Some happier news

O, it has been a long and tiring day, but I find myself fretfull and wakefull thinking of all the ailments that may come to children and the dangers to my darling Flora. Sure the entire nursery set were of late scratcht for the smallpox, which is a most excellent thing, for none were more than a little feverish for a very short while: 'twas quite a little party for 'em: but would there were the like for those other menaces such as the measles or the hooping cough.

But at length I sleep tho’ my slumber is uneasy and I have distressing dreams of hearing a child crying that I cannot see or come at.

In the morning, comes in Sophy with my chocolate, very chearfull, and says, Oh Your Ladyship, Mrs Phoebe is safe deliver’d of a little boy, Aunty Black is in the kitchen telling the tale.

Well, there is some good news, thinks I.

I go down to my breakfast and comes in Hector to give me the news over again: and they will call him Camille.

Why, says I, I mind me that there should be some of that fine champagne wine that Mr H-'s Sussex friends import in the cellar, you may open a bottle so that the household can toast the health of Phoebe and the babe, and also you may convey a bottle to Mr de C-.

Hector says that Aunty B- reports that Mr de C- was in a great taking - sure she thinks some husbands should be well-dos’d with laudanum while the business is going on – but now sits with sketchbook and pencil a-drawing of mother and child.

If you go there, says I, I will write a little note to them. And is there anything needful that we may provide we are entire at their disposal. Tho’ I am sure Phoebe had all well in hand before her lying-in.

'Tis therefore Timothy that shows in Mrs N- some while later while I am at my pretty desk making a great endeavour to catch up with my correspondence.

We kiss and she declares that she has not seen me this age, not since my soirée.

Sure I have been quite overwhelm’d! says I. But indeed there are matters on hand about which I should desire any intelligence you can glean. I open to her the various house-parties to which I have been bidden and also those that invite Sandy, in particular the matter of Lord P-.

O, says Mrs N-, sure Lord P- marks nothing that is not a cow, or perchance a fine bull, but his son becomes ambitious about politicks.

I become thoughtfull. That would be young Lord J-, then, says I. Does he so?

So 'tis given out.

I would, says I, very much like more knowledge of that family and their set in general, can you find out anything, especially do they have any female relatives that have not yet taken on the marriage market.

Sure I can contrive to make some discovery! she says. She sips at her coffee and nibbles at the shortbread and then laughs and says, Mr N- was most extreme prepossesst by the intelligence and understanding of the Graf von M-.

I am pleas’d to hear it, say I, and quite entire fail to keep a straight face. I confide that he is by now entire well-inform’d concerning the Bavarian constitution?

My dear! 'Twas all I heard about at breakfast the following morn.

Sure, says I, 'tis most extreme agreeable not to have a husband, if that is what they talk of over breakfast.

He is a good creature, says Mrs N- with an indulgent look.

I hear, says I, that Mr J- takes the company touring this summer?

Alas, yes, says Mrs N-. And we go to Margate as becomes the habit, where there is like to be no society but Mr P- and Mrs O’C-.

Really, says I, I hear that 'tis become very fashionable, I am sure that you will find some more agreeable society.

'Tis by no means difficult, she says with a sigh, to find society more agreeable than Mr P-. Sure I do not know how poor Mrs O’C- contrives to put up with him – she then lets out something like a snigger and says perchance she does.

She then looks more sober and says that both Mr J- and Miss A- have quite separate assur’d her that, tho’ they cannot entirely promise that there will be no romps, if such should occur 'twill be quite entirely due to the extreme tedium of the provinces and signifys no more than a game at spillikins.

Why that is extreme thoughtfull in them, says I, and I hope Miss A- has convey’d the like intelligence to Lady J-.

At which moment Timothy shows in Miss A- herself, that comes kiss both of us as I desire Timothy to bring fresh coffee.

My dears! It has been an age! – and dear Lady B-, I hope all is well with Hector?

Indeed, says I, quite well, but Phoebe has just been brought to bed of a son, and he goes visit and see is there anything needful we can perform.

Mrs N- remarks that Mr de C- is a very fine artist and his devotion to Phoebe is extreme pretty, but –

Indeed, says I, he does not perhaps have much grasp upon the practicalities of life, but I confide that Hector will be able to take things in hand.

And do we have any intelligence concerning the other expect’d lyings-in?

I shake my head. Celeste brings in coffee and some more buns, the ones Miss A- most particular likes.

Miss A- drinks her coffee and confides that 'tis a good thing she goes tour this summer. For otherwise she would be quite desolate in Town, with Lady J- purposing to go visit the Admiral. She says this with a calm and dignify’d air most unlike the old Miss A-, that would have been quite Dido in the ruins of Carthage.

I smile at her and say somewhat of this.

She smiles and says tho’ she will greatly miss Lady J-, she quite understands the position.

And how go matters at the theatre, I ask.

Excellent fine, says Miss A-, and sure Mr W- is showing quite remarkable of late.

I mind me, says I, that Bess F- was most wishfull to see a rehearsal, but I was in some reluctance to take her was there like to be brangling and language unfit for a young girl’s ears. But if matters are become harmonious once more, would there be any objection?

Oh, 'twould be quite charming! I cannot suppose any objections, but I daresay one had better ask the company first.

I add that Lady J- has greatly taken to Bess and purposes to invite her to her box. 'Tis a very agreeable thing, says I, for I think Lady J-'s favour to her sister caus’d a little jealousy.

You are a good friend to the F-s, says Mrs N-.

How not? says I. Indeed Mr F- was a most exceeding good friend to me in days gone by, and still gives me fine advice on investments &C, and Mrs F- is a most excellent woman. Their children are the most delightfull civil well-behav’d creatures.

O, come, dear Mrs N-, says Miss A-, can you suppose that our dear Lady B- would be enacting some Gothick melodrama, just because Mr F- us’d to be one of her greatest favourites? Sure there are several in our set of whom that was once true, and all remain on terms of greatest amiability. Was not Admiral K- a very great favourite of hers? And does she not remain on the very greatest terms of friendship with Lady J-?

Mrs N- laughs somewhat immoderate and says that matters have sure chang’d when Miss A- rebukes her for making a Gothick melodrama out of some matter that is nothing of the kind.

Miss A- also laughs and says she confides that now she has the capacity to distinguish between the stage and common life.

They take their farewells and walk off arm-in-arm to the theatre, the dear creatures.

Comes in Hector, beaming considerable and says Phoebe is in a fine way and a most excellent babe. Mr de C- seems somewhat overcome, so he thought it best to advise him to go into his studio and paint a little to calm his mind. He will just go to Euphemia and ask her to put up some comforts for them.

That is a very happy thought, says I, for Phoebe will be lying-in a while yet. Perchance Dorcas might go and see if there are any housekeeping matters that need attending to, so that Phoebe will not disturb herself about them.

I would not wish to tire her, I go on, but I should very much like to go see her and little Camille.

Hector responds that he confides that Phoebe would be entire delight’d to receive a visit. Not today, perchance, but –

Indeed, not today.

I am most extreme pleas’d at this happy news, but I wonder whether Martha and Viola have yet lain-in. One must sure feel a little anxiety over Martha that is somewhat old for a first bearing.