tting better
again.

* * * * *

Last night we were in Sydney Gardens again, as
there was a repetition of the gala which went off
so ill on the 4th. We did not go till nine, and
then were in very good time for the fireworks,
which were really beautiful, and surpassing my
expectation; the illuminations too were very
pretty. The weather was as favourable as it was
otherwise a fortnight ago. The play on Saturday
is, _I hope_, to conclude our gaieties here, for
nothing but a lengthened stay will make it
otherwise. We go with Mrs. Fellowes.

The Austens quitted Bath on Wednesday, June 26, reaching Steventon on
the following day, and leaving the Leigh Perrots to an unexpected
fate--which they had done nothing whatever to deserve.[102]

On Thursday, August 8, Mrs. Leigh Perrot went into a milliner's shop at
the corner of Bath and Stall Streets, kept by a certain Mrs. Gregory
(but known as Smith's), and bought a piece of _black_ lace. She paid for
it, and took it away wrapped up in a piece of paper. After leaving the
shop, Mrs. Perrot met her husband and strolled about with him. As they
re-passed the same shop a quarter of an hour later, Mrs. Gregory rushed
out and accused Mrs. Perrot of having in her possession a piece of
_white_ lace. Mrs. Perrot replied that if so it must have been put up
in her parcel by mistake. She then handed her parcel to Mrs. Gregory to
examine, when a piece of _white_ lace was found therein as well as a
piece of _black_. Mrs. Gregory at once accused Mrs. Perrot of having
stolen it, and, refusing to listen to any protest, made off with the
incriminating piece of lace. A little later, as the Perrots were turning
the corner of the Abbey Churchyard, Charles Filby, the shop assistant
who had actually sold the black lace, came up and asked Mr. Perrot his
name. Mr. Perrot replied that he lived at No. 1 Paragon Buildings, and
that his name was on the door.

On the same day, Mrs. Gregory and Filby went to the town hall to lay
information before the magistrates; but found them so busily engaged in
dealing with the excesses of the soldiers who were at that time passing
through Bath, that the information could not be taken before August 14.
Meanwhile, the piece of _white_ lace was lodged--at any rate, for the
night of August 8--at the house of a certain print