Saturday morning I spent in visiting. At dinner we had Mrs. Lambart and
Colonel Campbell. All the discourse was upon Augusta Byron's having
made a conquest of Captain Brisbane, and the match was soon concluded
upon,--at least, they all allowed it would be decided this night, when
she was to go with us to the play; and if Captain Brisbane was there,
why then he was in for it, and the thing was done.
Well--Augusta came at the usual time; Colonel Campbell took leave, but
Mrs. Lambart accompanied us to the play: and, in the lobby, the first
object we saw was Captain Brisbane. He immediately advanced to us, and,
joining our party, followed us into our box.
Nothing could equal the wickedness of Mrs. Thrale and Mrs. Lambart;
they smiled at each other with such significance! Fortunately, however,
Augusta did not observe them.
Well, we took our seats, and Captain Brisbane, by getting into the
next box, on a line with ours, placed himself next to Augusta:[129] but
hardly had Mrs. T. and L. composed their faces, ere I heard the box-door
open. Every one looked round but me, and I had reasons for avoiding such
curiosity,--reasons well enough founded, for instantly grins, broader
than before, widened the mouths of the two married ladies, while even
Miss Thrale began a titter that half choaked her, and Augusta, nodding
to me with an arch smirk, said, “Miss Burney, I wish you joy!”
To be sure I could have no doubt who entered, but, very innocently,
I demanded of them all the cause of their mirth. They scrupled not
explaining themselves; and I found my caution, in not mentioning the
query that had been put to me, availed me nothing, for the captain was
already a marked man in my service!
He placed himself exactly behind me, but very quietly and silently, and
did not, for some minutes, speak to me; afterwards, however, he did a
little,--except when my favourite, Mr. Lee, who acted Old Norval, in
“Douglas,” was on the stage, and then he was strictly silent. I am in no
cue to write our discourse; but it was pleasant and entertaining enough
at the time, and his observations upon the play and the players were
lively and comical. But I was prodigiously worried by my own party,
who took every opportunity to inquire how I was entertained and so
forth,--and to snigger.
Two young ladies, who seemed about eighteen, and sat above us were so
much shocked by the death of Douglas, that both burst into a loud fit
of roaring, like little children,--and sobbed on, afterwards, for almost
half the farce! I was quite astonished; and Miss Weston complained that
they really disturbed her sorrows; but Captain Bouchier was highly
diverted, and went to give them comfort, as if they had been babies,
telling them it was all over, and that they need not cry any more.
_Monday._--At breakfast, Mrs. Thrale said,
“Ah, you never tell me your love-secrets, but I could tell you one if I
chose it!”