eerful good
humour. They are both looking very well, but poor
little Cassy is grown extremely thin, and looks
poorly. I hope a week's country air and exercise
may do her good. I am sorry to say it can be but a
week. The baby does not appear so large in
proportion as she was, nor quite so pretty, but I
have seen very little of her. Cassy was too tired
and bewildered just at first to seem to know
anybody. We met them in the hall--the women and
girl part of us--but before we reached the
library she kissed me very affectionately, and has
since seemed to recollect me in the same way.

It was quite an evening of confusion, as you may
suppose. At first we were all walking about from
one part of the house to the other; then came a
fresh dinner in the breakfast-room for Charles and
his wife, which Fanny and I attended; then we
moved into the library, were joined by the
dining-room people, were introduced, and so forth;
and then we had tea and coffee, which was not over
till past 10. Billiards again drew all the odd
ones away, and Edward, Charles, the two Fannies,
and I sat snugly talking. I shall be glad to have
our numbers a little reduced, and by the time you
receive this we shall be only a family, though a
large family, party. Mr. Lushington goes
to-morrow.

Now I must speak of _him_, and I like him very
much. I am sure he is clever, and a man of taste.
He got a volume of Milton last night, and spoke of
it with warmth. He is quite an M.P., very smiling,
with an exceeding good address and readiness of
language. I am rather in love with him. I dare say
he is ambitious and insincere. He puts me in mind
of Mr. Dundas. He has a wide smiling mouth, and
very good teeth, and something the same complexion
and nose.

[October 18, 1813.]

No; I have never seen the death of Mrs.
Crabbe.[272] I have only just been making out from
one of his prefaces that he probably was married.
It is almost ridiculous. Poor woman! I will
comfort _him_ as well as I can, but I do not