The fidalgo, who had been deeply engaged in a game of cards, knew nothing of his daughter; and when, at last, it was discovered that she had retired to her chamber, which no persuasions could induce her to leave, the old lady grew more sour than ever, and vowed she would never again be guilty of the folly and wickedness of giving a party to please any human beings, as other old ladies have often since done, when their soirees have not gone off as well as they expected.
"The Prime Minister"
W.H.G. Kingston
Then he wrote more; he wrote a story of something that happened at one of her soirees.
"Superwomen"
Albert Payson Terhune
"But, this is growing tedious, Harry, I must get over the ground faster; two months passed over at Paris, during which we continued to live at the 'Londres,' giving dinners, soirees, dejeuners, with the prettiest equipage in the 'Champs Elysees,' we were quite the mode; my wife, which is rare enough for an Englishwoman, knew how to dress herself.
"The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer, Complete"
Charles James Lever (1806-1872)