though not of a
sanguine, I am not of a desponding nature; and though I never look
forward with any great satisfaction to the future, I seldom find it
difficult to accept the present with tolerable equanimity.... I
spent the evening on Wednesday with Mrs. Jameson. She is just
returned to town, and came immediately, thinking you were here, to
engage us for the next evening; and as you did not come I went, and
spent three hours very pleasantly with her. She knows so much, and
I am so very ignorant, that her conversation is delightfully
instructive as well as amusing, full of interest and information.
Poor woman! she left Tedsley and a very agreeable party to come up
to town upon a false alarm of "Francis I.'s" coming out. I think I
have told you of the work upon Shakespeare she is engaged with; she
has been teaching herself to etch, and has executed some charming
designs, with which she means to illustrate it. I have not an idea
what our plans for this summer are to be; whether America, or the
provinces, or the King's Bench; but I suppose we shall see a little
more clearly into the future by the time you come to us; and if we
do not, abundantly "sufficient for the day is the evil thereof"
with us just now.... I have been reading nothing but Daru's
"History of Venice" lately. How could you tell me to read that sad
story, "The Borderers"! I half killed myself with crying over it,
and did not recover from the effect it had upon me for several
days.

Dearest H----, I am writing nonsense, and with an effort, for I am
very low; and so I will leave off.

Your affectionate
F. A. K.

_Friday, March 2d._--I read Shirley's "Gentleman of Venice," and
did not like it much.... While I was riding in the park with John,
Mr. Willett came up to us, and told me, as great good news, that
they were out of Chancery, and had obtained an order to have their
money out of court. I thought this indeed good news, and we
cantered up the drive in hopes of meeting my mother in the
carriage; but she had gone home. On reaching home, I ran to look
for her, but thought she would like better to hear the news from my
father.

I told Dall of it, however; and she, who had just seen my father,