patient for the renewal of our gambols, and distressed me most ridiculously by her innocent appeals.

“Miss Burney!—­come!—­why don’t you play?—­Come, Miss Burney, I say, play with me!—­come into the phaeton again!—­why don’t you, Miss Burney?”

After a thousand vain efforts to quiet her by signs, I was forced to whisper her that I really could play no longer.

" But why? why, Miss Burney?—­do! do come and play with me!—­You must, Miss Burney!”

This petition growing still more and more urgent, I was obliged to declare my reason, in hopes of appeasing her, as she kept pulling me by the hand and gown, so entirely with all her little strength, that I had the greatest difficulty to save myselt from being suddenly jerked into the middle of the room:  at length, therefore, I whispered, “We shall disturb the king, ma’am!”

This was enough ; she flew instantly to his majesty, who was in earnest discourse with Mr. Smelt, and called out, “Papa, go!”

“What?” cried the king.

“Go! papa,—­you must go!” repeated she eagerly.

The king took her up in his arms, and began kissing and playing with her; she strove with all her might to disengage herself, calling aloud “Miss Burney!  Miss Burney! take me—­come, I say, Miss Burney!—­O Miss Burney, come!”

You may imagine what a general smile went round the room at this appeal:  the king took not any notice of it, but set her down, and went on with his discourse.  She was not, however, a moment quiet till he retired:  and then we renewed our diversions, which lasted to her bed-time.

A dreadful mishap.

Nov. 6.-This morning happened my first disgrace of being too late for the queen-this noon, rather; for in a morning ’tis a disaster that has never arrived to this moment.

The affair thus came to pass.  I walked for some time early in Kew gardens, and then called upon Mrs. Smelt.  I there heard that the king and queen were gone, privately, to Windsor, to the Lodge : probably for some papers they could not intrust with a messenger.  Mr. Smelt, therefore, proposed taking this opportunity of shewing me Richmond gardens, offering to be my security that I should have full time.  I 439

accepted the proposal with pleasure, and we set out upon our expedition.  Our talk was almost all of the queen.  Mr. Smelt wishes me to draw up her character.  I owned to him that should it appear to me, on nearer and closer inspection, what it seemed to me then, the task could not be an unpleasant one.

He saw me safe to the Lodge, and there took his leave :  and I was going leisurely upstairs, when I met the Princess Amelia and Mrs. Cheveley; and while I was playing with the little princess, Mrs. Cheveley announced to me that the queen had been returned some time, and that I had been sent for immediately.

Thunderstruck at this intelligence, I hastened to her dressing-room; when I opened the door, I saw she was having her hair dressed.  To add to my confusion, the Princess Augusta, Lady Effingham, and Lady Frances Howard were all in the room.  I stood still at the door, not knowing whether to advance, or wait a new summons.  In what a new situation did I feel myself!-and how did I long to give way to my first impulse, and run back to my own room.