England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Epistolary fiction; Essays
“Why I think Miss Maria you are not quite so smart as you were last
night—But I did not come to examine your dress, but to tell you that
you may dine with us the day after tomorrow—Not tomorrow, remember, do
not come tomorrow, for we expect Lord and Lady Clermont and Sir Thomas
Stanley’s family—There will be no occasion for your being very fine for
I shant send the Carriage—If it rains you may take an umbrella—” I
could hardly help laughing at hearing her give me leave to keep myself
dry—“And pray remember to be in time, for I shant wait—I hate my
Victuals over-done—But you need not come before the time—How does your
Mother do? She is at dinner is not she?” “Yes Ma’am we were in the
middle of dinner when your Ladyship came.” “I am afraid you find it
very cold Maria.” said Ellen. “Yes, it is an horrible East wind—said
her Mother—I assure you I can hardly bear the window down—But you are
used to be blown about by the wind Miss Maria and that is what has made
your Complexion so rudely and coarse. You young Ladies who cannot often
ride in a Carriage never mind what weather you trudge in, or how the
wind shews your legs. I would not have my Girls stand out of doors as
you do in such a day as this. But some sort of people have no feelings
either of cold or Delicacy—Well, remember that we shall expect you on
Thursday at 5 o’clock—You must tell your Maid to come for you at
night—There will be no Moon—and you will have an horrid walk home—My
compts to Your Mother—I am afraid your dinner will be cold—Drive on—”
And away she went, leaving me in a great passion with her as she always
does.
Maria Williams.
LETTER the FOURTH
From a YOUNG LADY rather impertinent to her freind
We dined yesterday with Mr Evelyn where we were introduced to a very
agreable looking Girl his Cousin. I was extremely pleased with her
appearance, for added to the charms of an engaging face, her manner and
voice had something peculiarly interesting in them. So much so, that
they inspired me with a great curiosity to know the history of her
Life, who were her Parents, where she came from, and what had befallen
her, for it was then only known that she was a relation of Mr Evelyn,
and that her name was Grenville. In the evening a favourable
opportunity offered to me of attempting at least to know what I wished
to know, for every one played at Cards but Mrs Evelyn, My Mother, Dr
Drayton, Miss Grenville and myself, and as the two former were engaged
in a whispering Conversation, and the Doctor fell asleep, we were of
necessity obliged to entertain each other. This was what I wished and
being determined not to remain in ignorance for want of asking, I began
the Conversation in the following Manner.
“Have you been long in Essex Ma’am?”
“I arrived on Tuesday.”
“You came from Derbyshire?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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