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 at length fixed upon a house to our liking, a handsome
convenient one in St James's-street. We are preparing to get it
furnished as fast as we can, that we may go into it; for if my brother
should come to town, I know _our_ being with my mother will be an
objection to his lodging in her house: this I should be sorry for, as
she told him he might make use of it while it remained in her hands.
_November 15_
Thank my stars! I have got over the fatigue of receiving and paying a
second round of bridal visits, and I am really so tired of it, that,
uninviting as the season is, I could wish myself in quiet at
Arnold-abbey; but I cannot think of leaving London while my mother
continues in it, and she is now resolved to do so till Miss Burchell, or
rather, on this occasion, Mrs Jefferis, is brought to-bed. You can't
imagine how sollicitous she is about her; every time she sees her she
seems more and more pleased with her. I am very glad it has happened so,
for the poor young woman's sake; my mother is as warm in her attachments
as in her resentments. She visits her almost every second day; for the
poor thing it seems is ill at present, and can't leave her chamber. She
tells me she is extremely melancholy, and seems much to dread the
approaching hour. I greatly honour my mother for her humanity towards
her: in her terrifying situation she must want the tenderness of a
well-bred as well as a sensible friend; for it must be a melancholy
thing, in such circumstances, to have no one about her but servants, and
those strangers too.
She told my mother, that her altered looks, and frequent sicknesses,
gave her aunt (who was privy to the cause of it) a pretence for asking
her uncle's permission for Miss to go to Bath, which she told him would
do her more good than any thing. He consented, and supposed she was
actually gone thither under the care of a lady, whom her aunt named, who
was really going there in order to settle for life, and to whose house
she went for a day or two to give a colour to this story. Her aunt
contrived that she should not take any servant with her; giving it for a
reason, that as she might be as well attended by the lady's servants
with whom she lodged, and be considered by her as one of the family, a
maid would only be an unnecessary incumbrance. She added, that her uncle
was so afflicted with the gout, that he never stirred abroad, and saw
very little company, so that it was not likely he should ever be
undeceived.
_November 20_
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