1827-1830] Harriet Surtees at Chene 223 



ment, folly, nonsense of my childhood, that she has brought 

 it all back to me ; and a wise person would sometimes think 

 us drunk, if they heard all the nonsense and laughter we 

 give way to. Sismondi looks astonished, confounded, tho' 

 pleased, and asks the meaning of things to which there is 

 none. That passes his comprehension, but he laughs never- 

 theless from our merriment. Dearest little Sad, she is not 

 a bit afraid of him, and I trust will recover her nerves 

 entirely in such perfect repose as she will find here from all 

 that can agitate her. She has no dislike at all to our soirees, 

 she makes tea for me sometimes, and looks tranquil and at 

 her ease at them. We begin now to be solitary, and I 

 expect no company for the next three months. It is a time 

 of year I enjoy exceedingly. . . . 



In November Harry Wedgwood's long courtship of his 

 cousin, Jessie Wedgwood, was crowned with success. 



Mrs Josiah Wedgwood to her sister Emma Allen. 



26 Nov. 1829. 



. . . Harry will now have a stronger motive than ever 

 he had before to apply, and I am sure he will be content 

 with a little if he can make her happy, which I hope to God 

 he will do. . . . 



My little Emma is gone up with Harry to pay Fanny 

 Mackintosh a visit, and I have only just heard of her arrival 

 at Clapham, and seeing the dining-room all lighted up as 

 she drove into the court, and the Historian himself in full 

 discourse (as she saw through the window) with a party 

 of gentlemen. Emma, however, desired to be shown up 

 to Mrs Rich's room [Fanny's step-sister], where she had 

 a very comfortable cup of tea and dish of chat with her. 

 Fanny came up to ask Emma whether she would come 

 down and see Mr Wilberforce and Mr Whishaw and Mr R. 

 Grant, all which she declined, and I dare say Mackintosh 

 thought her a great fool for doing so. ... 





