I thought this very odd. It almost had a round robin quality to it. Does anyone remember that old storytelling game (there was a scene in Little Women that played this game) where one person starts a story and then the next person takes over and goes in a completely different direction, as does the next and the next. It winds up being a funny jumble of scenes. Reading this felt a bit like that. There were short, disjointed, short episodes and situations, but some funny stuff - of course. My favorite bits:

• The three-month old's "infantine tho' sprightly answers"

• That Eliza is "so good as to choose your [the Dutchess's] Society in preference to going to Service."

• After giving her children "strict Charge not to hurt themselves," flinging them out the window!

• The fact that Eliza turns out to be not only the adopted daughter of the Harcourts, but the natural daughter as well - surprise! And that story Lady Harcourt gives to explain it all - what a "rational & convincing Account you have given of the whole affair," said Sir George"