It was inexpressibly awkward to me to ask leave to go out, and awkwardly enough I believe I did it, only saying that if her majesty had no objection, Mrs. Delany would carry me in the evening to Stoke.  She smiled immediate approbation, and nothing more passed.

I had then to tell my intention to Mrs. Schwellenberg who was, I believe, a little surprised.  Fortunately, Major Price came upstairs to coffee.  A little surprised, too, I am sure, was Major Price, when I made off for the whole evening.  Everybody had taken it for granted I must necessarily pursue the footsteps of Mrs. Haggerdorn, and never stir out.  But, thank God, I am not in the same situation ; she had no connections—­I have such as no one, I believe, ever had before.

The evening was rainy; but, my leave asked and obtained, my kind Mrs. Delany would not defer the excursion.  Stoke is about three miles off.

We were received in the civilest manner possible by Lady Effingham, and Sir George Howard and Lady Frances.  There were also several of their relations with them.  Lady Effingham seems a mighty good-humoured, friendly woman.  Sir George is pompous, yet he, too, is as good-humoured in his manners as his Lady.

Casual callers to be kept off:  A NEw arrival.

July 31.-I had a very pleasant visit from Mrs. Hastings(206) this morning, whose gay good-humour is very enlivening :  but she detained me from my dress, and I was not ready for the queen ; and I have now adopted the measure of stationing John in the gallery while I am at that noble occupation, and making him keep off all callers, by telling them I am dressing

353

for the queen.  I have no other way ; and being too late, or even the fear of being too late, makes me nervous and ill.

Every little failure of this sort, though always from causes unknown to her majesty, she has borne without even a look of surprise or of gravity ; though she never waits an instant, for if Mrs. Schwellenberg is not with her, she employs Mrs. Thielky, or goes on with her dress or her undress without either.

This graciousness, however, makes me but the more earnest to grow punctual; especially as I am now always employed, when present and in time.

I went in the afternoon to Mrs. de Luc.  When I returned here, to the conclusion of the tea-drinking, I found a new gentleman, dressed in the king’s Windsor uniform-which is blue and gold, turned up with red, and worn by all the men who belong to his majesty, and come into his presence at Windsor.

Major Price immediately presented us to each other.  It was General Bud`e:  what his post may be I have not yet learned, but he is continually, I am told, at Windsor, and always resides in this Lodge, and eats with the equerries.

I do not quite know what to say of General Bud`e; except that his person is tall and showy, and his manners and appearance are fashionable.  But he has a sneer in his smile that looks sarcastic, and a distance in his manner that seems haughty.