We were sitting drinking tea this evening, when what should we see coming but Mr. Washington"s Carriage. I was delighted, you may be a.s.sured. They were all mighty well. I inquired for you. Cousin Molly told me you were in perfect health, and that your sister Brent and Nancy Ambler were with you--then I suppose my Polly is happy. I have a thousand Questions to ask about them, but I hope you will write me an exact detail of every thing that happened while there. You have been at a tea-drinking lately, in Dumfries: Mrs. A. Washington gave me the whole History of it--told me your dresses, and every thing. But where am I running to? I had forgot there was Company in the House, so happy am I always conversing with my Polly. Adieu.
[Sidenote: Richard Brent, U. S. Senator from Virginia for many years.]
You will smile, I am sure, when I tell you what I am about to do. Will you believe when I tell you I am this moment going to pack up my cloaths to go to _Chantilly_? Adieu. Some one has just come to tell me your Brother Richard is come. I must go and inquire for my Polly.
You are very well, he sais. I shall give him your letter from Nancy.
The Gentlemen are all in high spirits, thinking, I suppose, of the pleasure of to-morrow. I shall be far from this [place] by that time. I must quit, as the Boys are come for me to get Sweetmeats for supper.
October 1.
I must really take my pen to scribble a little before I set off. The Gentlemen are just set off to the races, and I am preparing to set off for _Chantilly_. Adieu, my Polly.
October 2.
I have arrived at _Chantilly_. Nancy was much better than I expected to find her. Weakness is her only complaint. She was delighted to see me, and inquired eagerly for her dear Polly, and was much pleased with your letter.
Mrs. Pinkard is here--and a sweet Woman she is. Adieu. Nancy says I shall not write more.
October 3.
I am just up, and am going to seat myself for Sibby to c.r.a.pe my hair.
[Sidenote: _Stratford._ Residence of Philip Ludwell Lee.]
Cousin Nancy and myself have just returned from taking an airing in the Chariot. We went to _Stratford_: walked in the Garden, sat about two hours under a butifull shade tree, and eat as many figs as we could. How did we wish for our dear Polly, and think that was the only thing we wanted to compleat our happiness!
We brought to _Chantilly_ Col. H. Lee"s little Boy. He has stayed at _Stratford_ since his Papa and Mama went to New York. I a.s.sure you he is a very fine child. Dinner announced. Adieu.
Nancy is rather unwell this evening; she is a little fatigued with her ride. Adieu. I must go and talk, to raise her spirits.
October 4.
To-day I have been busy making a cap. I don"t think it clever, though I have spent a good while about it. Nancy and myself have been locked up stairs by ourselves all day. She is better to-day than she was yesterday.
Oh, my Marcia, how hard is our fate! that we should be deprived of your dear company, when it would compleat our Felicity--but such is the fate of Mortals! We are never permitted to be perfectly happy. I suppose it is right, else the Supreme Disposer of all things would not have permitted it: we should perhaps have been more neglectful than we are of our duty.
October 5.
Mr. Pinkard and a Mr. Lee came here to-day from the Fredericksburg races. How sorry I was to hear "Republican" was beaten. I was really interested in that race. Adieu. I must c.r.a.pe my hair for dinner.
It is a delightful evening. Nancy and myself are going to take a ride out in the Chariot. Oh, my Polly, why are you not here to join us! Away with such thoughts--they almost make me melloncholy. Nancy calls me.
Adieu again. I come! I come!
We are returned, and had a delightful ride, and a much more delightful _tete-a-tete_. This Lee appears to be a hum-drum, disagreeable Creature.
Tea is ready, and I must bid you good-by.
October 6.
I wish, my Polly, you could see Mrs. Pinkard. You would be delighted with her. She is, I think, among the finest Women I have seen; and is thought very beautifull.
I have been very agreeably entertained this evening, reading a Novel called _Malvern Dale_. It is something like _Evelina_, though not so pretty.
I have a piece of advice to give you, which I have before urged--that is, to read something improving. Books of instruction will be a thousand times more pleasing [after a little while] than all the novels in the World. I own myself, I am too fond of Novel-reading; but, by accustoming myself to reading other Books, I have become less so, and I wish my Polly to do the same.
October 7.
This is Sunday. We have been collected in the Chamber, reading the Lessons of the day. After that, Nancy and myself plann"d a ride out on horseback, which we are just going to put in execution. Adieu. I will resume my pen on my return.
We are returned. I can"t say I was much delighted with the ride, as I rode a very hard-going horse. They had dined when we returned.
October 8.
Mr. Newton dined here to-day. I believe you know him, and therefore need not describe him. I have been very busy to-day working a little screne, to hold in my hand to prevent the fire from burning my face. I think it will be beautifull.
I have seated myself in my (w)rapper to scribble a little. Mr. Pinkard has been reading a Play all the evening to Nancy and myself. We were much pleased with it. Nancy grows better and better every day--which I am delighted at. Adieu: sleep has closed my eyes.
October 9.
I was in danger last night of commiting a great piece of rudeness; the Play Mr. Pinkard read us was the _Bell Strattagem_. Mr. Newton was by when it was read. Some one ask"t him sometime afterwards what the Play was. He said the _Country Cousin_. I thought I should have burst with laughter!
The two Gentlemen went to the Court-house to-day. Molly and myself took a walk this evening, and should have walk"t much farther had we not met the Gentlemen. Mr. Newton dismounted and walkt home with us.
October 10.
I have seated myself to give you the adventures of to-day. Mr. C.
Washington returned to-day from Fredericksburg. You can"t think how rejoiced Hannah was, and how dejected in his absence she always is. You may depend upon it, Polly, this said Matrimony alters us mightely. I am afraid it alienates us from every one else. It is, I fear, the bane of Female Friendship. Let it not be with ours, my Polly, if we should ever Marry. Adieu. Harriet calls me to supper. Once more good-by.
October 11.
Hannah and myself were going to take a long walk this evening, but were prevented by the two horred Mortals, Mr. Pinkard and Mr. Washington, who seized me and kissed me a dozen times in spite of all the resistance I could make. They really think, now they are married, they are prevaliged to do any thing.
October 12.
I am going to tell you a little piece of a secret; but you must never mention it. Nancy had an admirer lately--who do you think it is? No other than Mr. Newton. He got his discard yesterday.
It is in the evening. Nancy and myself have been to visit our little garden [you have frequently heard me speak of it]. We were so unfortunate as to make it on the side of the hill, and it is wash"t very much. Do you visit our dear pledge, and think of your Lucy? How often do I think with rapture on the happy hours we spent sitting on the fence, singing and looking at the river with the Moon shining on it. Oh, how beautiful it look"t! Adieu.