The style is dashing, the characterisation is true, the conversations are vividly reported ... She must have got a good deal of pleasure out of her writing, for she was a born writer in the pleasant slip-shod style, with occasional flashes of wit, an excellent eye for character, and a turn for an apt phrase.

Although Harriette had as yet a merely amateur status, some of the professionals had looked upon her with an appraising eye. While she was still living in Somers Town, a certain Mrs Porter of Berkeley Street had called upon her. Mrs Porter exercised the amiable trade of procuress ... the reason of her call was to bring proposals from General Walpole, who desired the honour of Harriette’s acquaintance. Harriette accepted the offer, and promised to meet the general at Mrs
Porter’s house on a given evening, but although she was in need of money her courage failed her at the prospect of a lover of over sixty, and she sent the old nurse, disguised under a thick veil, to take her place. The general swore and raved, and left Mrs Porter’s house, closely followed by his elderly charmer, vowing never to patronise the establishment again.