Memoirs of Miss Sidney Biddulph: Extracted from her own Journal, and now first published — John Shaqi
Memoirs of Miss Sidney Biddulph: Extracted from her own Journal, and now first publishedSheridan, Frances Chamberlaine
General
Memoirs of Miss Sidney Biddulph: Extracted from her own Journal, and now first published
Sheridan, Frances Chamberlaine
English fiction -- 18th century
We have had a letter from my brother George; he is landed, and we expect
him hourly in town. As our house is large enough, I hope he will consent
to take up his quarters with us while we stay in London. My mother
intends to request it of him: she says it will be for the _reputation_
of a gay young man to live in a _sober_ family. I know not how Sir
George may relish the proposal, as our hours are not likely to
correspond with those which I suppose he has been used to since he has
been absent from us. But perhaps he may not refuse the compliment; Sir
George is not averse to oeconomy.--How kind, how indulgent, is this
worthy Parent of mine! she will not suffer me to stay at home with her,
nay scarce allows me time for my journal. 'Sidney I won't have you stay
within; I won't have you write; I won't have you think--I will make a
rake of you; you shall go to the play to-night, and I am almost tempted
to go with you myself, though I have not been at one since your father's
death.'--These were her kind expressions to me just now.--I am indeed
indebted to her tenderness, when she relaxes so much of her usual
strictness, as even to _think_ of such a thing.
_April 5_
My brother returned to us this day, thank God! in perfect health. Never
was there such an alteration seen in a man; he is grown fat, and looks
quite robust. He dropped in upon us just as we sat down to dinner: what
a clutter has his arrival made! my mother was _so_ rejoyced, and _so_
thankful, and _so_ full of praises, and asked _so_ many questions, that
George could hardly find words enough to answer the over-flowings of her
kind inquisitiveness, which lasted all dinner-time.
When the cloth was removed, my mother proposed his taking up his abode
with us: you see, said she, your sister and I have got here into a large
house; there is full room enough in it for you and your servants; and as
I think in such a town as this it will be a reputable place for you to
live in, I shall be glad of your company; provided you do not encroach
upon my rules by unreasonable hours, or receiving visits from such as I
may not approve of for the acquaintance of your sister. I was afraid Sir
George would disrelish the terms, as perhaps some of his acquaintance
(though far from faulty ones) might fall within my mother's predicament:
but I was mistaken, he accepted of the invitation, after making some
slight apologies about the inconvenience of having so many servants:
this however was soon got over.
To say the truth, I am very glad that my brother has consented to be our
guest, as I hope by his means our circle of acquaintance will be a good
deal enlarged. There is no pleasure in society, without a proper mixture
of well-bred sensible people of both sexes, and I have hitherto been
chiefly confined to those of my own.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account