1813-1814] Madame de Stael's Novels 47 



they had never seen her more delightful. She said she 

 should never write another novel because she could never 

 again feel the passion of love, and it was necessary for her 

 to feel the passion she described. There was one thing 

 she said she deeply repented having written, that on divorce 

 in Delphine. On Saturday the Stae'ls again dined with the 

 Mackintoshes and Payne- Knight. 1 Both Jessie and Fanny 

 were then present, but they were far from enjoying it, the 

 dinner was such a curious scene of blunder of the servants, 

 odd management and under-directions from Kitty, who 

 was too much occupied with her bad dinner to promote 

 conversation or have any time for it. The evening of that 

 day there was a small but very brilliant party, consisting 

 of the Staff ords, Lansdownes and Kinnairds. My sisters 

 appeared well pleased that they had seen the party, but I 

 fancy at the time-being there was not much pleasure in the 

 sight. They were however much taken with Lady Lans- 

 downe and Lady Charlotte Gore's manners, and Mr Knight 

 they thought very agreeable in spite of his bad countenance 

 but I must not encroach on Jessie's province, and forestall 

 by a dry sketch what she has been seeing and will soon 

 narrate to you. 



Mackintosh is going on with his month's confinement 

 from evening parties out of his own house, and he thinks 

 himself the better for it. Kitty is coming down here 

 to-morrow and has invited me to return with her to be 

 present at a party at Mrs Warren's on Saturday, but I do 

 not think I shall go; it is not worth the trouble. Since I 

 have lost half my pleasure in Mackintosh's company I feel 

 very little disposed to go to George Street without Jessie's 

 or Fanny's support, for he is always so glad to see them 

 that going with them secures me a kind welcome also; but 

 I sometimes think I am perhaps doing foolishly in not 

 seeking society which is often so excellent, and, which when 

 I am quite out of the way of, I may regret. 



Now, as the prospect for our going abroad appears so 

 fair, I have begun with great spirit Italian, but as I am so 



1 The famous classical archaeologist, collector of gems, etc. 



