Soon after, Sir Joshua returned home. He paid his compliments to
everybody, and then brought a chair next mine, and said,
“So you were afraid to come among us?”
I don't know if I wrote to you a speech to that purpose, which I made
to the Miss Palmers? and which, I suppose, they had repeated to him. He
went on, saying I might as well fear hobgoblins, and that I had only to
hold up my head to be above them all.
After this address, his behaviour was exactly what my wishes would have
dictated to him, for my own ease and quietness; for he never once even
alluded to my book, but conversed rationally, gaily, and serenely:
and so I became more comfortable than I had been ever since the first
entrance of company. Our confab was interrupted by the entrance of
Mr. King; a gentleman who is, it seems, for ever with the Burkes;--and
presently Lord Palmerston[78] was announced.
Well, while this was going forward, a violent rapping bespoke, I was
sure, Mrs. Cholmondeley, and I ran from the standers, and turning my
back against the door, looked over Miss Palmer's cards; for you may well
imagine, I was really in a tremor at a meeting which so long has been in
agitation, and with the person who, of all persons, has been most warm
and enthusiastic for my book.
She had not, however, been in the room half an instant, ere my father
came up to me, and tapping me on the shoulder, said, “Fanny, here's a
lady who wishes to speak to you.”
I curtsied in silence, she too curtsied, and fixed her eyes full on my
face: and then tapping me with her fan, she cried,
“Come, come, you must not look grave upon me.”
Upon this, I te-he'd; she now looked at me yet more earnestly, and,
after an odd silence, said, abruptly--
“But is it true?”
“What, ma'am?”
“It can't be!--tell me, though, is it true?”