“SWEET BEWITCHING MRS. LOCKE.”
_Friday, April 23, 1784._--The sweet and most bewitching Mrs. Locke
called upon me in the evening, with her son George.[179] I let her in
and did so rejoice I had not gone to Mrs. Vesey's. But I rejoiced for
only a short time; she came but to take leave, for she was going to
Norbury the very next morning. I was quite heavy all the evening. She
does truly interest both head and heart. I love her already. And she
was so kind, so caressing, so soft; pressed me so much to fix a time for
going to Norbury; said such sweet things of Mrs. Phillips; and kissed me
so affectionately in quitting me, that I was quite melted by her.
What a charm has London lost for me by her departure sweet creature that
she is; born and bred to dispense pleasure and delight to all who see
or know her! She, Mrs. Thrale and Mrs. Delany, in their several ways
all excellent, possess the joint powers of winning the affections, while
they delight the intellects, to the highest summit I can even conceive
of human attraction. The heart-fascination of Mrs. Thrale, indeed, few
know---but those few must confess and must feel her sweetness, to them,
is as captivating as her wit is brilliant to all.