The household now contains two kittens

My correspondence of late contains a deal of letters from philanthropick ladies that write congratulating me upon the success of my drawing-room meeting, and then going on to ask if I could be so kind as to tell them how they could do the like? Sure I daresay I have some advantages in friends and acquaintance that will provide agreeable entertainment for the occasion, but do not they not have friends that may undertake the like?

I sigh. 'Tis much in the same line as O, Lady B-, you write such telling pamphlets, sure we cannot contrive to anything that will be so effective, sure you would be doing us a kindness did you undertake the matter. Leaves me somewhat out of charity with 'em.

Tho’ I daresay they do not have cooks that will provide such very fine refreshment as Euphemia.

I went consult with my household on the matter of a kitten, and 'twas conced’d that might be a good thing, would keep away mice, for however clean you may keep a kitchen, you cannot always keep out mice. So 'twas agreed that when Dorcas and Prue next went to Dolly Mutton’s, they would choose a kitten like to be a fine mouser.

Sure I am not mistress in my own household, for we now have two kittens, that Dorcas and Prue quite fell in love with, and could not bring themselves to choose but one, so there is one orange kitten, that is nam’d Dandy, for has a little white patch at the throat quite like unto a cravat and will always be awashing itself, and one that is tabby and white, that is nam’d Pounce.

Hector shows in Sandy, and Pounce quite immediate goes live up to her name by making a pounce at his feet.

He looks down and laughs and says he supposes that this is a sister or brother of the one that had come live at R- House, that is call’d Mittens because 'tis black with white paws. Has become quite the general favourite.

Comes Celeste with coffee and buns, looks down at Pounce quite doating, and asks somewhat hopefull should we like her to take Pounce away?

O, leave her, says I: for I observe she goes make herself comfortable by jumping into Sandy’s lap.

He says that he brings me the proofs of my new novel, that is entitl’d The Hidden Door, and also the proofs for Miss S-'s volume of poetry.

Well, says I, 'twill be a change from correspondence, and I will go deal with them as soon as maybe, but I mind that I had a matter I wisht to open to you –

I go tell him that Mrs O’C- looks about for a school for her son, does not desire to send him away can it be avoid’d –

Hmmm, says Sandy, sure there are some antient fam’d day-schools in this town, but I confide that their association with the Establisht Church would not endear them to Mrs O’C-. There are certain academies that might suit her son.

He ponders for a moment and says he has some acquaintance with Father O’D-, that in his younger days was a United Irishman, and still has republickan sympathies he confides.

Has endeavour’d, says I, to persuade Mrs O’C- to send him to a school of some Order, that is, I confide, of a monastick nature –

Dearest C-, not all Romish orders, mir’d in superstition tho’ they may be, are like unto those depict’d in the works of Mrs Radcliffe or Monk Lewis.

Say you so! Well, I am a silly uneducat’d creature, but I was like to suppose those accounts most extreme exaggerat’d, for the Contessa was educat’d in a convent that was by no means like unto the one describ’d by Diderot.

Anyhow, says Sandy, I will go talk to Father O’D-, that supposes I am bound for hell-fire but relishes an occasional game of chess, and see what might answer in the case of Master O’C-.

But on another matter, he says, we have been considering this matter of Phoebe’s polishes and other things most exceeding useful in housekeeping, and we are like to wonder whether 'twould be answerable to set up our own enterprize to manufacture them wholesale.

O, says I, I had not consider’d that, but would that not be a deal of trouble?

He laughs and says sure looking at the possibilities provid’d a deal of entertainment to the F-s.

(O, thinks I, here is a matter that we may well convoke about when we are next in triangle.)

Well, says I, sure it may answer in the long term but I am a little worry’d that the de C-s are somewhat straiten’d at present. But would not let me pay for that fine portrait of me as a Neapolitan peasant.

'Tis a consideration, but we should not want Phoebe to be the loser by selling outright matters that might go provide for them a good long while. I daresay we may go contrive some way we may relieve any distress they are in.

He goes on to say that 'tis known that Mr K-, Her Grace of M-'s father, owns a deal of property south of the river, that might suit for the development of a factory.

I say I did not think that Mr K- was altogether friendly towards our coterie.

Why, I confide that he considers us a set of romantick idealistick dreamers, but do we go present to him a sound business proposition like this, we daresay it may show him that there are practickal fellows that understand business amongst us.

Well, says I, I will go be adviz’d by those that know more of such matters than I.

He says that he would delight to stay longer exchanging gossip &C, but has been invit’d by Lord A- to go play goff.

Why, says I, sure you go join the fribble set!

He turns upon me a dour Calvinistickal glare and says that 'tis a matter of healthfull exercise.

Yes, my dear, of course.

He lifts Pounce from his lap and says that he hopes to have more intelligence upon the matters I open’d to him very shortly.

In the afternoon I am at home to callers, and am delight’d when dear Susannah comes.

Dear Susannah, says I, you look most exceeding well, and do you feel a tendency to sleepyness, do you go snooze, this is Liberty Hall.

She gives me her charming crook’d smile and says she will strive to stay awake: indeed she is come to that time when one does feel exceeding well, and also one begins to show and people will be most pressing to make sure one sits down, &C.

I say that I lately heard from Mrs D- K-, that is not yet at outs with the dreadfull crocodile.

Indeed, says Susannah, at present the crocodile gives herself out entire satisfy’d with the lady. Intends go take the waters at Tunbridge Wells, where she has not lately been.

Hector announces Miss S-.

O, says Susannah with a smile, how very well you look, Miss S-: I hear you go to Mamzelle Bridgette’s to be dresst?

Indeed, says Agnes S- smiling, sure I no longer feel the entire provincial dowd. She smooths down her gown.

Lady D- does not come with you?

At present she takes a little rest about this hour.

(I wonder does she take a nice little nap, or whether 'tis an excuse for her to go read novels.)

We exchange a little general conversation, and then Susannah says she had better go make further calls and leave cards, she has been sadly remiss about the matter of late.

When we are alone I inform Agnes S- that I have her proofs.

She bites her lip. Might I come look at them at some hour when we are not like to be disturb’d by some other caller?

'Tis a prudent thought, says I. Are you able to come some forenoon?

She confides that she can. She sighs and says, she finds herself oblig’d to get up earlier than she might desire, in order to attend household prayers. Dora is at present excus’d, because she feels so ill of a morn, but Lord D- is very concern’d that a good example should be set to the household.

That sounds most exceeding tiresome, says I, but I am a sad quite pagan creature.

She says that indeed 'twas not their wont at home.

(I wonder that Miss S- goes live with her sister and brother-in-law, for 'tis not as tho’ he holds the purse-strings; she has a fine portion of her own and a guardian that is most extreme liberal. But 'tis not a time to go investigate this matter when we may be broke in upon by callers at any moment.)

I go ring for fresh tea, which comes just at the time that dear Viola comes call.

O, she says, quite throwing herself into a chair, sure I am quite exhaust’d from doing the civil about my calls upon ladies where I must show myself very sober and quiet so that they do not say Bi – His Grace – has a sad girlish Duchess.

O my dear, says I, sure 'tis not yet the time for you to be the sober matron. And indeed, you have Lady T-'s great approbation for the excellence of your ton.

Why, now I go take responsibility for young ladies making their debut in Society, I fear I must. But she smiles as she says this.

Miss S- says that Lord D- greatly admires Her Grace’s general deportment and considers her an example to be follow’d.

Viola laughs somewhat immoderate and says, he will probably change his mind does he hear that we purpose to attend the Contessa di S-'s ridotto in Turkish dress.

Miss S- sighs, for I daresay that even do they receive an invitation, there will be no P- House party attends the occasion.