This was all the cause of a good deal of grief to the young lady’s family. Often it was lamented, within her hearing too, that she possessed a respectable fortune, was a sensible young lady, still quite young, why could she not find a suitable match?

The answer was one she could detect easily enough in her mirror,for however much thought she might put into the layout of her gowns each night, she was no beauty. Though her wit might be sharper compared to the rather forward and flighty Lady Facebook, or her thoughts more profound than that of the sometimes, well, vulgar Mlle. Myspace–she lacked their spark, their dazzling air–that caused a crowd of both friends and admirers to gather round them wherever they went.

Lady LiveJournal’s friends, be they French of English, were few and far between. But those whose affection she had chosen to cultivate, she loved dearly. Hardly a day would pass when she did not write them, informing them of recent events. When they wrote her in turn, she was quick to reply , commenting, in honest yet sweet fashion, on all they had related to her. As soon as they received her missive, they hastened to respond in turn. Often lively and playful exchanges were had among the friends this way, and though they might rarely see each other, the passing days served only to draw them closer.

At present, she was engaged once again, to a young Mr. Six-Apart. A respectable, industrious gentleman, of good family, with hopes of being elevated to the knighthood one day. The news of her approaching marriage had been hailed with joy by many–save her closest friends. In civil, but frank terms, they urged her to reconsider. They did not think he was a man who would make her happy. When Lady LiveJournal protested, saying that she valued their advice, but was certain of their being mistaken, they took offense, so deeply that for an entire day, in the middle of cold, gray March–she heard not a word from them.

At last they relented somewhat, and said they would attempt to give the eager suitor the benefit of the doubt, if not for his sake, then for hers.