small social experiences began during a visit at just sixteen years old to a dear friend in Fulham, who gave her some taste of London pleasures. Scarce more than a child as she was, she knew how to describe these in lively letters to her sister confidante. She was taken to some agreeable parties, in one of which she was introduced to Mrs. Nelson Coleridge, daughter of the poet, the beautiful "Eugenia" as she was then familiarly called, married to her cousin, and better known to posterity by her real name of Sara Coleridge. This charming lady talked to her almost the whole evening, to her delight, answering all her eager questions about Wordsworth and Coleridge; the husband standing by inquired of her hostess, "Who is that whom my wife is talking to? I never saw such a perfect little Hebe in my life."
In this respect she altered but little through life; she preserved to the last in aspect and character a something of childlike innocence. Her early shyness changed to retiringness; always yielding to others, she was thus naturally placed a good deal in the background. Self-assertion was impossible to her.
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