other young women that would delight to walk out with him.

As for well set-up fellows! says Biffle, dearest C-, I confide that you are appriz’d of this business 'twixt my sister and Admiral K-, which comes as a great shock. Indeed I was in much concern over the late scurrility that attacht to her, and I daresay this will go some way to repair the damage, but –

Dear Biffle, says I, it comes about that it would greatly suit the dear Admiral to marry, and marry such a wife as I could not hope to be, now he is a land’d proprietor with responsibilities. I assure you, I am very well-content’d that such a mutually advantageous match comes about.

Biffle looks thoughtfull and says indeed, does she have his estate business upon her hands, 'twill doubtless occupy her. And sure it reassures me greatly that you think 'tis a good match.

O, quite entirely! says I. I rise and lean across the desk to kiss him farewell. I confide that that was all the matter you wisht to open to me? He nods.