Miss Forrest is an immensely tall and not handsome young woman. Further I know not.
Next came my father, all gaiety and spirits. Then Mr. William Burke.[77]
Soon after, Sir Joshua returned home. He paid his compliments to everybody, and then brought a chair next mine, and said,
I don't know if I wrote to you a speech to that purpose, which I made to the Miss Palmers? and which, I suppose, they had repeated to him. He went on, saying I might as well fear hobgoblins, and that I had only to hold up my head to be above them all.
After this address, his behaviour was exactly what my wishes would have dictated to him, for my own ease and quietness; for he never once even alluded to my book, but conversed rationally, gaily, and serenely: and so I became more comfortable than I had been ever since the first entrance of company. Our confab was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. King; a gentleman who is, it seems, for ever with the Burkes;--and presently Lord Palmerston[78] was announced.
Well, while this was going forward, a violent rapping bespoke, I was sure, Mrs. Cholmondeley, and I ran from the standers, and turning my back against the door, looked over Miss Palmer's cards; for you may well imagine, I was really in a tremor at a meeting which so long has been in agitation, and with the person who, of all persons, has been most warm and enthusiastic for my book.
She had not, however, been in the room half an instant, ere my father came up to me, and tapping me on the shoulder, said, “Fanny, here's a lady who wishes to speak to you.”
I curtsied in silence, she too curtsied, and fixed her eyes full on my face: and then tapping me with her fan, she cried,
“Come, come, you must not look grave upon me.”
Upon this, I te-he'd; she now looked at me yet more earnestly, and, after an odd silence, said, abruptly--
“It can't be!--tell me, though, is it true?”
“Why don't you tell me?--but it can't be--I don't believe it!--no, you are an impostor!”
Sir Joshua and Lord Palmerston were both at her side--oh, how notably silly must I look! She again repeated her question of “Is it true?” and I again affected not to understand her: and then Sir Joshua, taking hold on her arm, attempted to pull her away, saying