'Tis cruel when one will go pursue a fixt idea

Hector takes the keys and very ceremonious unlocks the door of the house that is now mine. We go in and sniff a little and seems reasonable clean and free of mice.

In good repair, says Hector, I was in some concern we should have to shore the place up before undertaking any alterations but they were good carefull tenants it seems.

(Sure I never knew my next-door neighbours: at first 'twas a matter of not insinuating my immoral way of life upon 'em, and then, after my elevation, they display’d the very good ton of not suddenly come apprehend that 'twas a marchioness next door and go be encroaching. Unlike Mr A- the parson that from thundering upon W----s of Babylon &C came sneaking around most disgusting obsequious.).

Dust and smuts, of course, says Hector, but would expect nothing else does one not have these daily pursu’d.

There is a fine parlour, or a room that I confide has serv’d that purpose. O, says I, would this not do quite entirely for a dining-room?

I am in some concern, says Hector, that 'twould be an undesirable way from the kitchen – unless, he goes on, do we discover that the kitchen here is so plac’d that one might put in that excellent contrivance to bring the food to the table hot.

Let us, says I, go belowstairs and see. I confide will also be cellars.

We look at the kitchen and are exceeding prepossesst, there is a fine modern range &C, that Hector confides that Euphemia would consider quite entirely the thing. We look at one another and I say that may look somewhat particular to have two kitchens, but if so be allows us to put in that excellent device for the dining-room, I will defy gossip over Lady B-'s eccentricities.

We return to the ground floor and Hector goes about measuring and tapping upon walls and says, would need to consult more closely with one that understands building, but dares say we might put a door into this wall here –

And sure, says I, my pretty parlour would serve quite excellent as a drawing-room on such occasion, for I would not intend very large dinner parties.

We go upstairs to a reception room the like of my own. I shake my head and say, I daresay one might contrive knocking a hole in the wall and turning 'em into one large chamber, but I should desire some excuse to keep my soirées select.

Hector says, he dares say I have not’d, in the houses where I have been, there will be rooms with doors that may be open’d to turn them into a larger one, that one might keep clos’d as a usual thing, but did there ever come occasion –

'Tis a prudent thought, says I. But I had some thoughts that this might make a library, and I am not sure I would wish that Society should learn what a secret bluestocking is Lady B-. Or make away with priz’d volumes. But perchance one might see is there some other place one might fit up with shelves &C.

We ascend the stairs to where we find a fine large chamber that has likely been us’d as a bedchamber, with dressing-rooms thrown off. Why, says I, I would chuse this to be a guest-room I think. Altho’ there is another storey before the attics, one would not desire one’s guests to climb too many flights of stairs, and indeed I had some thoughts of offering t’other Lady B- my hospitality, and I think that injury of her leg troubles her somewhat when she is not on horseback.

Hector nods. Is not a lady that would go complain, he says, but one may observe that it does.

And, says I, I confide that we will need to be about increasing the household.

Hector nods again and says, Nell comes on exceeding well in getting into good practices -

Does she so?

- tho’ I take a little concern at the way she will ever be gaping upon Timothy. But is she in the house and under Dorcas’ hand –

Why, says I, I am pleas’d she shapes so well, but what about the mews cottage?

There is her sister Sal, that is not yet old enough to be sent out to service, but would benefit from the opportunity of learning good ways. Nell could come live in – 'twould ease how crampt they are in that place over the livery stables –

Cannot help, says I, that Sam goes grow such a large fellow, and has not yet quite got us’d to the length of his limbs.

He then says he will also go ask about his connexion for any that look about for first places. Euphemia, he adds, would be extreme pleas’d could she have Celeste entirely as kitchen and scullery-maid, shapes nicely.

Why, says I, do you ask Euphemia to advize on any matter that will need doing about the kitchen here, and go convoke with builders and carpenters, and I will go apply my fam’d exquisite taste on the matter of paint and draperies and furnishings.

We nod at one another very pleas’d at the morn’s work.

Sure 'twould be extreme agreeable to go sit and consider over matters of decoration, but I confide 'tis time to go make further soundings out of Mr W- Y-.

He looks a very little better when I go into his comfortable if lockt chamber, for I daresay is being fed well.

O, Lady B-, he cries, is there no way you can get me out of this imprisonment? None you could apply to to relieve my condition?

Why, says I, seating myself at the table and putting down the candlestick I hold, somehow I confide that you would rather I did not go apply to Mr R- O-, that left his card upon me some little while ago when he was about interrogating any that might know where you are.

He shudders and says, he has not beguil’d you into supposing that you would undertake some patriotick act did you so?

O, poo, says I, did I not say I lik’d not the cut of his jib? And what secrets might I have, that he might threaten reveal to persuade me? Does any in Society not know that Lady B- was formerly in the demimonde, I confide there will be those most eager to inform 'em.

'Tis so, he says, and in your position makes no odds do you grant your favours to that sour Scotsman, 'tis hardly a scandal.

(Sure I am almost betray’d into a laugh.)

Indeed, he says with a sigh, your set has a name for radickal opinions, but one may listen to 'em discourse for hours without they say anything about overthrowing by violence, rather than reform thro’ constitutional means, with a deal of dreary Parliamentary detail, and making improvements. Was once oblig’d to hear MacD- expatiate at great length upon the dangers of inciting violence with many examples taken from the course of the French Revolution and what they should instead have done.

(Indeed 'tis almost painfull to suppress my laughter.)

And one cannot come at any of 'em over scandal, he goes on. Sure I daresay there are those among the Evangelickals lead more irregular lives: whatever wildness there may have been in the days of their youth they are now sober marry’d fellows that relish family life. Sir B- W- will recount anecdote after anecdote about the pretty ways of his offspring, most immense tedious. Did have some thought that Sir H- and Lady Z- did not seem on the happyest of terms, but must have been some entire passing quarrel, he show’d quite maudlin uxorious over her increase and did not make scenes but seem’d entire content’d that she should go drive out &C with that Neapolitan cicisbeo.

(I do not know why Mr R- O- sets to gathering intelligence one that has such little apprehension of the world. I mind that Mr W- Y- did not know that his dearest friend was of the disposition.)

But why, says I, did you of a sudden try escape, tho’ I apprehend 'twas into opium visions rather than anything more material?

Mr W- Y- stands up and paces about the room with some faint shadow of his former poetickal motions. All became too much, he says. Listening for hours upon end to the woolly wanderings of Sir V- P-; trying to get up a flirtation with that b---h Mrs D- K- so I might find out had her husband discover’d any more than I had; having the Duchess of M- quiz me over the poetry of Goethe. But he would not have it that there was nothing, but just that 'twas very cunningly conceal’d, and did one find it 'twould be one’s hand upon the lever to move the matter along for the good of the nation.

(Why, thinks I, he was not entire wrong at that, save that I think 'twould be of no benefit to the nation was what goes forth in certain bedchambers at R- House and elsewhere disclos’d.)

I look at him with quite melting sympathy and say, sure 'tis cruel when one will go pursue a fixt idea the like of that the more because there is nothing there, 'tis entire like when fellows will take some jealous fit over nothing at all, 'tis the fever of a sicken’d brain like unto Leontes in A Winter’s Tale.

Exactly! cries Mr W- Y-, but what may I do?

Why, says I, might you not go seek your fortune abroad?

He sighs deeply and says, if only that might be contriv’d. But he knows that there are agents about the ports, tho’ mostly to observe who comes in; and also, the matter of money…

You may not have heard, says I, that Reynaldo di S- is shortly bound for Boston. Sure was you in his retinue, in livery –

A look of hope dawns upon his face. But there is still the question of how I may provide for myself.

Why, says I, you are an educat’d fellow, I daresay there would be somewhat you might do in Boston, is there not even give out something that presents itself to be a university? but I think that there will be some gratitude in our circle concerning the knowledge of this unwarrant’d suspicion about us –

He falls to his knees before me and commences upon kissing my hands, 'tis most extreme embarrassing.