Family affairs

It was while they were up north that the small family of three were unexpectedly confronted with a visit with the ‘travelers’, a part of the extended clan that were usually discussed in hush tones in quiet corners, the scandalous behaviour of this kin creating great amusement in their restrained society.

The ‘travelers’ were blood kin to Mrs Q. through a waywaid aunt, and while she enjoyed glorious memories of childhood romps with her cousins, the prospect of meeting as adults was almost too overwhelming. As members of mature society, Mrs Q. and her cousin had indeed chosen greatly varied paths in life. Mrs. Q saw herself much a part of genteel society, raising her daughters through good education with a high focus on the mores of the day. Yet it is a most usual part of genteel society to look downwards on others of perhaps less fortunate circumstance, perceiving it as a slight stain on the family name.

Mrs S., her cousin, had entered mature society very early, after a somewhat disgraceful elopement with Mr S. in a fashion very similar to Mrs. Lydia Bennet Wickham of Meryton. The disgrace to the family was keenly felt, but the family hastened to smile and pretend nothing was askance, with the hope the marriage would smother all gossip through their society.

It was now a good twenty-five years on and the S. clan had generously increased, with five children and their partners and five grandchildren to add. The family would have enjoyed a most reputable name but had taken on a roaming lifestyle, traveling as a gypsy clan of fifteen, with the ever positive Mr S. seeking work along the way. Perhaps the most alarming aspect was that their abodes were not the manors, country houses or cottages to which genteel society was most used to, but were caravans on wheels and canvas tents. The family S would travel from county to county, setting up home wherever required and turning a eager attitude to whatever work was available to hand.

Upon re-acquaintance with Mrs S., Mrs Q. was dutifully shamed to the awkward realisation that her own ownership of snobbery was of far greater shame than the perceived disgrace of a roaming lifestyle. The re-acquaintance was such a delightful affair, ending with many promises of future visitations and the declaration it should not take another twenty five years to occur.

The burden of correspondence

Correspondence is a most usual part of a lady’s day as it is the means to which she can maintain her acquaintances, ensure she is a part of the conversations following through her community and she can keep a health check on the ebbs and flows of the goings-on. Poor Mrs Q. felt so exceedingly badly as her correspondence was tremendously behind.

She had so much to share about their journeying northwards and yet there were just too many difficulties and obstacles placed in her way to attend to her letter writing. This is not to say the obstacles were unpleasant for indeed they were delightful. Morning teas with an ever-changing variety of guests who, upon learning the southern kin had arrived in the region, descended full of conversation and news. Lunching picnics with traveling to day baths or the manors of distant cousins, to leisurely chat, watching the children mix gaily with each other, bonding over the flora and fauna. And nights were by no means restful either with balls especially gathered to honour their visitation, or banquets – again with an ever shifting tide of acquaintances seeking an audience.

Mrs Q. was usually a diligent correspondent when she had promised to write, and her shame was increased by her knowledge of all the wonderful news she had to share. It was just so increasingly difficult to find the time to put pen to  paper, or in this instance to tap out a blog. She promised herself she would address this disgraceful neglect but posting two letters in the same day. ‘That will do it’, she murmured to herself, ‘even if I must stay awake half the night’.