CHAPTER III
MY FIRST SEASON
(1849—1850)
Society itself, which should create
Kindness, destroys what little we have got.
To feel for none is the true social art
Of the world's lovers.
I WAS soon going through a London drilling. I was very much pleased with town, and the novelty of my life amused me and softened my grief at leaving my country home. I greatly disliked being primmed and scolded, and I thought dressing up an awful bore, and never going out without a chaperone a greater one. Some things amused me very much. One thing was, that all the footmen with powdered wigs who opened the door when one paid a visit were obsequious if one came in a carriage, but looked as if they would like to shut the door in one's face if one came on foot. Another was the way people stared at me; it used to make me laugh, but I soon found I must not laugh in their faces.
We put our house in order; we got pretty dresses, and we left our cards; we were all ready for the season's campaign. I made my début at a fancy ball
