This Is An Evening Of Wonders, Indeed!

In A Letter From Bath To Her Sister, Cassandra, One Senses Her Frustration At Her Sheltered Existence, Tuesday, 12 May 1801. Another Stupid Party . . . With Six People To Look On, And Talk Nonsense To Each Other.

My Idea Of Good Company Is The Company Of Clever, Well-informed People Who Have A Great Deal Of Conversation; That Is What I Call Good Company.

In Vain Have I Struggled. It Will Not Do. My Feelings Will Not Be Repressed. You Must Allow Me To Tell You How Ardently I Admire And Love You.

I Never Wish To Offend, But I Am So Foolishly Shy, That I Often Seem Negligent, When I Am Only Kept Back By My Natural Awkwardness.

She Hoped To Be Wise And Reasonable In Time; But Alas! Alas! She Must Confess To Herself That She Was Not Wise Yet.