I must go do the polite at Lord T-'s

Sure 'tis most agreeable to be with dear Belinda and Captain P- in Northamptonshire, and to see Josh grow so much better day by day, and to ride out upon Blackthorn – sure I think my poor Jezebel must feel quite neglect’d but that she takes a fine country holiday herself and I go see her and give her apples and praise her exceeding.

I see a certain amount of company within the local horsey set, that make most amiable towards me, ask why do I not come visit when there is hunting and there are fine Hunt Balls, &C&C, they would quite delight to see me.

Sure they are an agreeable enough set during a short visit, but I confide that I might find them a little tedious for a longer stay. Also, they are all quite dye-hard Tories of most excessive reactionary politickal opinions and I am sometimes oblig’d to bite my lip and smile in the interests of good ton.

Tho’ sure the requirements of good ton in such an assembly are very particular: they think nothing of discussing extreme coarse matter about horse-breeding over the dinner-table, but I confide would be most shockt did I display my stylish red cap of liberty.

Captain P- has refus’d many very appealing offers to buy Cherry-ripe, for he and Belinda are like to think that she has now gain’d such a reputation that her offspring will be much in demand. There are a deal of conversations that take place where the merits of some stallion or other as a suitable parti are urg’d.

But sure the time comes when I must be away back to Town and then on to Lord T-'s house-party in Lincolnshire.

A day or so before my departure comes in Josh to my levée very elat’d. Oh, he says, I have had a letter from Mama, and what do you think?

Do you wish me to guess, or are you going to tell me? says I, offering him a bribe of a sip of chocolate.

'Tis entire delightfull, he goes on, I am to leave school and come live at R- House and have lessons with Miss N- and mayhap tutors for particular matters. And they have found some fellow that is a friend of Mr D- that Harry may be articl’d to in Leeds.

Why, says I, 'tis indeed a delightfull prospect. Sure you will be able to have many romps with the wombatt are you in Town. (For I do not wish to mention yet the prospect of the infant wombatt.)

And perchance I could continue instruction in the pugilistick art? And, he goes on, Captain P- has been showing me a little about sword-play, but says that Lord G- R- is quite one of the finest swordsmen of the present day.

So 'tis given out, says I. 'Tis exceeding kind of Captain P-.

And Mama says she has also writ to Aunty Belinda saying that am I not a trouble and a burden to them, I may stay a little longer. Is it not prime?

Indeed, says I, 'tis quite the happyest thing.

And Boots may come to Town so that I may ride him there, o, it all entirely exceeds.

I laugh and tousle his hair and offer him the rest of my cup of chocolate. 'Twill be entirely agreeable to have you in Town, says I.

Sure I am quite sad to think that I take a final ride upon Blackthorn, tho’ indeed 'twill be most agreeable to go ride my dear sweet-natur’d Jezebel in the Park again. Also I am sad to leave Josh, and dear Belinda, and Captain P-, but sure I must go do the polite at Lord T-'s for the interest of our politickal set.

But first I must return to Town, see is there any matter that needs my hand upon it extreme expeditious, and foregather with Docket, that I hope is better for her sea-side sojourn and ready to manifest my consequence at C- Castle (tho’ 'tis no longer a castle, a guide to the county gives out, but there are remnants of the one formerly there in the cellars and stones in one or two walls).

Indeed, 'tis ever agreeable to enter at my own front door into my own pretty house, and find all in order, be greet’d by Hector, go sit in my pretty parlour and have Euphemia bring me tea and some slight refreshment.

Alas that there is a great pile of letters and cards, but upon looking thro’ these I conclude that there is little that demands my immediate attention and much of it is from those who wish to be beforehand with matters once Society returns to Town.

However, there is a letter from Marcello, at which I frown a little, for I am in doubts that it could be a response to mine that I sent so recent, and open it in some concern.

But indeed 'tis not bad news. Has had a visit from the Admiral and Lady J-, that is so very knowledgeable in classickal matters, that he was able to be of considerable assistance to over sites she desir’d to see. There was some discussion, over a fine meal prepar’d by Guiseppina, of the improvements that go forward upon the Admiral’s property, and that put it into his mind that there might be possibilities of agrarian improvements in his own land. Alas that the landlords are very oppressive, and the peasants very backward, but he thinks about taking into his own hand some of the land that goes with the villa to make experiments.

Caro Alf, he writes, laughs a little and says sure he is a peasant at heart when he expresses a desire to see fine yields of grapes, &C, but he purposes to bring scientifick methods to the matter. He writes to il bello scozzese on the matter but minds that the bella marchesa has a very wide acquaintance that may include those that know about such business.

Well, thinks I, this is a strange new pathway for one that one might suppose a romantick bandit and assassin; and yet, improving agriculture may be a deal more usefull than an assassination.

He adds that the notaio Roberto C- now has three fine bambini and his mother-in-law living with him; and he himself is ever my devot’d &C&C.

I say that as I have been so coop’d up in the coach, I will go stretch my legs somewhat in the Park, is Timothy free to attend me.

'Tis always somewhat of a surprize to observe how many there are still in the Park, even tho’ most of Society is gone out of Town; but there are ever those that are not able to do so and may at least restore themselves a little in the Park.

I observe a flaxen-hair’d pair that I recognize as Herr and Fraulein H- and go greet them, and hope they do well this summer?

Fraulein H-, a deal happier-looking than when I last saw her, says, oh, indeed they do exceptional well this summer and have manag’d to send dear Mutti for a month to Weymouth. Franz has got a good position in an orchestra that plays nightly at Vauxhall, and altho’ there is little tutoring work at present, Her Grace of M- has put her in the way of being German correspondence clerk to her papa Mr K-, that commences to undertake a deal of business in the Germanic regions.

(Sure I am not convinc’d of the wisdom of Mr K-, that is such a recent widower, employing as correspondence clerk a young lady of such charms as Fraulein H-.)

She goes on to say that he sends her the letters he receives and she translates them into English, and sends them back to him, and he then returns them to her with notation of how he wishes to reply, and she sends him the complet’d German letters for dispatch.

(Indeed this seems a prudent proceeding.)

But, indeed, Lady B-, we know not how you contriv’d it, but we are no longer pester’d now that that wretch the Graf von M- has gone back to Munich.

Herr H-, that until now has been silent, says to his sister, was he not quite a comrade to Papa, until most unexpect’d his elder brother dy’d and he inherit’d?

Fraulein H- says that she collects something of the kind.

That minds me, says I, that I lately came across a Herr P- -

O, says Fraulein H-, was he not that very young man that was such a great admirer of Papa?

Herr H- frowns and says, a fellow of the Jewish race? Sure I think I mind upon him.

Fraulein H- looks a little wistfull and says, did he have any recollections of dear Papa 'twould be very pleasing to hear them. For indeed, we were very fond of our dear Papa even do we not follow in his footsteps.

We take amiable leave of one another.

When I arrive back home, I find that Docket has return’d and seems in most excellent fine spirits.

How now, says I, I hope you had a good time with Biddy Smith at Worthing and have recruit’d yourself.

Why, says Docket, 'twas quite entire like our youth together as giddy girls, most extreme agreeable. Fine lodgings, excellent sea-airs, genteel company. But indeed, Your Ladyship, you are looking excellent well: I was in some concern that your rustication might have adverse affect’d your complexion.

No, says I, indeed: Sophy insist’d upon my wearing a hat did I go riding, and secur’d it exceeding firm.

She is an excellent good girl, says Docket with a smile, shapes exceedingly. Perchance she does not yet have Tibby’s eye for style, but 'twill come.