Most unwonted behaviour
Sep. 27th, 2015 11:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_comfortable_courtesanSince my correspondence is at last all despatch’d, I turn once more to my new Gothick novel. I introduce the character that is a wicked chymist that performs sinister experiments and very strongly resembles Mr E-, of whom none have had any intelligence since his departure for Philadelphia.
Comes in Hector and says Miss A- is at the door, am I at home to her? Oh, say I, send her in, and desire Euphemia to prepare some good strong coffee. I conceal the volume in which I was writing and move from my desk to an easy chair
Enters Miss A- and does not immediately rush to fling herself at my feet either babbling in joy or sobbing in distress. She sits herself very prim in the chair opposite mine. I was not sure, she says, did I still have the entrée here. For I do confess, I did behave very ill during your absence and although my apologies have been met most kindly by those I offend’d yet I think it will be long before my reckless conduct will be forgot.
My dear Miss A-, I respond, we have been great friends for some while. Certainly your conduct while I was making my expedition to aid Miss G- was indeed strange, but I think I must bear some of the guilt myself.
Oh no, she cries, it was quite entirely my own foolishness.
Euphemia enters with the coffee and a plate of little biscuits and places these on the low table between us, bobs, and leaves.
Perhaps I was a little too taken with the idea of myself as the wise Mentor to the volatile Miss A-, says I. Sure ‘twas very pleasing the way you would come and fling yourself at my feet, talk so confidingly, desire my prudent advice and listen so attentively when I gave it. But perhaps I should not have treat’d you so much as still a child that requires guidance, but led you to consider that you are a grown woman and a successful actress able to manage her own difficulties.
Oh, sighs Miss A-, if only I were!
Perhaps if I had not let you get into the habit of referring all your difficulties to me, you would not have been in so desperate a case in my absence. You might even, I continue, have got into a habit of telling your troubles to Lady J- rather than endeavouring to conceal 'em from her.
Miss A- drinks her coffee and nibbles on a little biscuit. I see her think about this as I have seen her think about a part she is to play. Alas, she says, but with a roguish smile, am I no longer to sit leaning upon your knee with you stroking my hair? For indeed ‘twas the pleasantest thing.
The pleasantest thing, I concede, and one that I fear rais’d hopes that I was unable to gratify. No, let us sit like civil friends and companions that look into one another’s faces.
She gives me her prettiest pout and then laughs. Sure I am not the little scared rabbit that I was when Mr P- first took an interest in me. O, but your kindness after that dreadfull play he had prevail’d upon me to appear in: I was indeed quite in love from that moment when you prais’d that effect that was all my own, when you could have been most cruel and I am sure all expected you would be.
Really, child, Mr P- was not so great a loss to me as that. We look at one another and giggle. Miss A- says she finds his setting up with Mrs O’C- quite remarkable, for she is a pleasant enough woman but neither one whose theatrickal career he can sponsor nor one that conveys the cachet to a patron that Madame C- does. Nor is he that much of a gamester except in society for fellowship and politeness, so that cannot be the attraction. (I see that she has not made any connection, has she even heard of the matter, with Mrs O’C-'s great reputation for providing certain special pleasures to gentlemen.)
Come, my dear, I say, let us kiss and be good friends once more. We embrace and then go sit back in our chairs. Miss A- tells me that Mr J- is quite wild for someone to make a play out of The Gypsy’s Curse, for he thinks it already shows considerable dramatick in its effects. Have you read it, my dear? It is really extreme thrilling, and sure there would be excellent women’s parts. Tho’ I should hardly know whether I should prefer to undertake the actress or the gypsy.
We are engaged in amiable gossip when Hector comes in to say that Mr F- has just arrived. O, says I, I did not expect him so early. I turn to Miss A-, whose eyes have grown very wide at this intelligence: my dear, sure we have reconcil’d now and you know my door is ever open to you. Let us now part as the good friends we shall ever be.
Oh yes, cries Miss A-: but then continues, you will still receive Mr F-? I reply that as yet I see no compelling reason why not. She departs, and I instruct Hector to bring some sustenance for Mr F-, who must have been long on the road.
My dear love comes in and there is a long embrace and many kisses before we speak. Euphemia comes in with a plate of bread and cheese and a mug of ale.
Once she has left Mr F- sits and draws me to sit upon his knee. Our very dearest sends her love, and also desires me to tell you at once that our precious little jewel is entirely thriving and continues belov’d by the entire household. Of course she greatly wishes that they both might be here too, but we could not see a way forward with that.
I sigh.
And on the subject of jewels, he goes on, leaning over to pick up his valise, I hope you will like this. He takes out a jewel-case: I open it and am like to be dazzled by the diamond and emerald parure it contains. I understand there is some feeling about that you may consider yourself injur’d and that it may be prudent for me to conciliate your hurt feelings do I desire to continue our relations: but this is, of course - between our three selves - really a few jewels that can scarce begin repayment for the precious gift you have given us.
He adds, there is a secret compartment behind the pendant – he demonstrates to me the trick of it - and inside I find a lock of my precious child’s hair. Oh, my love, I say, this is so very thoughtfull a gift, and I shall of course wear it this e’en when we go to the theatre – we have an invitation to join Lord G- R- in his box. I become somewhat tearfull.
Mr F- then addresses himself to the matter of sustenance, saying that it is indeed many hours since he breakfast’d. Once this is dealt with, he goes on to say that we never consider’d the sort of gossip that would grow up around this business, alas.
Indeed not, say I. Mr H- will sure chide you for seeking the dubious advice of some quack, which is how he explains the matter.
Quite the worst, he goes on, is that that spiteful set at home go about dropping hints that Mrs F- has brought a cuckoo to the nest.
Why, says I, any that look long into dear Flora’s features will see that there are points of resemblance to you. While if there be anything in maternal impressions, sure she should also greatly resemble our darling.
Oh, they will make allusions to my absences &C. But all can see my own affection to our little darling, and I have also had made up some very fine jewels for Mrs F- - diamonds, black pearls, and fire opals, quite out of the common and entirely suited to the style of our beloved wild girl. We shall quite brazen it out.
O, says I, I confide that you have been in convocation with Docket - he concedes that indeed 'tis so – for she has long regretted the absence of any emeralds among my own jewels, for she considers that they will bring up the green in my eyes.
He drains his ale and says that he has some very specifick instructions from our wild girl, and if I care to retire with him he will convey them to me at once.
O my love, I say, rising and taking his hands, I do love you most extreme. Yet, I do wish our dear third were also here.
Indeed, so do I. Sure I do not know what I have done to deserve two such women.
In my boudoir he remarks upon the fine tiger-skin that I have had brought up from Surrey, which Phoebe has warranted to me free from all moth, fleas &C. But, he adds, I think there is one thing it lacks, which is the exquisite Madame C- upon it: a lack I soon remedy.
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Date: 2015-09-27 10:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 10:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 10:35 am (UTC)SOMETHING IN MY EYE. //brushes at it hastily with linen square
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Date: 2015-09-27 04:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-27 11:03 pm (UTC)I also continue to be in love with how Mrs F- is both passionately maternal and a wild girl. It's a lovely and rarely depicted combination.
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Date: 2015-09-28 04:58 pm (UTC)