Letter from Frances Burney to Susanna Burney, 7 April 1780

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

147

text excerpt

...[T]he 3d day we reached the Devizes.

And here, Mrs Thrale and I were much pleased with our Hostess, Mrs Lawrence, who seemed something above her station in her Inn: - but, while we were at Cards before supper, we were much surprised by the sound of a Piano Forte; - I jumped up and ran to listen whence it proceeded; I found it came from the next Room, where the Overture to the Buona Figliuola was performing. The Playing was very decent, - I returned to finish the Rubber; ... Well, another Deal was hardly played, ere we heard the sound of a voice, - and out I ran again, - the singing, however, detained me not long, as it was equally tasteless and powerless, - and so back I whisked: but the performance, however indifferent in itself, yet surprised us at the Bear at the Devizes, and therefore Mrs Thrale determined to know from whom it came: accordingly, she tapped at the Door; - a very handsome Girl, about 13 years Old, with fine Dark Hair upon a finely formed Forehead, opened it;...another Girl, however, advanced, and obligingly and gracefully invited us in... We found they were both the Daughters of our Hostess.

excerpt from 'Letter from Frances Burney to Susanna Burney, 7 April 1780' pp. 147 (205 words)