Lady Catherine, after an unseemly series of attempts, had been successful in securing subscriptions. The blessed vouchers had been got through a connection of one of Lady S——’s family (as her own had very disagreeably not seen fit to seek the approbation of this tribunal). Ten guineas a year, and an additional 10s. a-week was sufficient to purchase the mortification of seeing Anne roundly ignored. The lights of Almack’s shone in décolleté and rouge, knee-breeches and bicorns, and the dim presence of an unmarried girl, unwilling to speak, and in a plain (though very fine) dress could not be seen through the reflections of the brighter stars. Lady Catherine had resolved on the maternal precaution of instructing Anne that she was never to accept any gentleman who had the effrontery to suggest a waltz or, if a quadrille, only with a gentleman of a truly unexceptional character; such an injunction was superfluous, as Anne could never be prevailed upon to dance, not even anything so safe as a reel. Less favoured ladies danced a good deal, and the only gentleman even to approach Miss de Bourgh was an infamous Bond Street lounger whose name was Stane; he desired a Lady Patroness to introduce him to a partner, stipulating, “Let her be charming!” and, as she had promised Lady Catherine that she would chuse a partner for Anne, he came scraping and lisping apace, with many flourishes and absurd sayings. Anne was vastly amused at his conceit and folly, and to her mother’s horror and the Lady Patroness’ boundless indignation, she declined, quoting a famous authoress with the line, “You are all kindness, Mr. Stane, but I must decline; ‘I cannot approve this plan of settling partners unseen—the usual privilege the men have pleasing themselves I think far preferable, as only one can be dissatisfied then, but otherwise, two may.’” Anne’s thinly veiled ennui had, accordingly, dealt Lady Catherine the mortification of having their subscriptions rescinded by the Ladies Patronesses after the second Wednesday, the collective wisdom of whom universally decreed that animated and attractive behaviour, in addition to family and fashionable dress, was de rigueur.

The masquerades were not to be thought of, although the censuring might have regarded such an omission as the most serious deterrent to Lady Catherine’s chances of success, for a mask would have prevented any potential admirer from noticing the lack of animation of its possessor. Eventually, despite the criminal cost of a box, the elegant, extremely fashionable dress of the de Bourgh ladies could be seen regularly in the crowded tiers; one of them could be seen affecting amusement and acquaintance at the opera or the ballet.