The Watsons (2): Diplomatic Display Oxford Bodleian Library, MS.Eng.e.3764
very becoming in so young a Man, but I amsure I had no claim to expect it; for I never exceptsaw him before in my Life. — By the bye,he enquired after one of my Daughters, butI do not
know which. I suppose you knowamong yourselves."–––
On the 3d . day after the Ball, as Nannyat fiveminutes before three, the dinner hour at Stanton, was beginning to bustle into the parlour withthe Tray & the Knife-case, she was suddenly two gentlemen oncalled
to Horseback the front door, by the sound of assmart a rap as the end of a
riding-whip cd .could [..]give1 — & tho’though charged by pause of curiosity on after a short exercise of wonder
& the part Miſs. W.Watson to let nobody in, re: Curiosity of the Miſs Watsons, they were:turned in half a minute, with a look of awkward dismay, to hold the parlour door open for Ld .Lord Osborne& Tom Musgrave. — The Surprise of the young Ladies may be imagined. No
visitors wouldhave been welcome at sucha moment; butsuch visitors as these — were such a one as Ld .Lord Osborneat least, a nobleman & a stranger, wasreally distreſsing. — He looked a little embar::raſsed himself, — as, onafter being introduced byhis
Footnotes
- 1.
- 'g' of 'give' written over 1-2 erased illegible letters. Back to context...