proving effectual, this excursion would have afforded her much pleasure, if the most dangerous of her rivals had not been one of the first that was appointed to attend the court.  The Duchess of Cleveland being then near her time, there was no uneasiness on her account:  the common rules of decency required a little attention.  The public, it is true, was not either more or less acquainted with the circumstances of her situation; by the care which she now took to conceal it; but her appearing at court in her present condition would have been too great an insult to the queen.  Miss Stewart, more handsome than ever, was appointed for this excursion, and began to make magnificent preparations.  The poor queen durst say nothing against it; but all hopes of success immediately forsook her.  What could the baths, or the feeble virtue of the waters, perform against charms that entirely counteracted their effects, either through the grief and uneasiness they occasioned her, or by their still more powerful consequences?

The Chevalier de Grammont, to whom all pleasures were insipid without the presence of Miss Hamilton, was yet unable to excuse himself from attending the court:  the king delighted too much in his sprightly conversation to leave him behind; and however pleasing his company might have been in the solitude occasioned by the absence of the court, Miss Hamilton did not think it right to accept his offer of staying in town, because she was obliged to remain there:  she, however, granted him the permission of writing her an account of any news that might occur upon the journey.  He failed not to make use of this permission, in such a manner as one may imagine:  and his own concerns took up so much space in his letters, that there was very little room left for other subjects during his stay at the baths.  As absence from the object of his affections rendered this place insupportable, he engaged in everything that might dissipate his impatience, until the happy moment of return arrived.

He had a great esteem for the elder of the Hamiltons; no less esteem, and far more friendship for his brother, whom he made the confidant of his passion and attachment for his sister.  The Chevalier was also acquainted with his first engagements with his cousin Wetenhall; but being ignorant of the coldness that had interrupted a commerce so brisk in its commencement, he was surprised at the eagerness he showed upon all occasions to please Miss Stewart:  his assiduity appeared to the Chevalier de Grammont to exceed those civilities and attentions that are usually paid for the purpose of making court to the favourites of princes.  He observed him more strictly, and soon perceived that he was deeper in love with her than was consistent either with his fortune or his repose.  As soon as the remarks he made had confirmed him in his suspicions, he resolved to use his endeavours to prevent the consequences of an engagement pernicious in every respect:  but he waited for a proper opportunity of speaking to him upon the subject.