_Friday._--In the evening was the last ball expected to be at Bath this
season, and therefore knowing we could go to no other, it was settled
we should go to this. Of our party were Mrs. Byron and Augusta, Miss
Philips, and Charlotte Lewis.
Mrs. Byron was placed at the upper end of the room by Mr. Tyson, because
she is honourable, and her daughter next to her; I, of course, the
lowest of our party; but the moment Mr. Tyson had arranged us, Augusta
arose, and nothing would satisfy her but taking a seat not only next to
but below me; nor could I for my life get the better of the affectionate
humility with which she quite supplicated me to be content. She was soon
after followed by Captain Brisbane, a young officer who had met her in
Spring Gardens, and seemed much struck with her, and was now presented
to her by Mr. Tyson for her partner.
Captain Brisbane is a very pretty sort of young man, but did not much
enliven us. Soon after I perceived Captain Bouchier, who, after talking
some time with Mrs. Thrale, and various parties, made up to us, and upon
Augusta's being called upon to dance a minuet, took her place, and began
a very lively sort of chit-chat.
I had, however, no small difficulty to keep him from abusing my friend
Augusta. He had once danced with her, and their commerce had not been
much to her advantage. I defended her upon the score of her amiable
simplicity and unaffected ingenuousness, but I could not have the
courage to contradict him when he said he had no notion she was very
brilliant by the conversation he had had with her. Augusta, indeed,
is nothing less than brilliant: but she is natural, artless, and very
affectionate. Just before she went to dance her minuet, upon my admiring
her bouquet, which was the most beautiful in the room, she tore from
it the only two moss roses in it, and so spoilt it all before her
exhibition, merely that I might have the best of it.
Country dances were now preparing, and after a little further chat,
Captain Bouchier asked me for the honour of my hand, but I had
previously resolved not to dance, and therefore declined his offer. But
he took, of the sudden, a fancy to prate with me, and therefore budged
not after the refusal.
He told me this was the worst ball for company there had been the
whole season; and, with a wicked laugh that was too significant to be
misunderstood, said, “And, as you have been to no other, perhaps you
will give this for a specimen of a Bath ball!”
He told me he had very lately met with Hannah More, and then mentioned
Mrs. Montagu and Mrs. Carter, whence he took occasion to say most high
and fine things of the ladies of the present age,--their writings,
and talents; and I soon found he had no small reverence for us
blue-stockings.
About this time Charlotte,[127] who had confessedly dressed herself
for dancing, but whose pretty face had by some means been overlooked,
drawled towards us, and asked me why I would not dance?
“I never intended it,” said I, “but I hoped to have seen you.”
“No,” said she, yawning, “no more shall I,--I don't choose.”
“Don't you?” said Captain Bouchier, dryly, “why not?
“Why, because I don't like it.”
“O fie!” cried he; “consider how cruel that is.”
“I must consider myself,” said she, pertly; “for I don't choose to heat
myself this hot weather.”
Just then a young man came forward, and requested her hand. She
coloured, looked excessively silly, and walked off with him to join the
dancers. When, between the dances, she came our way, he plagued her, a
la Sir Clement.[128]
“Well,” cried he, “so you have been dancing this hot night! I thought
you would have considered yourself better?”
“Oh,” said she, “I could not help it--I had much rather not;--it was
quite disagreeable to me.”
“No, no,--pardon me there!” said he, maliciously; “I saw pleasure dance
first in your eyes; I never saw you look more delighted: you were quite
the queen of smiles!”
She looked as if she could have killed him; and yet, from giddiness and
good-humour, was compelled to join in the laugh.
After this we went to tea. When that was over, and we all returned to
the ball-room, Captain Bouchier followed me, and again took a seat next
mine, which he kept, without once moving, the whole night.
He again applied to me to dance, but I was more steady than Charlotte;
and he was called upon, and reproached by Captain Brisbane and others
for sitting still when there were so few dancers; but he told them he
could not endure being pressed into the service, or serving at all under
the master of the ceremonies.
Well, I have no more time for particulars, though we had much more
converse; for so it happened that we talked all the evening almost
together, as Mrs. Thrale and Mrs. Byron were engaged with each other:
Miss Thrale, who did not dance, was fairly jockeyed out of her place
next me by Captain Bouchier, and the other young ladies were with their
partners. Before we broke up, this captain asked me if I should be at
the play next night?--“Yes,” I could not but say, as we had had places
taken some time; but I did not half like it, for his manner of asking
plainly implied, “If you go, why I will!”
When we made our exit, he saw me safe out of the rooms, with as much
attention as if we had actually been partners. As we were near home we
did not get into chairs; and Mr. Travell joined us in our walk.
“Why, what a flirtation,” cried Mrs. Thrale; “why, Burney, this is a man
of taste!--Pray, Mr. Travell, will it do? What has he.”
“Twenty thousand pounds, ma'am,” answered the beau.
“O ho! has he so?--Well, well, we'll think of it.”
Finding her so facetious, I determined not to acquaint her with the
query concerning the play, knowing that, if I did, and he appeared
there, she would be outrageous in merriment. She is a most dear
creature, but never restrains her tongue in anything, nor, indeed, any
of her feelings:--she laughs, cries, scolds, sports, reasons, makes
fun,--does everything she has an inclination to do, without any study
of prudence, or thought of blame; and pure and artless as is this
character, it often draws both herself and others into scrapes, which a
little discretion would avoid.