Gossip Girl (circa 1879)

Link: Gossip Girl (circa 1879)

It would be difficult for me to analyze my feelings at this time. To pass in a few weeks from being an absolute “nobody” to what the Scottish so aptly describe as a “person,” to find myself not only invited to but watched for at all the great balls and parties, to hear the murmur as I entered the room, to be compelled to close the yard gates in order to avoid the curious, waiting crowd outside, before I could mount my horse for my daily canter in the Row—and to see my portrait roped round for protection at the Royal Academy—surely, I thought, London has gone mad, for there can be nothing about me to warrant this extraordinary excitement. I felt apologetic and inclined to disclaim aloud any hand in bringing about the strange attitude of all classes in London toward me. 

Indeed, there were many simple amusements I was now forced to forego that I had enjoyed in my “nobody” days. My husband greatly disliked all this publicity, sometimes losing his temper and blaming me! As can be readily understood, his position was an onerous one, for, aside from the vexation of seeing his wife stared at as a species of phenomenon, we never went out but that he was kept busy hurrying me from one place to another as he saw the familiar crowds beginning to assemble. Still, it is easy to imagine the marvel of it all to a country girl like me, who had not been allowed by my band of brothers to think much of myself in any way.