A gossip with Seraphine

I go call upon Seraphine, that has a very fine sitting-room at R- House near unto the kitchens, besides the most excellent quarters that she shares with Roberts. 'Tis a quiet time of day when she may leave the kitchen-maids about their duties and put her feet up a little.

I kiss her very warm and say indeed she looks well. She says this is a fine life where one may leave a deal of the more tiresome matter to other hands, tho’ indeed 'tis somewhat of a business keeping after 'em. But sure matters have improv’d within the household most greatly now that Mrs F- takes them in hand. 'Tis something of a pity that Dawkins had not grown so old in his place that he could have been one of those pension’d, for altho’ he pulls around a little, and will no longer laugh it off when footmen go about to attempt to be saucy, he is an idle sottish fellow – sure 'tis ever the way that butlers are like to go, that hold the keys to the cellar.

Why, says I, Hector has held the keys to my cellar these several years, and I do not notice the fault in him.

Oh, says Seraphine, with Hector I confide 'tis entirely the other way, and 'tis a great undertaking to make him unbend. I am like to suppose that this is half of the trouble with this shilly-shallying over marriage, that he wonders whether it will affect his performance of his duties.

'Tis making matters most unsettl’d in the household, says I. Do either of them open to you the reasons for this delay?

O, says Seraphine with a smile, Euphemia would go to church tomorrow if she could. I am in some worry that she has an inclination not to wait upon the ceremony.

Why, I say, 'tis hardly being loose when there is already the prospect of marriage, and sure there are many couples for whom their first fruits come somewhat precipitate. (I think most particular of my darlings.) But I daresay you would think different.

Seraphine looks thoughtfull and says that somehow, there is something to that waiting, that is not just about fear of gossip &C, she cannot say exact what it is – but sure there is a difference 'twixt waiting a few weeks to get ready and have the banns call’d and all in order, and leaving matters in this betwixt and between state. 'Tis most exceeding trying to Euphemia.

'Tis strange, I say, for 'tis usually suppos’d that the man is the one that wishes to hurry matters along.

Indeed, but this seems not the case with Hector. He has had some converse on the matter with Roberts - for my dear Roberts is often requir’d to give counsel to young men that go about to wed –

Sure I can quite see that, says I.

- but altho’ he ever maintains a very proper discretion in such matters, I am like to suppose 'tis not the usual worry with Hector concerning past sins, which is oft a matter that troubles fellows when they come to offer marriage to a woman they have respectfull feelings towards.

There is a little discreet knock at the door and Seraphine goes to see about it. 'Tis one of the kitchen maids concerning some pantry matters and whether certain things must be thrown out. Seraphine excuses herself while she goes to see about the business.

I look about her sitting-room. I observe that she still keeps up her books of receipts &C in the old good practice. I also see that she is about writing down some notes for the house-party forthcoming at A-, how many places, what will be in season, &C.

Come back Seraphine and says doubtless in time they will develop judgement and not need to come running to her about every little matter. But 'tis better than the way things were when she start’d, for M. Duval was in the habit of telling them not to bother him with little matters, and she found a deal of bad practices as a result. Sure she is most thankfull that none was poison’d with food gone bad.

I make suitable tutting sounds at this. Tho’, I say, one does not yet hear that any have been poison’d at this fine eating house of his.

Seraphine gives a little laugh and says, 'tis given out, and she is inclin’d to believe it, that when he had determin’d to quit this place and set up an eating house for the quality, he sent to his relatives in France to find him a wife that would be a helpmeet in the enterprize, and that they sent him over a plain creature of thirty or more that they were becoming quite desperate to get off their hands, that takes on most extreme competent all those matters M. Duval thinks beneath the notice of a great chef. If he does not poison anyone or end up in debtors’ prison 'twill be entirely her doing.

We both laugh.

I then enquire of her what goes forward with this proposal to sell some of her fine receipts.

O, says Seraphine, she has spoke of this with Mr MacD- and Mr F- that both have fine minds for business, and they are of the opinion that 'twould answer better not to sell the receipts outright, but as it were lease 'em in return for some percentage of the profits.

That is a very cunning way of going about the matter, says I, do you require the services of an attorney in it I am sure Mr Q- would be entire delight’d to be of service.

Roberts and I have talkt over it and we feel 'tis a lawfull proceeding, that the labourer is worthy of his hire &C: indeed there is a deal of work that goes into the finisht receipt, and while one might exchange them with friends, 'tis a different matter when someone purposes to profit from 'em. Also, tho’ indeed we are very well reward’d by His Lordship, 'tis a most excellent place, a little extra sum is ever a good thing, especial as we may hope for further increase. Sure Julius is well provid’d for thanks to your fine work about that matter, but we should also hope to give Hannah and any other children we might have a good education, mayhap apprenticeship to a good trade, &C.

You are not at present -?

She shakes her head. But Mrs F- confides that 'tis better and more healthfull to have somewhat of a space 'twixt children, so I do not fret.

She is a most wise adviser, says I. And 'tis most extreme pleasant to sit here gossiping with you quite like old times, but I should go call upon her.

And, says Seraphine with a fond smile, go call upon the nursery as well.

I confide that I shall contrive that! says I.

I go around to the front door of the east wing, where the footman shows me to the parlour, where my darling is having callers. I perceive that it gives her a deal of consequence to have me announc’d.

Introductions are made and I apprehend that her other callers are wives of the fellows that are in, or should like to be in, our politickal set. Of course, at a formal social call one does not discourse of politicks unless the callers should happen to be close friends that are interest’d in the matter, so the conversation turns upon various on-dits concerning the Season and other more general matters. There is great excitement over the Contessa’s ridotto.

They stay the most precise polite time before taking their leave.

Eliza throws herself back in her chair. O, dearest of C-s, they may not be a spitefull envious crew such I us’d to fear at home, but sure they are tedious creatures.

'Tis the constraints of Society, says I, there are so very few matters that one may speak of that are consider’d polite.

As there may be other callers shown in at any moment, we do not go about to express our affection in kisses &C but look upon one another very fond.

After a few other calls of courtesy have come and gone, I say I have a little message for Bess - I have prevail’d upon Mr I-, that is the business manager at the theatre, to give her a little time – so I will go up to the schoolroom and then to the nursery.

Bess is most extreme gratify’d at this news and we convoke over the most suitable time to go there. Miss N- says she has been working most exceeding hard and very well lately, why does she not take tomorrow morning? Meg will not be at lessons because Miss L- comes to rehearse her for the musicale.

Why, says I, that would answer exceedingly, and I will come call with my carriage. But I will leave you to your studies at present.

I go at last to the nursery, where there is fine society: there is a quite magnificent fort with wooden soldiers that Quintus, Julius, Essie and Bobbie W- are at some game with. Sukey W- is still a little creeping creature, with a disposition to hide in her nurse’s skirts. I see my precious jewel is playing exceeding pretty with little Hannah. She runs to me and demands her tiger, and is most determin’d to protect Hannah from being eaten. O, 'tis quite delightfull to see her as it were big sisterly.