The match 'twixt His and Her Grace of M- was most unusual romantick

The very next e’en my darlings are to come for triangular business and a nice little supper.

They come in very solemn-fac’d and I see that they are in the mood to chide me for being somewhat flirtatious with Captain C-.

Indeed, my darling, begins Eliza, we apprehend that dear Susannah askt you to make amiable to Captain C-, and we should not desire the loveliest of C-s to be incivil, but sure, it can cut to the heart to see our darling seem so very agreeable to some fellow.

And sure, adds Josiah, a fellow showing so attentive to our precious third will bring one to thoughts of noses and punching.

I fold my hands in my lap and put on a pathetick expression. I determine not to plead Susannah’s desire that I should contrive to turn Captain C-'s thoughts away from any lingering upon Mrs D- K-; I will not even go claim that sure, I was like to think of the merchant to secure his treasure &C.

O, says I, with perhaps a little tearfullness, I am a bad, wick’d, thoughtless C-, and indeed I deserve to be punisht -

My darlings look upon me very thoughtfull, and then exchange considering glances.

Why, says Eliza with a wick’d grin, sure I confide that we may bring our darling to a state of penitence.

This makes for a most amuzing time, and indeed we are all entire reconcil’d and in complete amiability by the time we go have the supper Euphemia has prepar’d.

When we part with many fond sighs and kisses, I remark that perchance I am not the only bad naughty creature, and there are others may need bringing to penitence in due course. We all laugh a little, and, I confide, embark upon anticipation.

It therefore happens that Docket declares next morn that I was sleeping so peacefull that she did not disturb me, and I am in my peignoir having a belat’d breakfast when Hector comes tell me that Lady Anna M- is come to call.

Why, says I, show her in, and go desire some fresh coffee and muffins of Euphemia. And I am not at home to anyone else.

Comes in Lady Anna, makes me a curtesy – I go excuse myself for my deshabille - and looks about my pretty parlour. She gives a little sigh. O, indeed 'tis as exquisite as Agnes said.

I wave her into a chair as she continues to look about her.

I took occasion, she says at length, of my groom wishing to convoke with Ajax about some matter that troubles Orion to ride out here the morn.

Comes Celeste with fresh coffee, more muffins, and some of Euphemia’s most particular priz’d bramble jelly.

O, cries Lady Anna, after I have pour’d her some coffee, sure this is not like the coffee we have at home.

I smile and say, sure I am exceeding particular concerning coffee. But do have one of these nice warm muffins.

She eats these with great relish and then licks her fingers.

Oh, Lady B-, says she, 'tis very good of you to see me. I do not know where I may turn.

(O dear, thinks I, I hope she has not been seduc’d by some rascal.)

I look at her with my face of sympathetick listening.

Papa, she says, wringing her hands together, desires me to marry his old friend the Marquess of O-, that I have never even met.

Indeed, I am oblig’d to stop and think what I may recall concerning the Marquess of O-. I collect that the present holder of that rank succeed’d upon the death of his elder brother some twelve-month or so since, so will have been in mourning and not much in Society. Before that, was a fam’d traveller to distant parts upon expeditions to collect plants. I do not think I have ever met the fellow, but I daresay I shall be able to discover somewhat about him do I go ask about, and put Mrs N- to the task.

Why, says I, I know nothing to his discredit, but indeed he has been much out of the country.

O, she cries, Papa says that he is an excellent fellow in the prime of life and a Fellow of the Royal Society, and purposes to give up his travels to be about his responsibilities now that he has succeed’d, which Papa thinks most creditable in him, for his brother was a weakly fellow that spent his time quacking himself and going take the waters and neglecting the business of the estate.

Dear Lady Anna, says I, I know that in your high station marriages are often arrang’d thus. But is there already some other fellow your affections light upon?

She wrinkles her nose a little and says, there is none in particular has caught her fancy, but sure she and Em have not been as much in Society as they should like. And the Season not even fully begun yet.

She sighs and says, sure she knows that the match 'twixt His and Her Grace of M- was most unusual romantick, quite like unto a novel; but she is not a fool, 'tis most unlike there would be some handsome young Duke come rescue her from an undesir’d union.

Indeed not, say I, tallying over the present Dukes and finding none that would fit this description that is not already marry’d.

I doubt, says I, that the Marquess of O- is such a horrid creature as the present Marquess of B-, that is quite raving and in a fine madhouse. I do not have his acquaintance, but I daresay I may go find out somewhat about him (sure is he a Fellow of the Royal Society Jacob S- may know him, and even be able to effect an introduction), and see whether he can be persuad’d that this is no way to go about choosing a wife.

O, Lady B-, cries Lady Anna, clutching at my hands, I should be most infinite gratefull.

There, there, my dear, says I, I will go be about the matter. Have some more coffee.

After she has gone Hector comes say that Ajax is wishfull to go to the stables at N- House as there is some trouble with one of the cattle there that he thinks does he look at, and have his hands upon, may be able to do somewhat about.

Why, says I, I do not go out this afternoon, for I have the F- girls coming for a chocolate party –

Hector says, indeed, Euphemia is already about baking for 'em.

- I daresay he may be spar’d.

After I have dresst for the day, I go to my pretty desk and sigh at the pile of correspondence. Before I go wrestle with it, I indite a letter to Jacob S- concerning the Marquess of O- and any knowledge he may have of him. 'Tis also possible that the V-s know him, is he in the Earl of N-'s botanickal circles. I go about more indirect to 'em, saying that I hear that the Marquess is now out of mourning and going about in Society and given out a great virtuoso: is he perchance one that would adorn my soirées?

I also dash off a little note to Mrs N-, remarking that I have not seen her this age, and have a matter or two in which I would be greatly oblig’d by her talents. I also mind that is the Marquess a virtuoso of learning may be known to Sandy, that I confide I am like to be in conclave with within the se’ennight.

But sure I merely go beguile the time until the girls arrive.

And then they are here and tumbling into the room and my darling jewel comes hug me very exuberant, follow’d more sober by Bess and Meg, that look at her exceeding doating.

Flora, says Bess, show Aunty C- how very well you can count, which she goes do with most extreme enthusiasm.

Sure, says I, she is quite the infant bluestocking.

And knows her alphabet, too, says Meg: that Flora goes perform

And, says Bess, goes teach the nursery set.

O, says I, there is a girl that deserves a kiss; suiting the action to the word.

Come in Euphemia and Celeste with the chocolate-pot and china and a great array of delicacies.

O, cries Meg, sure this quite exceeds. Euphemia smiles at her and says she hears that Seraphine goes lesson 'em so that they may make their own.

Meg says, a little too offhand, that 'twas Bess and her friends that Seraphine went school in the culinary arts.

Why, says Bess, you could have join’d us, but you made a deal of to-do that you might injure your hands and hinder your playing.

Come, my dears, says I, do not brangle and set Flora a bad example, but come sit down and have some chocolate.

Flora goes tell me a deal about the dormice, and Mittens, and the badger; and then sidle into the room Dandy and Pounce, that have deduc’d that there is somewhat afoot, and may be occasion to tell company how very ill-us’d they are, and perchance be offer’d nourishment, for, sure, they are quite cruelly starv’d.

The girls go exclaim, and I tell 'em not to believe these protestations, for the kittens are exceeding well-fed and have a warm place to sleep and are entire doat’d on by the entire household, even Docket.

I ask how the rest of the household do, and Bess says that there is the business on hand of appointing a tutor so that Josh may learn the classicks; and she minds that Lady J- is given out a great scholar of such matters, so cannot be unfitt’d to the female mind, and mayhap they should go study ‘em too?

(I am in supposition that 'tis consider’d unsuitable for females because of the deal of coarse matter that the Greeks and Romans wrote.)

Why, says I, I daresay you might, but you already have a deal on hand, do you not?

Indeed they do, they concede, and go tell me of all they are about.