“‘You have been long from England, my lord,’ says the Queen:  ’why were you not here to give a home to your mother and sister?’

“‘I am come, Madam, to stay now, if the Queen desires me,’ says the Prince, with another low bow.

“’You have taken a foreign wife, my lord, and a foreign religion; was not that of England good enough for you?’

“‘In returning to my father’s church,’ says the Prince, ’I do not love my mother the less, nor am I the less faithful servant of your majesty.’

“Here,” says Beatrix, “the favorite gave me a little signal with her hand to fall back, which I did, though I died to hear what should pass; and whispered something to the Queen, which made her Majesty start and utter one or two words in a hurried manner, looking towards the Prince, and catching hold with her hand of the arm of her chair.  He advanced still nearer towards it; he began to speak very rapidly; I caught the words, ’Father, blessing, forgiveness,’—­and then presently the Prince fell on his knees; took from his breast a paper he had there, handed it to the Queen, who, as soon as she saw it, flung up both her arms with a scream, and took away that hand nearest the Prince, and which he endeavored to kiss.  He went on speaking with great animation of gesture, now clasping his hands together on his heart, now opening them as though to say:  ‘I am here, your brother, in your power.’  Lady Masham ran round on the other side of the chair, kneeling too, and speaking with great energy.  She clasped the Queen’s hand on her side, and picked up the paper her Majesty had let fall.  The Prince rose and made a further speech as though he would go; the favorite on the other hand urging her mistress, and then, running back to the Prince, brought him back once more close to the chair.  Again he knelt down and took the Queen’s hand, which she did not withdraw, kissing it a hundred times; my lady all the time, with sobs and supplications, speaking over the chair.  This while the Queen sat with a stupefied look, crumpling the paper with one hand, as my Prince embraced the other; then of a sudden she uttered several piercing shrieks, and burst into a great fit of hysteric tears and laughter.  ‘Enough, enough, sir, for this time,’ I heard Lady Masham say:  and the chairman, who had withdrawn round the Banqueting-room, came back, alarmed by the cries.  ‘Quick,’ says Lady Masham, ‘get some help,’ and I ran towards the Doctor, who, with the Bishop of Rochester, came up instantly.  Lady Masham whispered the Prince he might hope for the very best; and to be ready to-morrow; and he hath gone away to the Bishop of Rochester’s house, to meet several of his friends there.  And so the great stroke is struck,” says Beatrix, going down on her knees, and clasping her hands.  “God save the King:  God save the King!”

Beatrix’s tale told, and the young lady herself calmed somewhat of her agitation, we asked with regard to the Prince, who was absent with Bishop Atterbury, and were informed that ’twas likely he might remain abroad the whole day.  Beatrix’s three kinsfolk looked at one another at this intelligence:  ’twas clear the same thought was passing through the minds of all.