At first I only laughed, too; but he repeated the inquiry, and then I answered, “Not at all, sir.”

“No?  But why?—­why not?”

“I—­I—­I am afraid sir,” stammered I, and true enough, I am sure.

“And why?” repeated he, “of what?”

I spoke something,—­I hardly know what myself,—­so indis-

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tinctly, that he could not hear me, though he had put his head quite under my hat, from the beginning of the little conference and, after another such question or two, and no greater satisfaction in the answer, he smiled very good humouredly, and walked on, his charming queen by his side.  His condescension confuses, though it delights me.

We stayed some time longer on the Terrace, and my poor father occasionally joined me; but he looked so conscious and depressed, that it pained me to see him.  There is nothing that I know so very dejecting, as solicitation.  I am sure I could never, I believe, go through a task of that sort.  My dear father was not spoken to, though he had a bow every time the king passed him, and a curtsey from the queen.  But it hurt him, and he thought it a very bad prognostic ; and all there was at all to build upon was the graciousness shewn to me, which, indeed, in the manner I was accosted, was very flattering, and, except to high rank, I am told, very rare.

We stayed but a very short time with my sweet Mrs. Delany, whose best wishes you are sure were ours.  I told her our plan, and our full conviction that she could not assist in it; as the obligations she herself owes are so great and so weighty, that any request from her would be encroaching and improper.

We did not get home till past eleven o’clock.  We were then informed that Lord Brudenel had called to say Mr. Parsons had a promise of the place from the lord chamberlain.  This was not very exhilarating.

A visit to Warren Hastings and his wife.

I had been invited by Mr. Cambridge to pass a day at Twickenham with Mr. and Mrs. Hastings, who had proposed to carry me with them :  accordingly, on May 24th, MrsHastings sent her carriage here before ten o’clock.  I made her and Mr. Hastings a visit of about half an hour previously to our journey.  I am quite charmed with Mr. Hastings, and, indeed, from all I can gather, and all I can observe,-both which are but little,-he appears to me to be one of the greatest men now living, as a public character; while as a private one, his gentleness, candour, soft manners, and openness of disposition, make him one of the most pleasing.

The little journey was extremely agreeable.  He spoke with the utmost frankness of his situation and affairs, and with a noble confidence in his certainty of victory over his enemies,

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from his consciousness of integrity and honour, that filled me with admiration and esteem for him.  Mrs. Hasting’s is lively, obliging, and entertaining, and so adored by her husband, that, in her sight and conversation he seems to find a recompense, adequate to all his wishes, for the whole of his toils, and long disturbances and labours.  How rare, but how sweet and pleasant, the sight of such unions.(201)