At the opera I learned to be a complete flirt; for there I saw Argyle incessantly with Lady W——, and there it became incumbent on me either to laugh or cry. I let him see me flirt and look tender on Lord Burghersh one night on purpose, and the next day, when we three graces met him in the park, I placed in his hand a letter, which he was hastily concealing in his pocket with a look of gratified vanity, believing no doubt that it was one of my soft effusions on the beauty of his eyes.
"For the post," said I, nodding as we were turning to leave him, and we all three burst into a loud laugh together.
The letter was addressed to Lord Burghersh, merely to tell him to join us at Amy's after the next opera.
The next opera was unusually brilliant. Amy's box was close to ours, and almost as soon as we were seated she entered, dressed in the foreign style, which became her, accompanied by Counts Woronzow, Beckendorff and Orloff. Beckendorf was half mad for her and wanted to marry her with his left hand.
"Why not with the right?" said Amy.
"I dare not," answered Beckendorff, "without the consent of the Emperor of Russia."
Amy had desired him to go to Russia and obtain this consent from the Emperor more than a month before; but still he lingered!
Our box was soon so crowded that I was obliged to turn one out as fast as a new face appeared. Julia and Fanny left me, to pay a visit to the "enemy," as Luttrell used to call Amy. Observing me for an instant alone, the Duke of Devonshire came into my box, believing that he did me honour.
"Duke," said I, "you cut me in Piccadilly to-day."
"Don't you know," said thickhead, "don't you know, Belle Harriette, that I am blind as well as deaf, and a little absent too?"