“What you please!” was her answer; and
I waited nothing more explicit, but instantly sent
back my compliments, and that I should be very glad
of their company.
This was a most happy event to me : it first
let me know the possibility of receiving a friend
in my own room to tea.
They left me before the tea-party assembled in our
common room. It was very much crowded, everybody
being anxious to hear news of the queen. When
they were all gone but Mrs. Delany, Mrs. Schwellenberg
made us both very happy by a private communication
that the Prince of Wales was actually then in the Lodge,
whither he rode post haste, on the first news of the
alarm given to the queen.
Friday, Aug. 4-This was an extremely arduous morning
to the poor queen. The king again went to town
; and her anxiety in his absence, and fear how it
might end, oppressed her most painfully. She
could not take her usual airing. She shut herself
up with the Princess Augusta ; but, to avoid any rumours
of her uneasiness, the carriage and usual horsemes
were all at the door at the customary time ; and the
princess
royal, attended by the Duchess of Ancaster, went out,
and passed, driving quick through the town, for the
queen herself, to most of the people.
At her toilette, before dinner, Lady Effingham was
admitted. The queen had her newspapers as usual,
and she read aloud, while her hair was dressing, several
interesting articles concerning the attack, the noble
humanity of the king, his presence of mind, and the
blessing to the whole nation arising from his preservation.
The spirit of loyalty, warmth, and zeal with which
all the newspapers are just now filled seemed extremely
gratifyin- to her ; she dwelt upon several of the
strongest expressions with marked approbation, exclaiming
from time to time, as she read particular praises
of his majesty’s worth and importance, “That
is true!- -That is true, indeed!” But suddenly,
afterwards, coming upon a paragraph beginning with
the words of the coronation anthem, “Long live
the king! May the king live for ever!” her
tears flowed so fast that they blinded her, and to
hear her read such words was so extremely affecting,
that I was obliged to steal behind her chair to hide
myself; while Lady Effingham took out her handkerchief,
and cried in good earnest. I believe her to be
warmly and gratefully attached both to the king and
queen and she has received from the queen very uncommon
assistance, I am informed, in some very distressful
Situations.
The queen, however, read on; dispersing her tears
as she could, and always smiling through them when
the praise, not the danger, drew them forth.
Nothing could be more gracious than her manner to
me the whole time — she (lid not, as usual,
dismiss me, either for her hair-dressing, or for Lady
Effingham; she was sure I must be interested in what
was going forward, and she looked at us alternately,
for our comments, as she went on.
