I was going to say get under the chair, but Mr. Sheridan, interrupting
me with a laugh, said,
“Set about one? very well, that's right.”
“Ay,” cried Sir Joshua, “that's very right. And You (to Mr. Sheridan)
would take anything of hers, would you not? unsight, unseen?”[90] What a
point blank question! who but Sir Joshua would have ventured it!
“Yes,” answered Mr. Sheridan, with quickness, “and make her a bow and my
best thanks into the bargain.”
Now my dear Susy, tell me, did you ever hear the fellow to such a speech
as this! it was all I could do to sit it.
“Mr. Sheridan,” I exclaimed, “are you not mocking me?”
“No, upon my honour! this is what I have meditated to say to you the
first time I should have the pleasure of seeing you.”
To be sure, as Mrs. Thrale says, if folks are to be spoilt, there is
nothing in the world so pleasant as spoiling! But I was never so much
astonished, and seldom have been so much delighted, as by this attack of
Mr. Sheridan. Afterwards he took my father aside, and formally repeated
his opinion that I should write for the stage, and his desire to see my
play, with encomiums the most flattering of “Evelina.”
And now, my dear Susy, if I should attempt the stage, I think I may
be fairly acquitted of presumption, and however I may fall, that I was
strongly pressed to try by Mrs. Thrale, and by Mr. Sheridan, the most
successful and powerful of all dramatic living authors, will abundantly
excuse my temerity.