A brief visit to Q-

Altho’ 'tis perhaps not the straitest way to Lord P-'s fine estate in Shropshire, as we should anyway have to break our journey I purpose to go a somewhat longer way and spend a night at Q-. Little V has been most exceeding desirous that I should visit am I anywhere in the vicinity and tho’ perchance I may contrive another visit on my way to some other house party, this falls out very well.

Sure Q-, that I have never before visit’d, is a very fine house that sits in landscap’d grounds with a very fine view over the surrounding country.

Biffle comes out to greet me: we shake hands very civil and proper but 'tis some while before we let go our clasp. He tells me that Viola is now up and about, but that he must exercise a little husbandly firmness to prevent her from overdoing, she is so entirely eager to get back to business. He smiles very much at the thought.

Little Cathy, he goes on, is the most delightfull of babes and thrives. They were in a little concern how Essie would greet a new addition to the nursery, but he seems to take it very calm - babies are no new thing to him after the society of the R- House nursery set. If anything, he seems somewhat disappoint’d that she will not romp with him as they do – something about tigers?

Sure, he says, we wish you could make a longer stay, 'twould delight us both, but Lady B- is so much in demand these days. And of course we still keep very quiet until the year is up.

What a very fine place is Q-, says I. Of course I have seen engravings of some of the sights - the folly in the Chinese style, the avenue with the statues, the water garden – but indeed I did not grasp what a remarkable aspect the place has.

'Tis indeed remarkable fine, says Biffle. And of course, there is the gallery of the paintings my great-grandfather collect’d, with the additions dearest Kitty made. But come in, for I know Viola is in great anticipation to see you.

He takes me into the house, which is most exceeding impressive, black and white marble and domed ceiling and double staircase &C, and conducts me to what he calls the small drawing-room, where Viola rests upon a chaise-longue with the child in her arms. Biffle looks at them very doating.

My dear, look who we have here!

I curtesy. How well you are looking, Your Grace.

Shall I take our pretty girl to the nursery, and leave you to feminine gossip?

Oh, says I, may I take a little peep at her first?

Biffle puts her into my arms and I look down at her: 'tis clear that she is nearly asleep. A fine girl, says I, and has a look of her mother.

Indeed I think so, says Biffle, taking her back and kissing her. He then stoops to kiss Viola and leaves the room.

O, dear C-, cries Viola, holding out her hands and sitting up, how delight’d I am to see you. Is she not quite the finest of babies?

Why, says I, there is a most excellent crop of infants lately among our set – Martha’s Deborah and Phoebe’s Camille are very fine babies, but sure so is little Cathy.

Enter two footmen with tea which they lay out on a small table between the two of us.

How does Martha? she asks with some anxiety once they have gone. Indeed she writes that all is well, but I daresay she would not wish to fret me was anything not going as it should.

Oh, Martha does well and little Deborah exceeding well. Martha was indeed considerable dragg’d down but goes about to recover, and I daresay you know that they go stay upon the Admiral’s estate.

O, says Viola with a smile, that will be most agreeable for them. Lady J- will ever be singing the praises of what a fine place it is, 'twill be a most excellent thing for Martha and Deborah and I confide that there will be charming paintings of the place in due course.

If, says I, Martha can put Deborah down long enough to pick up her pencil and brush. 'Tis quite the prettiest thing to see how she smiles over her. And Mr S- entirely doats upon her as well; would not exchange her for the finest fossil in the world.

Viola smiles exceedingly and says she is pleas’d to hear this good news. And Phoebe’s baby?

I tell her of Camille and how Phoebe does and the very many drawings that Mr de C- makes.

Biffle – I mean, His Grace my husband – is in great desire that I should be paint’d with Cathy, everyone says that Mr de C- has a particularly fine hand at painting babies and children?

Indeed, says I, lately did a most charming group of the F- girls.

And how are Bess and Meg? she asks. I apprehend Lady J- takes greatly to them.

Very much so, says I. They have been in excellent good spirits tho’ complain’d a little at leaving Town – but indeed, Town in summer is a desert. I do not collect whether you had heard that Josh F- was stricken with the measles at school? – but is in a fine way to recover now.

That must have been very worrysome for Mr and Mrs F-, she says. I mind when Sebastian and I had measles, 'tis quite the horridest thing.

And do you hear from your brother?

Indeed, good fat letters with a deal of news about where he has been and the people he has been seeing. 'Tis entirely the best thing for him after these last years when he was so burden’d 'twixt dear Mama failing so much and the responsibilities he took on.

I hear from Mr S-, says I, that he is most exceeding well-report’d of. Tho’ that does not surprize me, he is so very civil-manner’d.

Viola looks exceeding pleas’d at this praise of her twin. And how is dear Susannah W-?

Increasing again, says I, and seems delight’d at the prospect.

She smiles. And I daresay so is Sir B- W-!

Ecstatick, I confide!

But, dear C-, what of yourself? Even here in the country we hear about Lady B-'s many suitors - o, and that vile wretch the Graf von M-! Sure we were shockt to hear the intelligence you sent by dear Tibby. Biffle has been about blackballing him from several clubs into which he insinuat’d himself.

Sure, says I, I was not greatly mind’d towards him, even had he been sincere. And I do not find myself inclin’d to any of the others that go make suit to me at present.

O, she says with a satirickal look, you are not mov’d by Mr W- Y-'s verses?

I groan. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than be oblig’d to listen to them.

Indeed they are bad. But, dear C-, do you have any novel or tales coming out?

I sigh and say that I have had so much upon hand that I do not get on as I like, but I have a tale that appears shortly.

O, I look forward to that most immense.

We look at one another with great good feeling.

Dearest C-, she says, would it be entire improper to talk to you about my happyness in my marriage?

Dear Viola, says I, leaning over and taking her hand, 'twould please me greatly to know you happy in your marriage. What’s past is past: indeed when we were younger, before he inherit’d, His Grace and I were most exceeding fond of one another, but it has become a dear friendship 'twixt us.

Oh, indeed I know he retains a deal of affection for you, but sure I cannot be jealous. And indeed – it is quite the most beautifull thing – he will speak to me of his first Duchess, and how much he wishes we could have known one another, because he is sure we should have lik’d one another exceedingly.

Her face falls a little. O, I was such a foolish silly girl in my first season. Did I even notice her I daresay I would have scorn’d her for being older or plain or dowdy, when had I been less blind’d I might have perceiv’d her excellent qualities and we would have been great friends, just as I am with dear Susannah.

I pat her hand and say that alas, there are many that might have been dear friends that we just miss.

But what I wisht to open to you is that at first when Bi- I mean, His Grace my husband – askt me to marry him, and sav’d me from that monster, 'twas quite entire like some fairy-tale hero. I was quite entire in awe of him. But I find, as time goes by and we undertake matters together, he is not perhaps so heroick a figure but my affections grow and there is a closeness 'twixt us that I could not have imagin’d –

Dear Viola, says I, giving her a kiss, I am so entire delight’d that things go so well between you. That is how matters should be 'twixt man and wife.

(This is entire pleasing to me: sure there are times when my contrivances fall out quite excellent.)

Comes in Biffle, and says that he dares say that Lady B- would like a little walk about the grounds to stretch her legs if she has been in a coach for most of the day.

That would be extreme delightfull, says I, now that I am refresht.

He looks at Viola and says, do you come too, my dear? A little air would do you good.

Indeed, she says, standing up.

As we go out onto the terrace and look over the exceeding fine view of the grounds, I see that he holds her hand. 'Tis entire charming.