The Watsons (2): Diplomatic Display Oxford Bodleian Library, MS.Eng.e.3764
in fact was excellently qualified to shine at a round Game; & seldom few situations made him he never appeared to greater advantage.1 He played with Spirit & had a
great deal He played with Eagerneſs – than when aſsisting at one. — & He talked muchto say, & tho’though withoutwith no wit himself, cd .could sometimes without wit, sometimes said a lively thingmake use of the wit of an absent friend; & hada lively way
of saying retailing a commonplace,or saying a mere nothing, that did had great was abundantly effect useful at a Card Table. The ways, & good Jokesof Osborne Castle were now added to his ordinary meansof Entertainment; he repeated the smart
sayingsof one Lady Miſs Osborne, detailed the oversights of Miſs another, Carr,2 & indulged
them even with a copy of Ld .LordOsborne's mstile3 of overdrawing
himself on bothcards. – The Clock struck
nine, while hewas thus agreably occupied;
& when Nanny camein with her Master's Bason of Gruel, he hadthe pleasure of observing to Mr . Watson thathe should leave him at supper, while as he wenthome to dinner himself. — The Carriage wasordered to the door – & no
entreaties for his stayinglonger cd .could now avail, – for he well knew, that prevail; If he staid, he knewif he staidhe must sit down to supper in leſs than ten minutes –which to a Man whose4 meant heart been long washad5 fixed oncalling his next meal a Dinner, was must bequite6 a very late dinner, was insupportable. —On finding him determined to go, Margt ..Margaret began to wink
Footnotes
- 1.
- Full stop an inline insertion. Back to context...
- 2.
- Comma adapted to function as caret. Back to context...
- 3.
- 'st' written over 'm'. Back to context...
- 4.
- Originally 'who'. Back to context...
- 5.
- Originally 'was'. Back to context...
- 6.
- 'qu' written over 'be'. Back to context...