My embroidery is like unto Penelope's web

'Tis extreme late by the time all go home from the ridotto: has been quite entire another success for the dear Contessa.

I therefore sleep shocking late the next morn: when Sophy brings my chocolate she says Docket told her that My Ladyship was sleeping so sweet and peacefull I should not be disturb’d.

Indeed, when I go down to my parlour I feel a great disinclination to going about my correspondence: I shuffle the letters to make sure I do not miss any I should like to peruse, as it might be from New South Wales, and then put them down again, for 'tis all business of the most tedious.

Instead I go read the reviews of my own novel and of Miss S-'s excellent poems, that Sandy has most kindly extract’d and sent round.

Mine are none so bad, and hers are truly gratifying.

'Tis the afternoon of the day of week upon which I make myself at home to callers - o, that is Lady B-‘s day, those who wish to make it theirs are told. So I tidy away the reviews, push the letters into neat piles weigh’d down by curious stones that I have been given by Jacob S- from time to time, a lump or two of lead from my own mine, and similar mementoes.

I take up my embroidery, which sure is like unto Penelope’s web that is never finisht: but I proceed upon it so slowly that I have not yet been oblig’d to undo my stitching.

I am about this drear task – perchance I should ask Lady T- would she teach me lace-making? – when comes Mrs V-. I put my work aside and rise to greet her, then ring for tea.

O, Lady B-, you misst a treat t’tother day, did Lord Anthony – sure, I mean the Marquess of O-! – not tell you that he was giving a lecture at the botanickal society on carnivorous flora? 'Twas most fascinating matter: for there are a deal of them in the Spanish Americas and Brazil that he has been able to study.

Comes Celeste with tea.

Carnivorous flora? I enquire, with a picture in my mind of how my precious bundle will pick up a cutlet and gnaw upon it, until she is rebuk’d for poor table-manners.

Mrs V- goes tell me a very great deal about these plants, that most immediate suggests to me the seed for a very horrid tale.

She is still about the topick when Lady D- and Miss S- are announc’d. I make introductions.

O, says Lady D-, was that not quite the finest ridotto? (Her sister looks upon her fondly.)

Why indeed, says I, ‘twas the finest I have known in this land, but sure, in Naples I think they are a little finer, if only because one may stroll about balconies and terraces and even into the gardens, because the climate there is so benign.

Lady D- gives a little sigh. Indeed Lord D- says that the hospitality he was shown there was quite out of the common.

Mrs V- is most interest’d to hear about the ridotto.

And did you persuade the Marquess to go? she asks. He was in some reluctance on the matter when we spoke to him after his lecture.

Why, says I, I daresay 'tis a frivolous matter for a man of his learning, but I apprehend that in his new station he is oblig’d to go somewhat into Society, and indeed, he seem’d to like it well enough.

Next is shown in Mrs D-, that is the mother of Danvers D-. She looks a little put about, and I wonder was she in hopes of finding me alone and conclaving over the matter of Miss R-: but she immediate puts on an expression suit’d to the company, and goes talk pugs with Lady D-.

Miss S- remarks that sure Danvers D- made a very fine Corsair yestere’en. His mother smiles.

Mrs V- says to me that she hopes that the Marquess’s new station will not distract him entirely from botany.

Why, says I, in the course of advizing him on the matter of getting O- House in order to open up, I observ’d that there are some fine hot-houses and he made some remark about making experiments in germination - I think that was the word? – of the seeds and cuttings he had brought back from his travels.

Oh, that is excellent news! she cries, indeed we long to see growing examples, even though he makes such fine drawings and has dessicat’d specimens.

But, she says, looking about her, sure I should be on my way. Farewells are made all around, and as she leaves comes Celeste with fresh tea, and Hector to announce Mrs P- and Miss W-.

Lady D- immediate stops talking about the quaint ways of her pug puppy, and puts on a serious expression.

Mrs P- and Miss W- quite immediate begin ask about the ridotto: the Contessa, they remark, may be of the Romish faith but is a very fine generous woman to good causes.

I remark that seems to me that adherence to the Papacy sits very lightly on the Contessa; adding that she had a most fine learn’d English governess, one Miss Grosvenor, that form’d her mind.

Ah, says Miss W-, that would account for her lack of superstition -

That, says I, and an uncle of hers that was somewhat of a free-thinker and a scholar. But sure, there is a deal of antient pagan belief in those parts: the cook at my late husband’s villa was a not’d strega that was reput’d a fine hand at spells and curses.

Mrs P- shakes her head, and then says, but what can one expect? The oppressive Bourbon tyranny keeps the populace poor and ignorant.

'Tis true, says I, and go on to say a little about Marcello’s agricultural experiments and the likelihood that they will be resist’d by the peasantry.

An excellent endeavour! she exclaims.

I mind me that one of the good causes she and Miss W- go about is finding places for young women that have been unfortunate and may encounter difficulties in finding one, as in, unable to present a character, or having a child at nurse to support. Sure I have been considering over the question of servants for O- House: I confide 'twould entirely answer to convoke with Mrs P- upon this topick at some more suitable time.

I say a little to this and we agree to go talk further.

Lady D- says this sounds a most admirable enterprize and she will go talk to her husband as to whether they might give employment to some of these poor creatures.

Miss W- remarks that they also keep a record of households where they would by no means place a servant. We all look sober.

Mrs D- says she has more calls to make, makes farewells, and also gives me to understand that she would greatly desire a more private conversation at some time.

Miss S- looks at her sister, and I am like to think endeavours to catch her eye and telegraph that they should depart, but Lady D- is too immers’d in what Mrs P- and Miss W- go tell her that she does not notice.

Hector comes announce Lady T-, which causes a general sensation as of rabbits that mark the approach of a stoat.

I rise and greet her most civil, desire Hector to go ask for fresh tea, and conduct her to the best chair that is near unto the fire but not so near that she will roast do I not pull across the fire-screen.

Lady D- now looks as tho’ all she would desire to do is leave, but doubtless considers that 'twould look somewhat particular so hard upon the heels of Lady T-'s arrival.

Lady T- looks about the company, nods very civil, and makes some remark upon the weather. (Sure I think she is shy, and that this, along with her late mother’s strictures, makes her ill-at-ease in company, and this resembles stiff disapproval.)

Comes Celeste with fresh tea and I go pour out.

Miss W- says that she hopes that Lady B- is in contemplation of another of her fine drawing-room meetings.

Indeed, says I, I was in hopes of having news from the T-s by now that I might read out, but I confide I should not delay, does the post take such a deal of time to come from the antipodes.

Hector shows in Susannah and Lady Z-. Lady D- quite leaps to her feet to desire Susannah to take this most exceeding comfortable chair, she and her sister are just on the point of departure. Susannah accepts with her charming crook’d smile, as Agnes S- offers her chair to Lady Z-.

Lady Z- remarks how exceeding effective was Miss S-'s costume at the ridotto: indeed she had a far more imperial air than Miss A- contriv’d.

Miss A-, says I, was forc’d to act the Empress in a perfectly dreadfull play: most discouraging.

Miss S- looks gratify’d, and they take a very civil leave of the company.

Lady T- says – perchance 'tis not meant as disapproval – that no-one talks of anything today but that ridotto.

Why, says Susannah, 'twas exceeding well-tim’d by the Contessa di S-: the greater part of Society return’d to Town, the Season not yet begun in earnest, and all entire ready for some such distraction.

Hector shows in yet further callers, that look a little perturb’d at the sight of Lady T- (yet I confide 'twill be report’d the favour she shows Lady B-, quite remarkable).

I send for fresh tea.