Revenants (26)

All sorts of goings-on among the ranks of Society

It was positively restful, Maude Coggin conceded, after such a busy Season – though sure they had done very well from it! – to have this charitable enterprize under hand – no rush, no bother, no matter of ladies making a fuss and demanding changes at the very last minute &C&C. No, the quite soothing matter of cutting out and stitching garments for orphans, or suitable wear to put into their boxes when they went out into the world. No intricate fancy stitching to try the eyes – no to and fro with fittings –

No need to work on by candle or gaslight as they might was they taking outwork at home.

A hot meal in the middle of the day! A cup of tea in the afternoon!

No shortage of hands applying to undertake the work, sure if this went on they might look to find another workroom.

Indeed they might, said Lady Pockinford when Maude mentioned this to her. For she had had letters from certain other philanthropic enterprizes wondering whether they might come in on the scheme and while 'twas rather late in the day to consider it this summer, they might go convoke upon it.

Excellent well, thought Maude.

And, said Lady Pockinford, she hoped Miss Coggin would take a good holiday herself at the end of the summer, and would be entire delighted to send her to Weymouth again for two or three weeks.

Maude responded that that was above and beyond kind of Her Ladyship, and Weymouth was a fine genteel resort and Her Ladyship’s old nurse kept a very comfortable establishment.

All exceeding satisfactory!

Came up Lady Rachel Merrett, to say that she had been a-counting of the packets of needles that had been sent, and checking that they contained the number they should, and all was in order. Lady Pockinford smiled upon her and said, would all ladies were so conscientious, at which the young woman blushed exceedingly. Added that, alas, the entire family was about decamping to Monks Garrowby this week, and from thence to Dambert Chase, the usual summer round.

Lady Pockinford could still dimple, and said that they would be going to visit her dear sister Agnes at the rectory, and would doubtless see 'em at Dambert Chase.

Lady Rachel blushed even more deeply, and said, she looked forward to that.

So there was interesting matter to speculate upon there, as well as the comfortable feeling of a good day’s work done, as she took the omnibus back to her lodgings.

Really, they were very good lodgings indeed, and the table quite exceptional – sure one heard sad tales of the way lodgers were mostly fed, but Mrs Mitchell was not one to serve up endless greasy mutton in this heavy hot weather! The meals were entirely sustaining without lying like lead upon the stomach.

As they rose and left the dining-room, Miss Hacker came up to her side and said in low tones had been presented with a bottle of very fine madeira – did not wish to sport it about the entire parlour, but did Miss Coggin care to step to her room, would gladly offer her a glass.

Well! Maude had had some curiosity to look into Miss Hacker’s room, and such an offer – madeira! – was not one to refuse.

As they ascended the stairs Miss Hacker said she apprehended that this scheme for stitching for orphans was now under hand? – Maude nodded and conceded that all was well under way and the orphans would not go naked next winter.

Miss Hacker unlocked the door. Oh, very nicely arranged – a screen drawn across to make a sitting area distinct from the sleeping part, a very genteel notion – artistic prints upon the walls – books upon the chest of drawers –

She took out two glasses and a bottle of madeira – You may wonder how I come at such a thing, she remarked as she poured out. We lately at the agency had a fellow that is a wine and spirits importer having a problem with stock walking out of the warehouse and was so very prepossessed at how rapidly we discovered how that came about that besides the very handsome fee, he presented us with an entire crate of his best madeira.

Maude, having seated herself in one of the chairs, took the proffered glass and took a sip. O, excellent good! And how did it come about? she asked.

Miss Hacker laughed as she sat down and sipped at her own glass. O, 'twas an entire amateur business! He had give his wastrel brother-in-law employment, and there is the fellow taking out a crate or so at a time and vending 'em about at taverns and eating-houses &C himself. A most recognizable fellow with fine auburn mustachios of which he was very proud –

Lord, that there are such fools!

Exactly! Of course his wife and her family are, I daresay, quite begging on their knees not to prosecute.

Maude snorted and said, Fancied 'twould be the cheapest course to buy him a ticket to go seek his fortune in the colonies.

Very like. Though – her mouth quirked – one hears that they mete out rough justice in those parts to transgressors.

They slowly sipped the madeira, and Maude said, she heard it rumoured about among the other lodgers that Miss Hacker was going travel with Lady Bexbury about her visits as secretary-companion this summer? – Miss Hacker nodded – supposed there was some investigation upon hand –

Miss Hacker grinned, and winked, and tapped her nose.

Why, thought Maude, there were all sorts of goings-on among the ranks of Society that might require investigation: one knew there were those however high-born had pockets to let and might resort to theft to fill 'em again. Or there might be matrimonial matters – one heard tales!

Maude said she dared say Miss Hacker would see sights!

The latter folded her hands and said primly that she apprehended that they were going to some very fine estates and great houses; and then sniggered, and said, indeed, she dared say! Though they were also going to the Pockinfords, where she heard one was obliged to rise very early for family prayers –

Sure, said Maude, one heard that about the Earl! Very severe in his practices. But what a charming lady was the Countess! The kindest and most benevolent of hearts – she expatiated a little on the exceeding generous offer of a little holiday in Weymouth – fancy she has a daughter-in-law picked out that will be on quite the amiablest terms with –

Miss Hacker raised her eyebrows. Really?

O, Lady Rachel Merrett has been assisting her about the preparations for stitching for the orphans, and she is a most business-like young woman – in a humbler station of life would do well, I fancy. Her Ladyship praises her to the skies.

Miss Hacker cleared her throat and said, and Her Ladyship would not have any – concerns over her ancestry, that one hears there has been some gossip over?

Maude snorted. Jealous cats, I daresay, quite overshadowed by her – shows very well for good dressing, and little Jupp understands her style. And goes to church of Sundays &C.

Would be a very suitable match, murmured Miss Hacker. More madeira?

A pleasure to announce

The publickation of the novelette, The Courtesan and the Clergyman: A Game of Chance and Love, Clorinda Cathcart's Circle #13, in diverse modes electronickal and as a slender bound volume (I will not recount the tribulations encounter'd during the process):

'Miss G- says ‘tis nothing like sharping but the scientifick demonstration of certain principles in mathematicks, requiring only, she adds modestly, an accurate memory and a capacity for calculation. She goes on to say that she is in correspondence with a Fellow of the Royal Society, that considers her recent achievements constitute sound proof of certain theories of his own…We have now correspond’d for some months, she says, with wistfully romantick expression… Dearest Abby, I say finally… you are engaging in epistolary mathematickal flirtation with a clergyman.'

“Miss G- contrives to shock me”: The Comfortable Courtesan: Volume 1 - Being MEMOIRS by Clorinda Cathcart (that has been a Lady of the Town these several years)

And then, quite by chance, Abigail Gowing meets her clerical correspondent – Could anyone have foreseen what would happen then?

There are also the usual notes upon references and allusions that mayhap may be a little opaque to the present reader.