One must go about to educate the emotions as well as the intellect

Sure I would be entire delight’d that I leave before the theatrickals, was it not that I will then be bound for the antient ram Sir V- P-'s house-party, which I cannot have high hopes of.

Sandy remarks with a grimace that he offers sport for the gentlemen, in the way of shooting.

Well, says I, at least that will keep 'em out of the way during the day. And I am in hopes that the healthfull exercise will make 'em sleep sound at night and not come a-scratching at ladies’ doors.

We are at what has become quite a regular assignation in the woods when I ride out upon Elvira.

Sandy comments that Lord Geoffrey is not entire foolish, but he is very young -

I think, says I, that he is somewhat older than Sebastian K-: but has had a deal less experience of the world.

- and indeed has had little experience.

I sigh. Sure there are a deal of matters that we should like to be about but at present cannot and I daresay may not come to contrive for some good while yet. 'Tis most exceeding thwarting to both of us, that are also missing, I confide, the company of our dear loves. 'Tis almost enough to put me out of temper, for I am still somewhat troubl’d from my horrid encounter with the mad Marquess, that has quite depresst my spirits.

And, says Sandy, there is this ball this e’en, that I may quite reasonable cut, for having been late on a walking-tour I do not have any fit garments with me: indeed, perchance I should take my leave before I outstay my welcome. For I had anyway intend’d to return to R- House for my company wardrobe before setting off to the sheepcote -

O, and I daresay that it may perchance that Milord is return’d about some similar errand from his deer-stalking excursion -

Why, 'tis possible, Sandy concedes with an innocent expression.

You weasel, says I, while I am about teaching the young people to speak their lines trippingly on the tongue, and not to saw the air too much with their hand.

Your Ladyship’s graciousness in the matter is most widely markt and approv’d.

I sigh. Sure I should like to be able to swear in Welsh like Mr J-. I have a deal of sympathy for him.

But at least you do not have little Puggsiekins behaving improper upon the stage.

No, but Selina, that quite proves the feline reputation for curiosity, will come about the room, wind about legs, mew very piteous to be pickt up, &C.

Sandy lifts his head and says does he hear hoofbeats? He will away.

The hoofbeats draw nearer, and I find that 'tis not Lord Geoffrey that comes pursue me, 'tis Lady Anna that has persuad’d a groom to let her ride Orion, which she contrives well but I see that this is the result of a deal of effort that leaves her flusht.

How now, Lady Anna, how do you the morn?

Very well, thank you, Your Ladyship – Orion goes frisk and skip and she is oblig’d to attend to him – I was in hopes to catch up to you. Will you not stay a little longer?

Why, 'tis exceeding kind of you to ask, but indeed, I have another invitation that 'twould be exceeding uncivil to cut (and even tho’ it be to the antient ram’s estate, my dearest loves will be of the company as well as some several of my other great friends).

She sighs. 'Twill be so dull when you are gone.

Sure, my dear, you may continue with your theatrickals now you are so well upon the way.

She wrinkles her nose and says that she doubts that Geoff will be so ardent in the matter once Lady B- is depart’d, and does he drop off she dares say the other fellows will too.

That would be a pity, says I, for I confide he shapes exceeding well. Of course, I would not tell him so at this juncture – 'twould not do to induce a complacency - but he can produce some telling effects. (Sure he has got Mr J-'s fam’d cloak flourish entirely pat.)

We ride on a little in silence.

She then says, somewhat more chearfull, that Mama says that perhaps they will go to Town and open up N- House. She was in fears that now Aunt Laetitia is gone to Bombay – that was Aunt Laetitia that would take them about in company, &C, marry’d a gentleman that is in the Hon Company’s service, a wizen’d yellowish fellow but given out exceeding rich –

Ah, says I, he has, as they say, shook the banyan tree (sure I hope Aunt Laetitia does not discover that there is a fine flourishing brown family of his once she reaches Bombay) -

- and 'twas not as tho’ she had been fighting off offers these many years – but Em and I were in fears that we should be stuck here all winter. For 'twas at least a change to go to Town even was she ever telling us the things we might not do.

Well, Lady Anna, I hope you and your sister will come call upon me, I shall certainly come leave cards at N- House – I daresay your mama will receive company, even does she not make calls?

Oh, yes, says Lady Anna, that would be exceeding pri-, that is, 'twould be delightfull.

Sandy, the weasel, makes his congé that very afternoon.

Lady N- desires me to go take tea with her: all the younger set are about getting into the frets over the ball, so there is no rehearsing. She too is very eager that I should stay a little longer: sure 'tis greatly gratifying, but indeed I cannot remain any further. She sighs and says sure she can see why Lady B- is in such great demand.

I may not offer to smack her with my fan for flattery, for she is my hostess and an invalid, so I say she is entirely too kind.

No, indeed, has made a deal of difference among the young people that you show such patience with their dramatick ambitions and give them somewhat to do instead of going about complaining how dull things are and perchance getting up mischief. Also, you have been very kind to my poor Geoff’s boyish enthusiasm: you do not laugh at him, but you do not encourage him; 'tis a model of good ton in such a circumstance as one seldom sees.

She adds that there was some woman led poor U- (that is the heir, Lord U-) a most terrible dance some years since – marry’d woman, husband an MP in a very fast set – would sometimes mock him and at other times lead him on, 'twas entire shocking.

(Sure 'twould not surprize me in the least did she disclose this harpy to be Mrs D- K-, but I do not voice my speculation.)

Why, says I, even does one not incline to a fellow, 'tis pleasing to be admir’d, and, does he conduct himself with all civility in the matter, to return that civility in one’s own conduct towards him.

She smiles at me and says she hopes that I will come call when they come to Town.

I say that is her door open to me, I shall most certainly call.

Sure she shows exceeding gracious towards me: perchance she has some penurious male relative in need of a wife with a competence.

That e’en there is the promis’d ball for the guests and a deal of local neighbours. Lord Geoffrey has prevail’d upon me to grant him the supper-dance.

I fear, when he takes me into supper and finds us an agreeable seat in a somewhat seclud’d corner, that he purposes to make me some declaration. Can I not deal kindly with such a matter, I shall have lost all my wont’d skills, but in my present somewhat frett’d mood, I had rather not have to.

But indeed, the burden of his conversation is deploring that that fine philosophickal fellow Mr MacD- has had to depart. Sure, 'tis as if the scales had fallen from his eyes since he met him at W- Hall. Has been given to think of a deal of matters that had never occur’d to him and were of a certainty never mention’d at school.

But, he goes on, he has been kind enough to say that I may correspond with him.

(O dear, thinks I, is this German lessons or writing of pamphlets upon the Bourbon tyranny over again? But no, I confide that this is more like unto Lady J-'s fascination with his intellectual qualities; for I can see that Lord Geoffrey is very taken indeed with my own entire feminine charms.)

And he has writ down a list of books that he says 'twould benefit me to read. Tho’, he goes on after a little pause, 'tis by no means all works upon philosophy and politicks, or history, there is poetry and several novels -

Sure, says I, I have heard him remark that one must go about to educate the emotions as well as the intellect and that this is something one may better do through literature than didactick treatises.

- and some of the works he recommends are by ladies -

Why, says I, I myself am a silly creature of no education and my functions largely decorative, but indeed there are members of my own sex that are distinguisht for their learning and apprehension and their understanding of a deal of matters.

He looks at me very admiring and says, Lady B-, sure I cannot imagine who could call you a silly creature. You have quite transform’d my understanding of Shakspeare, that I was wont to consider a great bore.

In my present state of the frets, this boyish tribute is like to bring tears to my eyes.