Is not friendship a very excellent thing?

'Tis most extreme agreeable to me that I go stay a few nights with my darlings at R- House, enjoy a fine Christmas dinner with the family &C. Hector and Euphemia purpose to hold a fine dinner for the household, along with Phoebe and Mr de C-, Maurice, Titus, and Mrs Black. Seraphine and Roberts are down at A- where Milord hosts his usual winter house-party for family and neighbours, and Tibby is down at Q-, where Biffle and Viola have a deal of company, including Martha and Jacob S-, her brother, and their father.

Docket and Sophy are about packing up my boxes, and I confide would prefer me out of the way, so I go downstairs to convoke with Euphemia about some kitchen matters.

There is an exceeding fine smell of baking, and Euphemia is about chopping something with a fierce cross expression.

How now, Euphemia, is all well?

She looks about her and says, sure, the preparations are all well in hand. But she does not look entire chearfull and I go ask is anything the matter. (O dear, thinks I, does she go breed and become qualmish at these cooking smells?)

Oh, Your Ladyship, 'tis nothing to do with the preparations for this feast – She looks about and observes that there is none other of the household nearby, but nonetheless lowers her voice – 'tis but a slight thing but sure 'tis irksome -

I seat myself at the kitchen table and raise my eyebrows.

- sure when Hector and I were marry’d there was a deal of looking at my figure to see whether I went increase somewhat precipitate after the wedding, and now there is a deal of looking and wondering why I do not go increase yet - sure we have not yet been wed a full year! - and I daresay Aunty Black will go draw me aside and ask questions and convey advice when she comes to dine.

She sighs considerable.

Indeed, says I, that must be exceeding tiresome. And sure I have oft thought that 'tis perchance a better thing do a couple have some time to get us’d to being husband and wife before they go be parents.

Indeed so! says Euphemia somewhat emphatick.

But, says I, all is well with being marry’d?

Euphemia looks up with a great smile and says, o, indeed, Your Ladyship. And sure in time we hope for children - do you not think that Hector will make a very fine father? – but there is no need for haste.

Why then, says I, I will not go interrogate further. I daresay I may apprehend that you already purpose to send some fine feast to Nell’s family?

Indeed I do, says Euphemia, if Your Ladyship does not object?

Not in the least, says I.

Comes Sophy into the kitchen, draws in a lingering breath at the fine smells, and says, all is in entire readyness for My Ladyship’s departure.

Thank you, Sophy. (Sophy goes stay here, for while I am at R- House and 'tis an entire family occasion, sure Williams may undertake any lady’s maiding I require.) Is Docket entire ready to be convey’d to Biddy Smith’s? Sophy nods, and adds that she has made sure that her drops have been packt.

So I go upstairs and put on my tippet and take my muff and Hector says that there is a box of hot coals in the carriage already.

Comes Docket and says she has give Sophy her instructions; and we go seat ourselves in my fine carriage, and Ajax drives off.

I leave Docket at Biddy Smith’s, where I daresay they will go be giddy girls together as in the days of their first place.

And then I go to R- House, where my heart entire resides.

There is a kissing bunch hung over the door to the parlour, and come bouncing up to me Bess and Meg with my dearest darling Flora, Quintus, and Josh, and all go kiss me very hearty.

Flora takes my hand and goes babble about the dormice, that go sleep the winter away, and one must not try wake 'em.

Indeed, says Josh, 'twould be an entire dangerous proceeding. He goes pick up Mittens, that comes see what this new arrival may be. Sure Mittens grows a fine sleek cat.

I look about the room, which is deckt with a deal of greenery, and see that Sandy goes play chess with Harry, that looks to have grown remarkable in the short time he has been away in Leeds. Miss N- sits on a sopha with Mr L-, that has also been invit’d to spend a day or so at R- House: I daresay he solicits her to work up some of her sister’s impressions of the antipodes for his paper. Or perchance he talks of more personal matter, for I see a pretty little colour in her cheeks.

Flora continues to hold my hand and to demonstrate how well she can count. She goes take me over to the case in which the dear ivory elephants reside and counts 'em for me.

Josiah comes pick her up so that she may see better, and says, there is a clever girl.

Indeed she is, says I.

Down! says she very emphatick. Josiah and I look at her very fond, and he puts her down upon the ground. She goes walk very purposefull towards the chessboard. Sure I am in some concern she still has a yearning for Sandy’s exceeding fascinating spectacles, so I follow so that does she attempt snatch 'em I may intervene.

But I observe that she is a deal more interest’d in the chess-pieces. Harry goes put his arm around her and tells her what they are, very fond. His voice is still like to croak a little.

'Tis a most affecting sight and I am almost mov’d to tearfulness.

Sandy grins and says 'twould be entire unfair to take advantage of Harry’s distraction to put him in check. Harry looks up, scrutinizes the board and says, sure he did not see that coming along, even was he not distract’d.

He turns back to Flora and starts showing her how the different pieces may move upon the board.

Sandy stands up and I confide he wishes to say a word or two to me in confidence. We withdraw a little but not so much as look particular, and he says in low tones, now the weather makes goff unanswerable, Lord A- occasional invites him to go play billiards.

And goes fret that he has in some fashion offend’d his old friend, that shows exceeding cold towards him, he cannot fathom it.

I am surpriz’d, I murmur, that one or another of the rest of the fribble set has not gone teaze him a little about this suppos’d suit he makes to me.

Sandy says that he does not think they can hold two on-dits in mind at one time, and at present 'tis the matter of Danvers D- and that horse-fac’d actress of his that occupies their thoughts.

I daresay! says I. Also, I continue, I do not think that any other of that set were at Lord and Lady G-s’ rout, at which he did indeed pay me considerable attention. May take some time to get round to them.

Come bouncing up to me Bess and Meg, that desire to tell me of this fine party that is in prospect, and to desire my advice on dress for such an occasion.

Sure, says I, I should not wear anything too fine, for I daresay there will be romping games.

I confide that Bess wishes to declare that she no longer plays romping games, for she is a deal too old for such childish pleasures, but I am like to suppose she will. Meg says that Harry and Josh’s old schoolfellow Bellairs comes a visit on his way back to the school. They both go on to tell me of the various others of their friends (and sure I daresay a few enemies) that have been invit’d to the party. Also the entire nursery set, save for Julius and Hannah, that are gone down to A-, will be there for a little while, but 'tis not expect’d that they will stay up late.

Bess then says there is a thing she would like to ask me, in confidence. Meg looks somewhat resentfull and very point’d goes over to Josh and starts making attentive to Mittens.

Bess says crossly that she is everywhere beset by sisters and brothers; there is no privacy.

Why, says I, this is a large enough room that do we move to one side and talk low none will mark our converse.

So we do that, and Bess discloses that she is in some concern that Lady Louisa will not come to the party because she has nothing to wear; or rather, only hand-me-downs from her sisters. So, says Bess, sure we are much of a size: would it be at all improper to offer to lend her one of my dresses?

Why, Bess, says I, that is an exceeding kind thought. I do not think it at all improper; but sure I do not know how Lady Louisa might feel about the matter. However, I purpose to go call upon her mama some day before your party, and will consult with her in the matter.

O, says Bess, I should not enjoy the party half so much was Lou not there.

I smile upon her and say, is not friendship a very excellent thing?

Indeed, says Bess, you were entire right that I should go find good friends when we came to Town.