168 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xm 



manner in which these two harmless women are treated. I 

 never saw such a place for taking huff. Madame Soret has 

 taken me so much en grippe that she will hardly speak to 

 me, and I can't guess how I have offended her. I thought 

 her very tiresome at Mr Simond's party the first time we 

 met, but I don't recollect I ever said so to anybody. But 

 to return to Jessie's party I played cards with Madame 

 Butine, Mr Viesseux whom I liked very well, and young 

 Spencer son of the Poet, 1 beau comme ramour, but too 

 sensible of it. Jessie did not ask any of her select acquaint- 

 ance , Madame Constant, de Candolle, and half a score others 

 who she said would think themselves affronted to be asked 

 to such a party did you ever hear the like ? I feel as if I 

 were walking upon eggs among them. Yet I like a great 

 many of them, but I don't much enjoy the feeling of being 

 so much on sufferance with my bad French among them, 

 and I am discouraged in getting the better of it from seeing 

 what little progress Jessie has made. I doubt our modest 

 Harriet's being entirely happy here if ever it is her fate to 

 settle here. Jessie is in fact every thing to her, but will 

 Jessie be enough ? Jessie had a letter from her yesterday 

 written in such gay spirits that it was quite delightful to 

 see, yet Surtees seems very ill. She speaks in another place 

 so prettily upon sisterly affection that I must quote her. 

 ' Could she know the infinite blessing of sisterly affection, 

 and the happiness it can give when there is little other 

 source from whence to draw it, she would foster and nourish 

 the holy flame with a vestal's care " I have spoiled it by 

 taking it out of its place, but it shews you the source of her 

 own happiness. 



Jessie grumbles exceedingly at going so soon to Chene, but 

 I like it. I never saw such an universal favourite as she is 

 among the men. I have been speculating upon the reason, 

 and I think I have discovered it to be a little degree of 

 coquetry that she mixes up in her manner that makes her 



1 W. R. Spencer (1769 1834), a minor poet who had a certain 

 popularity. He appears in Rejected Addresses : " Sobriety cease to 

 be sober." 



