the_comfortable_courtesan

Over breakfast, Mr F- and I discuss last night’s play and are in entire agreement that tho’ it goes over very well and is like to prove popular, it is patcht together like a quilt from bits and pieces: Mr J- is given the chance to look dashing and swirl his cloak in a telling fashion as well as engage in two sword-fights; Miss A- is oblig’d to disguise herself as a boy: there is a comick servant‘s role entirely suited to Mr W-, the comoedic actor; &C.

Sure, says Mr F-, I confide that did you put yourself to the task, you could readily write a better play than that. O, I say, you flatterer. Tho’, I continue, I hear that Mr J- would be most extreme interest’d did one turn The Gypsy’s Curse into a play. Indeed I can see how one could – there is much matter that would have to be omitted in the service of dramatick interest, but I fancy that something quite telling could be made of it.

Well, my love, why do you not set yourself to it?

Perchance because I am no longer in Surrey with time heavy upon my hands, although I do find moments to work upon my new novel even in the press of business that I find in Town. But what do you today?

Mr F- looks in his little memorandum book. This forenoon I have to see Mr B- and various others in the City, I lunch with Lord G- R- at his club, Mr S- has sent me a card for a lecture he gives at the Royal Society, but I have not forgot that you hold a soirée this e’en.

My new fine jewels are perhaps a little too splendid for the occasion, but I think I shall wear ‘em, I say, indeed I daresay it will expected.

I am concern’d, says Mr F-, that the on-dit will be that you are sway’d by mercenary considerations.

My dear love, I say, laughing, the world would be most surpriz’d were I not. The important thing is that I do not appear to sell myself too short, and I think there is no risque of that do I go about adorn’d in your munificent gift.

He laughs too, tho’ somewhat uneasily.

My very dearest, I say, you do know that that is quite beside the point with us, do you not? But I am oblig’d to make a show.

He reaches over, takes my hand, and kisses it. You do know, do you not, that you will always have a place with us, do you need one?

I look at him across the table. O, can you suppose that my dearest dream is not to be able to live with my belov’d F-s and my darling Flora? But I cannot see how it may be contriv’d.

I can see Mr F- desiring to take care of matters and feeling somewhat thwart’d by the constraints that afflict us. He sighs and rises from the table.

I sit at my desk thinking about how I should make a play of The Gypsy’s Curse that would not take even longer to perform than Queen Maud and determine that much of the business in the nunnery and concerning the naughty novice could be left out. Hector comes to say that Miss D- is at the door. O, send her in, I say, and desire Euphemia to prepare coffee.

Miss D- comes in, kisses me warmly, and says she hears that I am quite reconcil’d with Mr F-. O indeed, say I, he has demonstrated a very proper generosity. She goes on to say that all noted that he seemed – tho’ endeavouring to conceal it – most anxious while I was away, certainly by no means indifferent. Indeed, says I, I have always had great confidence in Mr F-'s feelings towards me, and sure it is hardly my place to concern myself about his marriage bed (tho’ indeed I have been most extreme concern’d there with my loves).

She drinks some coffee and says that it is given out that Lord G- R-'s secretary, that is known to be dying of devotion at your feet, is the author of The Gypsy’s Curse, which my dear Mr J- is most anxious to have turn’d into a play. Do you, my dear, have a notion whether this be true? For if it be so, Mr J- is most anxious to open the matter with him.

(I daresay Sandy might be persuaded to turn my book into a play, for indeed he has some literary ambition, but fear that did he do so, the poor scholar would be getting long speeches conveying the doctrine of utilitarianism and the court fop about the oppressions of rank and wealth. Sure I had better undertake the task myself.)

I say that I will mention the matter next time he calls, for indeed he continues to call upon me very frequently upon very slight excuse of business matters. Sure, she says, it must be most pleasant to have gained such an effect upon a young man that is said to be extreme serious - and do I know whether it indeed be the case that he is some left-hand brother to His Lordship? – tho’ sure given His Lordship’s father’s reputation, there must be many of those up and down the kingdom. I deny any knowledge of such a relation but certainly Lord G- R- finds him a most valuable secretary.

She kisses me goodbye and goes off doubtless to continue gleaning and sowing gossip.

Early in the afternoon comes Miss L- to tune the piano. Once this is accomplisht she comes to sit with me over tea and a light collation prepar’d by Euphemia, and says she has been most agreeable surpriz’d of late. You will remember, she continues, casting up her eyes, Miss V- K- that made such a fool of herself at Lady J-'s musicale. Well, she is now living with her sister, that very delightful woman married to Mr S-, who is so agreeable and has such excellent musical taste, and has resum’d piano-lessons. Not only does she take them with a great deal more seriousness and application, she actually apologiz’d for being hitherto such a poor pupil and hopes to do better.

She does not take singing lessons, however, Miss L- goes on, because she has the entirely just apprehension that her voice will never repay the effort. Mrs S-, she adds, has a very sound notion of the kind of refreshment to offer even if she has no cook to compare with yours.

Well, that is most remarkable, say I, but I doubt it will restore her to Lady J-'s good graces. Miss L- shrugs. As she is not a professional and therefore does not need any of Lady J-'s patronage, that cannot matter much.

I recollect, say I, that I had a matter I wisht to ask you about: I know that there are a number of German musicians that you must be acquainted with, I wonder if any have relatives – most preferable female relatives – that go about giving German lessons? Miss L- says at once that Herr H-, the flautist – my dear, I should really bring him along to your soirée some time – has a sister, Fraulein H-, that is indeed looking for a connection in teaching the language, undertaking translations, &C. They are entirely charming, from Bavaria (I am indeed pleas’d to hear that they are not Prussians, for I still retain a great prejudice against that race). Indeed, she believes she has her card somewhere in her reticule.

Miss McK- then arrives and there is fond kissing betwixt these two particular friends, and on Mr G- D- coming along with Titus, they go devote themselves to rehearsal.

I write a little note to Sandy conveying the information about Fraulein H-, and also to ask whether he has heard anything of this interest in a play of The Gypsy’s Curse.

I am concern’d lest there be some reserve towards Mr F- at my soirée, but once Sir B- W- has come in, shaken him heartily by the hand, and expatiat’d upon the great joy that lies in fatherhood, and mentioned what a fine woman he thinks Mrs F-, I do not perceive any particular coolness. Biffle indeed is not perhaps as welcoming as he might be, but it is most exceeding apparent that he is greatly preoccupy’d by Her Grace’s imminent lying-in and can scarce acquit the common courtesies to the company generally.

So imminent is the prospect that Mr H- currently goes everywhere with his bag lest the call come.

Miss McK- is just in the middle of Dido’s Lament when there is a great knocking at the door and looking out we can see a footman in M- livery and a coach at the door. Biffle turns extreme pale and looks as tho’ he may faint. Mr H- hands him a glass of brandy, exhorts him to pull up, and they leave.

All are in some upset and disarray, but Mr G- D- has some rapid converse with the ladies, and they give us some lively piece by Mozart to lift the spirits.