own away as kind anxiety usually is.
I continue quite well; in proof of which I have
bathed again this morning. It was absolutely
necessary that I should have the little fever and
indisposition which I had: it has been all the
fashion this week in Lyme. . . . We are quite settled
in our lodgings by this time, as you may suppose,
and everything goes on in the usual order. The
servants behave very well, and make no difficulties,
though nothing certainly can exceed the inconvenience
of the offices, except the general dirtiness of the
house and furniture, and all its inhabitants. I
endeavour, as far as I can, to supply your place,
and be useful, and keep things in order. I detect
dirt in the water decanters, as fast as I can, and
keep everything as it was under your
administration. . . . James is the delight of our
lives, he is quite an Uncle Toby's annuity to us.
My Mother's shoes were never so well blacked
before, and our plate never looked so clean. He
waits extremely well, is attentive, handy, quick
and quiet, and in short has a great many more than
all the cardinal virtues (for the cardinal virtues
in themselves have been so often possessed that
they are no longer worth having), and amongst the
rest, that of wishing to go to Bath, as I
understand from Jenny. He has the laudable thirst I
fancy for travelling, which in poor James Selby was
so much reprobated; and part of his disappointment
in not going with his master arose from his wish of
seeing London.

* * * * *

The ball last night was pleasant, but not full for
Thursday. My father staid very contentedly till
half-past nine (we went a little after eight), and
then walked home with James and a lanthorn, though
I believe the lanthorn was not lit, as the moon
was up; but this lanthorn may sometimes be a great
convenience to him. My mother and I staid about
an hour later. Nobody asked me the two first
dances; the two next I danced with Mr. Crawford,
and had I chosen to stay longer might have danced
with Mr. Granville, Mrs. Granvil