d with
clothing! Felt very _keen_ about hunting; the same feeling always
comes on at the fall of the leaf; shouldn't wonder if I could jump a
gate, with my present nerves. Should like once in my life to _plant_ a
field of horsemen, and show these gentlemen how a woman _can_ ride.
Interrupted in my daydreams by Lady Horsingham's bell, and huddled on
my things in a tremendous hurry; forced to wash my hands in _cold_
water, which made the tips of my fingers as red as radishes for the
rest of the day. Got down to prayers by half-past eight, and took Aunt
Deborah her tea and toast from the breakfast-table at nine.

Breakfast dull, and most of the party cross: Aunt Horsingham is
generally out of humour at breakfast-time, particularly on Sundays.
Cousin Amelia suggested my towels were too coarse: "they had rubbed a
colour into my cheeks like a dairymaid's." John said I looked like a
rose--a tea-rose, he added, as I handed him his cup. Cousin John is
getting quite poetical, and decidedly improved since he left London. I
wonder whom he got that letter from that was lying on his plate when
he came down. I am _not_ curious, but I just glanced at the direction,
and I am certain it was in a lady's hand. Not that it's any business
of mine; only I should think Miss Molasses would hardly have the face
to _write_ to him. I wonder whether there is anything between John and
Miss Molasses. I asked him, half spitefully, the other day how he
could bear to be parted from her now the season was over; and he
seemed so pleased at my taking an interest in the thing at all that I
had no patience to go on with my cross-questioning. I don't think
she's good enough for John, I must confess; but he is easily imposed
on by young ladies--as indeed, for that matter, are the rest of his
great thick-headed sex. When breakfast was over and Cousin Amelia went
off as usual to practise her music for an hour or two, I thought I
might steal away for a visit to my favourites in the stable; indeed I
saw John at the front door in a hideous wide-awake, with a long cigar
in his mouth. But I was waylaid by Aunt Horsingham; and as these
visits to the stable are strictly forbidden, I was obliged to follow
her into the drawing-room, and resign myself for the whole morning to
that dreadful worsted-work, more especially as it was coming on a
drizzling mist, and there was no pretext for my usual walk.

"I am glad to see you getting more sociable, Kate," said Lady
Horsingh