To his Father

Denmark Hill, Saturday—two o'clock [April 28, 1844].

My dearest Father,—I have not time for a letter, as I have been in town till now, and want to get a little work [done]—but I may just tell you what I have been about. At Sir R. I.'s there were: 1st, Mr, Rogers; 2nd, Lord Northampton; 3rd, Lord Arundel; 4th, Lord Mahon; 5th, R. M. Milnes; 6th, 7th, and 8th, two gentlemen whose names I could not catch and a lady; and 9th, Sir J. Franklin, the North Sea man. Monckton Milnes sat next me, and talked away most pleasantly, asking me to come and see him; of course I gave him my own card, and as I was writing the address on it, Rogers called to Milnes over the table. Sir R. said to Milnes, “Mr. Rogers is speaking to you,” and Rogers said in his dry voice, “Ask him for—an-other.” Milnes gave him the one I had written, and I replaced it. Afterwards in the passage, Rogers came up to me and took my arm most kindly. “I don't consider that you and I have met to-day”—(he had been on the other side and near the other end of the table)—“will you come and breakfast with me—Tuesday at 10?” Of course I expressed my gratitude, and then Lord Northampton came up and asked me to come to his soirée this evening, saying he would send me cards for the other nights. I said I could go, though I don't like soirées, but I thought you would have been vexed if I had refused.