A pleasant evening with the S-s

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

Mr S- very kindly comes to escort me to dinner: he is really one of the most thoughtfull of gentlemen. He hopes that I will be holding my soirées once I am return’d to Town, for there is nothing like them. He hears from Mrs S- that my continental travels were a great ordeal but understands that they reach’d a happy outcome. Oh yes, say I, I am quite contented now with Miss G-‘s state, she has been a very wild creature but now seems remarkably settl’d and like to remain in that condition.

He also hears that the imaginary captain had a very dramatick end: yes, say I, I heard of such a case from Captain K-, that is now an Admiral – did you ever happen to meet the dear Admiral? Mr S- thinks not, but has had the most pleasing accounts of him from a friend of his, that was conducting a hydrographick survey on a vessel commanded by him, as quite the perfect flower of naval officer. Oh, entirely, I say, though I do not expand on my first acquaintance with the dear Captain, who had come to Town with prize money in his pockets and his intention to disburse this upon the finest woman he could find. Sure I do not normally accept suitors that approach at Ranelagh, but that grasp of strategy that had served him so well at sea led to grappling and boarding in short order and my colours were struck in a secluded arbour.

We go in and I see that the young K-s are to be of the party. Young master K- has clearly taken considerable pains with his appearance, but his sister is dresst most exceeding quiet. Mrs S- is her welcoming self. We sit down to a well-spread table.

Mr S- says he has of late heard from his friend Mr C- in New South Wales, and there is some news of Mr T-, should I care to hear it? Indeed, say I, for it is a long way off and one seldom gets news of friends. C- tells him, he goes on, that T-, who is the softest-hearted fellow, has deemed it his duty to tend to the souls of the convicts, but although it has been offer’d – for he has considerable interest - will not take a place under the government, which he considers would be highly prejudicial to his task. This gives him something of the reputation of a wild Methodistickal fellow tho’ his practices never inclin’d towards the Evangelickal. He therefore remains at Port Jackson, which is probably just as well, as Mrs T- is increasing, but even so, they are making many important observations. What a splendid woman Mrs T- is (I wonder is Mr C- in love with her himself, for he comments mightily upon her).

Mr S- adds that T- has lately publisht several of their observations, if I like he will most happy to look them out for me. Oh, that would be most kind, I reply, I really quite took to Mr T- during our brief acquaintance.

Master K- remarks that it must sure be a fine thing to explore the antipodes. Mr S- looks a little wistfull and says, indeed, yes, there must be much to find out.

My dear, says Mrs S-, should you really wish to go there you may be sure that I would emulate Mrs T-, who sounds a very fine kind of woman, and go with you. Mr S- laughs and says that, really, there is so much to discover even within a short walk of this place, that he should not yearn for New South Wales.

I ask whether they see any of my old friends and they are full of enthusiatick praise for Sir B- and Lady W-, with whom they are the greatest of good terms. Sir B- W- has proposed Mr S- to several of his clubs and thoroughly promotes his interests: even, says Mr S-, will come to lectures and conversaziones at the Royal Society though they must be somewhat dull for him. Tho’, says Mrs S-, I do not think Sir B- W- is anything like as foolish as is made out, even by himself: it is not true that Lady W- writes all his speeches, they work on them together, tho’ it was she who had the happy notion of asking Mr J- if he would give Sir B- W- some lessons in effective delivery. The child flourishes, though the dreadfull crocodile of course nags constantly about filling the nursery.

They had a most agreeable stay at A- with Lord G- R-, who was most civil and very unlike what one would expect from his reputation in dandy and sporting circles, most thoughtfull and well-informed. (My dear, says Mr S-, I did tell you that I had already found him a most agreeable person, but you would have it that one that is a Lord and drives a fine curricle and is nice about his dress must be proud and uncivil.) His secretary is a man of most excellent attainments, but I daresay you already know that. He was kind enough to read German with V- (who blushes), as she proposes a study of modern languages.

I turn to Miss V- and ask her whether she does not have her sister’s charming way with pencil and paint? No, she says, she had lessons but she lacks her sister’s talent. She has even give up her musick, says Mrs S-. I had no talent there either, says V- somewhat sullen. (I have no doubt that this is a very sore point with her.)

They were also most delighted to be invited to a small house-party at N- by the Duke of M-. It was everything that was charming, both His and Her Grace exceeding pleasant, and it is touching to see their great mutual devotion. Her Grace – you may not have heard this? – is in hopes of presenting the Duke with an heir, in fact it cannot be long until the happy event. I express suitable feelings on this matter. The F-s were present, who are ever good company. Unfortunately His Grace’s sister Lady J- was detain’d in Town with the many matters about which she concerns herself: Mrs S- is most prepossess’d by her work in good causes and would much desire converse with her about how she herself could help. She is also doing great work for musick in Town, they have took up subscriptions themselves.

There is an exchange of further news (they do not mention anything concerning Miss A-‘s bad behaviour) and it comes time for me to return to my lodgings. Mr S- of course says he will escort me.

On the way, he remarks that he has heard from Mr MacD- that I came into a very pretty little property in Surrey from General Y- of the Madras service? That is so, I say. He says that he is most happily reconcil’d with his family now that they see there is some kind of advancement in rocks and stones. He is now quite entirely welcom’d back into their society generally and lately had converse with a business acquaintance of his father’s that has been advis’d by his physician to live out of the City and has a notion to Surrey. If I were to be looking for a tenant –

O, says I, I had lately lent the place to a fellow sea-captain’s wife that was in need of a retreat from Town, but she and her household have now departed. It is a pretty place in good repair and with all modern conveniences. The only disadvantage is that there is a most disagreeable parson in the local parish.

That will be of little moment, as the gentleman in question continues to follow ancestral ways, tho' always has a ready purse for any charitable demands for the poor and sick.

If he would care to look the place over, the keys are held by an agent in the local town, which has excellent amenities - I am told. Mr MacD- has been of quite infinite assistance to me over these business matters and can provide any further information you desire.

It is a sad thing, says Mr S-, that in his situation such a splendid fellow as Mr MacD- cannot hope to marry for some several years yet. Certainly he has a most excellent position with Lord G- R-, who appreciates his worth greatly, and it must surely lead to advancement in due course. But there is something about having a wife that is such a woman as Mrs S- that puts heart into a man, and it makes him sad to see young fellows that cannot hope for such a relation for many years while they make their fortune: tho', he goes on, it must be better for them to fix their affections on an unattainable ideal (looking meaningfull at me) than indulge in the coarser mercenary pleasures. Of course, there are few such women as Mrs S- in the world, he adds with a tender smile.

Indeed, I say warmly, she is quite one of the finest of women and does not blindly adhere to the rules of society. Should she, I add, while we are here in Harrogate, require anything in the line of lady’s-maiding, Tibby would be only too delighted to be of service, for she took to her considerable.

Why, that is very kind. I confide she proposes trying to chear young V-‘s spirits by taking her to an assembly or two (for the girl is quite melancholick, tho’ given her mother’s sickness that is perhaps not remarkable), and it would be most pleasing to have them properly turned out.

We say our adieux and I go in to where Tibby waits up for me.

Comments

[clanwilliam]

Perfect! A Jewish tenant for the estate and sea-captain's wife is now a euphemism!

Also, Mr S-, please don't try to marry V to Sandy. It would be far too embarrassing.

[nineveh_uk]

The chagrin of Mr G when he discovers it!

[clanwilliam]

First there were the Hindoo servants, then there were the servants who drest too fine (and let's not forget he almost certainly disliked them for being black) and who decamped to the Methodists, to the extent that one has married a preacher, and now there are Israelites, who will no doubt be more popular in the parish than Mr G-, for they show much charity to the poor.

Not to mention that self-willed woman who left before Mr G- could press his suit.

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

It is really just as well that he does not know that it was also a haunt of members of the Brotherhood of Sodom, or he would most immediate fall down in an apoplexy.

[clanwilliam]

He is rather like a Mr Collins without the moderating influence of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. And considering I'm describing Lady C as a moderating influence…

[rymenhild]

That is exactly what I wanted to say. I bet V- is pining after Sandy, too. Sorry, V-.

[em_h]

Sandy really may need to find an agreeable woman of the Sapphick persuasion, or this is going to go on and on being a problem.

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

There are doubtless young ladies who think, when they hear of his exceeding yet unrequit'd devotion to Madame C-, why, has eyes for no other woman: my challenge, should I chuse to accept it - GAME ON!

[nenya_kanadka]

Miss A-, however, may not be quite steady enough--though then again, her recent excesses proved to be not what they seemed. Hmmm!

I quite understand young V-'s feelings, but I believe that is what one might call a non-starter.

[davidgillon]

I do not normally accept suitors that approach at Ranelagh, but that grasp of strategy that had served him so well at sea led to grappling and boarding in short order and my colours were struck in a secluded arbour.

Oh my! A cutting-out action in the finest traditions of the Senior Service!

[entirelydisregardablelout]

"Desperate affairs require desperate measures."

"Never mind the maneuvers, just go at them."

[elisem]

asking Mr J- if he would give Sir B- W- some lessons in effective delivery.

Oh, what an excellent notion!