Left to myself, I did not dare stop to think, nor look round upon my new abode, nor consider for how long I was taking possession; I rang for my new maid, and immediately dressed for dinner.  I now took the most vigorous resolutions to observe the promise I had made my dear father.  Now all was filially settled, to borrow my own words, I needed no monitor to tell me it would be foolish, useless, even wicked, not to reconcile myself to my destiny.

The many now wishing for just the same—­O! could they look within me.  I am married, my dearest Susan—­I look upon it In that light—­I was averse to forming the union, and I endeavoured to escape it; but my friends interfered—­they prevailed—­and the knot is tied.  What then now remains but to make the best wife in my power?  I am bound to it in duty, and I will strain every nerve to succeed.

A military gourmand.

When summoned to dinner, I found Mrs. Schwellenberg and a German officer, Colonel Polier, who is now an attendant of Prince Charles of Mecklenburg, the queen’s brother, who is on a visit to their majesties.  I was introduced to himpand we took our places.  I was offered the seat of Mrs. Haggerdorn, which was at the head of the table; but that was an undertaking I could not bear.  I begged leave to decline it; and as Mrs. Schwellenberg left me at my own choice, I planted myself quietly at one side.

Colonel Polier, though a German officer, is of a Swiss family.

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He is a fat, good-humoured man, excessively fond Of eating and drinking.  His enjoyment of some of the fare, and especially of the dessert, was really laughable; he could never finish a speech he had begun, if a new dish made its appearance, without stopping to feast his eyes upon it, exclaim something in German, and suck the inside of his mouth; but all so openly, and with such perfect good-humour, that it was diverting without anything distasteful.

After dinner we went upstairs into Mrs. Schwellenber,-’s room, to drink coffee.  This is a daily practice.  Her rooms are exactly over mine ; they are the same size, and have the same prospect, but they are much more sumptuously fitted up.

A succession of visitors.

Colonel Polier soon left us, to attend Prince Charles.  Mrs. Schwellenberg and I had then a long t`ete-`a-t`ete, in which I found her a woman of understanding, and fond of conversation.  I was called down afterwards to Miss Port, who was eager to see me in my new dwelling, and dying with impatience to know, hear, and examine everything about me.  She ran about to make all the inquiries and discoveries she could for me, and was so highly delighted with my situation, it was impossible not to receive some pleasure even from looking at her.  She helped me to unpack, to arrange, to do everything that came in the way.

In a short time Madame de la Fite entered, nearly as impatient as herself to be my first visitor.  She was quite fanciful and entertaining about my succeeding to Mrs. Haggerdorn, and repeatedly turned round to look at me fresh and fresh, to see if it was really me, and me in that so long differently appropriated apartment.