File:Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries- Volume 9, page 49, January 3, 1858.jpg

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room to invite me!) Sending my card up by the attendant darkey, I was shewn into a stylish sitting room, where were some dozen persons, and presently down came my lady [Elizabeth Gouverneur]. First she apologized for not receiving me in her room, saying there were visitors &c. "That means I'm not to stay long!" said I. "Oh! I hope you won’t think that! &c &c” said she, running on as usual. Then she spoke of the [132] Bleecker St folks; pitied Mrs [Catharine] Potter, wanted to back bite Mrs Church, talked against [William] Leslie, spoke slightingly of Pierce, praised her present abode, wished I'd come and board there — "It was only $10." — recounted her conquests (!) professed that she was "perfectly delighted" at meeting me at the Opera, declared that she had looked for me in order to propose a promenade, that she had cut the man who took her there and when I saw her was walking with another. Mingled with all this was her usual amount of folly, half real and half affected good-humour, and ever-predominant desire of admiration. I talked half complimentary and half impertinent. There was playing and singing going on. Presently in walks a gentleman and bids Mrs G a rather stiff good-night. (He was one of her cavaliers, from above — she had doubtless left him promising to return in five minutes!) Then "wouldn't I come up stairs." Certainly I would. Miss Lizzie Petit (Southerner and authoress of a novel or two), a male admirer, and the boy Gladdy [Adolphus Gouverneur] in the room. Mrs G doing her utmost in the way of fascination, and, as usual, horribly over doing it — I chaffing, cutting jokes and complimenting, — insomuch that Miss Lizzie and her companion were sometimes amused into joining the conversation, anon dropping into tete a tete, the lady reclining in free and easy attitude, on the