Lady B-'s taste is widely prais'd

After my conclave with Roberts, and after Eliza and I have entire assur’d Sandy, that is got into an exceeding fret, that all looks entire in order and Milord’s fine taste and his own abilities in organizing will make this a most well-spoke of occasion, quite one of the events of the Season, I go to the nursery and spend a deal of time there being a tiger and telling little tales of hedgehogs and elephants. I think the nursemaids are pleas’d, for the severity of the weather has meant that the nursery set has been unable run wild and romp in the gardens these several days and in consequence is become a little fractious.

Sukey W-, however, sits snuggl’d up to her nurse’s skirts and sucks her thumb – Sarah Miller, that is her name, looks fond down at her and says, she dares say that her mama lying-in abed frets her. Sure, 'tis not a habit they should get into, but she does not like to prevent her just at present. She strokes Sukey’s hair, that shows promise of retaining its infant fairness - sure, may be anticipat’d as dear Susannah is herself very fair.

Oh, I hope Susannah is well and not fallen once more into a melancholy.

My precious jewel shows reluctant to let me depart, but at last kisses me upon the promise that I will come be her sleepy wombatt, and desires Hannah to kiss me also. (Sure Hannah grows a fine girl, somewhat fairer than Seraphine, tho’ her hair goes to wiry curls and there is somewhat of Africa in her features.)

But indeed I should go see whether my darling continues in the frets.

She is not in the family room, and I am in some concern that she has gone bother Seraphine over the supper, that I confide Seraphine has entire under hand. When I descend to the kitchens I find 'tis indeed the case, and draw my agitat’d wild girl away, desiring Seraphine, if 'tis no trouble with all the work she has on hand, to send up some of the soothing drink from Mrs F-'s receipt.

Sure I can think of a fine remedy for her trouble, but 'tis not the time or place alas.

Now, my darling, says I, after I have seen her drink up the whole cupfull, sure you should go lye down and have Williams put a cloth soak’d in some soothing water over your eyes, and rest you a little, for I confide that 'tis entire necessary to be fresh for the e’en’s exertions.

She gives a somewhat testy little sigh, and says, sure, she cannot rest –

O yes, you can, my darling, and I will take you to Williams myself, and if you are not a good wild girl and do not go lye down quiet, I will go find a very dull volume from the library and come read to you in the manner of Mr N- discoursing, and that will send you to sleep.

I manage to pull her to her chamber, and go into the dressing room, where Williams is about making some final furbishments, and give her my instructions to make sure Mrs F- rests, or will be entire done up afore the ball starts.

I then go to my own fine reserv’d chamber and instruct Sophy that I may repose in like fashion until 'tis time to go be Miss Flora’s sleepy wombatt. Sophy expresses herself most taken with Miss Flora: 'tis exceeding gratifying to me.

I contrive a refreshing little nap with a cool cloth across my face – 'tis not the season for cowcumbers, that are so refreshing lay’d upon tir’d eyes.

We dine somewhat early, so that we may dress for the ball without undue haste: but before I do, I go be Flora’s sleepy wombatt. She is a little restless and I dare say takes the apprehension that there is somewhat will be doing, and does not wish to go sleep, but at last she is my dearest sleeping wombatt, that I do not even dare give a kiss lest it wake her again.

Sophy waits in somewhat of a fret to array me, tho’ I am sure that Docket has given her exact instructions and 'twill only be a matter of carrying 'em out.

O, I think, as Sophy puts pearls and jets into my hair, that I might wear my fine emerald and diamond parure with the lock of my precious bundle’s hair conceal’d: but there will be those present will remember when dearest Josiah gave it me following my suppos’d return from Carlsbad, and will wonder does it signify aught. So 'twill be my rubies.

At length I am prepar’d, and stand before the pier-glass and consider that I am entire ready for the occasion. I convey Sophy a compliment, and then go make a little visit to the family room, where Miss N- sits with the girls and Josh, so that they may see me in my finery.

I do not wish to appear too early at the ball, for that might look somewhat particular, but I do not wish to delay too long, for all know that I am quite the greatest intimate of both the R- House households, and 'tis an act of friendship not to demonstrate my consequence by arriving most exceeding late.

'Tis an entire glittering spectacle when I enter the hall of the west wing, and the flowers indeed are most exceeding fine.

I go greet Milord and my darlings, that stand shaking hands by the foot of the grand stairway, and hear that there is a deal of company arriv’d already. As they recount to me who I may find in the ballroom, or enjoying a little musick, enter Mr and Mrs O- B- with Charley and Cissie, escort’d by Lord A-.

Milord takes the occasion to make most exceeding civil to him, shaking his hand very hearty, congratulating him upon his marriage, conveying very suitable compliments upon his intend’d; and this is observ’d by a sufficient number of the company that I confide 'twill go be put in circulation.

Charley B- is looking most extreme well, in most excellent ton; I do not think that any will go gossip that Lord A- has determin’d that her dower will excuse a certain vulgarity, for she shows very pretty-behav’d and her fine singing is becoming much spoke of. I make very amiable to her myself, remark that I have a drawing-room meeting forthcoming for the benefit of the optickal dispensary and that 'twould be most delightfull could she sing on that occasion.

They proceed up the staircase, and I say, I daresay I should go mingle and Josiah murmurs somewhat about how doth the little busy bee. I hold my hand from smacking him with my fan, but Eliza provides suitable matrimonial discipline with hers.

Sure there is a very fine crowd arriv’d already, 'tis most exceeding gratifying. I go in to the ballroom, where a set is in progress, and see Lady D- sitting by the wall, fanning herself. I go ask is she feeling well, and she looks at me all smiles and says, o, indeed, Lady B-, I may dance a little – Mrs F- says that a little healthfull exercise is quite entire beneficial but one should not over-do – but even did I not dance at all, o, this is so very delightfull, the fine clothes, the beautifull flowers, and o, there are those dance most exceeding fine –

She goes point to where her sister dances with Sir H- Z- and indeed, they both show exceeding well upon a dance-floor –

- 'tis entire a pleasure just to watch. Lord D- has just gone fetch me a cooling drink –

And indeed, comes up Lord D- bearing a glass of Seraphine’s fam’d cooling sherbert. He makes very civil to me, and then says, he hears from Agnes that I have been advising Lord O- on furbishing up O- House, and 'tis said shows exceeding well?

Why, says I, 'tis an exceeding fine mansion but had been somewhat neglect’d.

He comes, says he, to consider that 'twould not be a matter of prodigal vanity did he go furbish up P- House somewhat, for has also been somewhat neglect’d, and he takes the thought that one should maintain one’s town house in a state suitable to one’s station; and he hears Lady B-'s taste so very widely prais’d, that could I provide a little advice in the matter he would be most exceeding gratefull.

Why, says I, should be entire delight’d. Tho’, I go on, in Lady D-'s condition I am like to suppose 'twould not be advizable to have painters and workmen about the place, causes considerable disturbance.

He nods and says, sure one would not put the work on hand until the end of this Season when they go out of Town.

Sir H- Z- comes up and desires me to dance. 'Tis entire agreeable to me. As we dance he tells me that Lady Z- has a fine daughter, that will be christen’d Caroline but they already call her Cara. He smiles surprizing fond.

There are a deal of fellows come ask me to dance, and I daresay Sir V- P- would like to but there is always one or another beforehand of him.

As Milord and I return from the floor, Lord A- desires to know would it be unobjectionable did he lead out Lady B- for the next dance? Milord smiles and says 'tis entire agreeable, does Lady B- have no objection, and he would solicit Miss B- himself.

As we tread thro’ the measure, Lord A- says, he minds that he does not have a fine Town house, has always resid’d at one of his clubs, but confides that now he goes marry should have somewhere would do him credit. And hears that B- House, that was give out like to tumble down, has now been furbisht up in fine style?

Indeed, says I, and I confide that the present Lord B- will not be going live there. Sure I can go find out whether might be let.

'Twould be an excellent thing, thinks I, for houses should be liv’d in, and 'twould be somewhat to go pay that mad bigamist’s fees at the fine madhouse in Sussex.