[ As quickly as the meeting begins, it concludes and Mary curtsies politely as he takes his leave. The rest of her family do the same and as soon as he's gone, Kitty grabs Mary's arm, talking excitedly about having seen him here and how she will have to write to Georgiana about him. For a brief moment that unsettles Mary, but she recovers quickly and gives a slight incline of her head. ]
Yes. How strange to come across him in so large a place.
[ Her aunt begins to question her on the gentleman as Uncle Gardiner leads the way to their box and Mary finds that there is really little she can tell about the mysterious gentleman. ]
He lives in a cottage with his dog.
[ "A cottage? He must not keep a large staff." ]
No, he has no staff.
[ Aunt Gardiner's surprise is apparent. "Indeed. He must enjoy quite an independent lifestyle." ]
Very much so. I believe that is part of why Papa gets on with him so well.
[ "He seemed in such a hurry, though," Kitty muses. "I hope we might speak with him at the intermission." Then addressing their aunt she adds: "Papa invited him to Christmas dinner and he made such a fool of himself for a lark. Or rather, to distract Lydia for how she goes on, you know. He plonked at the pianoforte keys and sang horribly. It was all incredibly diverting."
Mary remembers it a little differently, knowing that Kitty and everyone else was cringing at his performance while Mary felt deep gratitude for him coming to her rescue. But she doesn't bother to correct her sister. The party finds their box and seat themselves and as Mary looks out across the theater she sees Mr. Cartwright in his box across the way. Feeling her cheeks grow hot, she lowers her gaze to her program as the opening music begins. Thankfully the production provides a good distraction. Unfortunately it's because it's not very good and Mary is thinking up critiques in her head. ]
no subject
Yes. How strange to come across him in so large a place.
[ Her aunt begins to question her on the gentleman as Uncle Gardiner leads the way to their box and Mary finds that there is really little she can tell about the mysterious gentleman. ]
He lives in a cottage with his dog.
[ "A cottage? He must not keep a large staff." ]
No, he has no staff.
[ Aunt Gardiner's surprise is apparent. "Indeed. He must enjoy quite an independent lifestyle." ]
Very much so. I believe that is part of why Papa gets on with him so well.
[ "He seemed in such a hurry, though," Kitty muses. "I hope we might speak with him at the intermission." Then addressing their aunt she adds: "Papa invited him to Christmas dinner and he made such a fool of himself for a lark. Or rather, to distract Lydia for how she goes on, you know. He plonked at the pianoforte keys and sang horribly. It was all incredibly diverting."
Mary remembers it a little differently, knowing that Kitty and everyone else was cringing at his performance while Mary felt deep gratitude for him coming to her rescue. But she doesn't bother to correct her sister. The party finds their box and seat themselves and as Mary looks out across the theater she sees Mr. Cartwright in his box across the way. Feeling her cheeks grow hot, she lowers her gaze to her program as the opening music begins. Thankfully the production provides a good distraction. Unfortunately it's because it's not very good and Mary is thinking up critiques in her head. ]