ball, and still more good than
pleasant, for there were nearly sixty people, and
sometimes we had seventeen couple. The
Portsmouths, Dorchesters, Boltons, Portals, and
Clerks were there, and all the meaner and more
usual &c., &c.'s. There was a scarcity of men in
general, and a still greater scarcity of any that
were good for much. I danced nine dances out of
ten--five with Stephen Terry, T. Chute, and James
Digweed, and four with Catherine.[109] There was
commonly a couple of ladies standing up together,
but not often any so amiable as ourselves.

* * * * *

You were inquired after very prettily, and I hope
the whole assembly now understands that you are
gone into Kent, which the families in general
seemed to meet in ignorance of. Lord Portsmouth
surpassed the rest in his attentive recollection
of you, inquired more into the length of your
absence, and concluded by desiring to be
'remembered to you when I wrote next.'

Lady Portsmouth had got a different dress on, and
Lady Bolton is much improved by a wig. The three
Miss Terries were there, but no Annie; which was a
great disappointment to me. I hope the poor girl
had not set her heart on her appearance that
evening so much as I had. Mr. Terry is ill, in a
very low way. I said civil things for Edward to
Mr. Chute, who amply returned them by declaring
that, had he known of my brother's being at
Steventon, he should have made a point of calling
upon him to thank him for his civility about the
Hunt.

Steventon: Saturday evening [November 8, 1800].[110]

Having just finished _Les Veillees du Chateau_ I
think it a good opportunity for beginning a letter
to you while my mind is stored with ideas worth
transmitting.

* * * * *

I thank you for so speedy a return to my two last,
and particularly thank you for your anecdote of
Charlotte Graham and her cousin, Harriet Bailey,
which has very much amused both my mother and
myself. If you can learn anything farther of that
interesting af