I rejoiced she had not set me to read these papers.  I expected, for the first week, every summons would have ended in a command to read to her.  But it never happened, and I was saved an exertion for which I am sure I should have had no voice.

Snuffpreparer-in- chief.

Sunday, Au,-. 6-This morning, before church, Miss Planta was sent to me by the queen, for some snuff, to be mixed as before :  when I had prepared it, I carried it, as directed, to her majesty’s dressing-room.  I turned round the lock, for that, not 362

rapping at the door, is the mode of begging admission; and she called out to me to come in.

I found her reading, aloud, some religious book, but I could not discover what, to the three eldest princesses.  Miss Planta was in waiting.  She continued after my entrance, only motioning to me that the snuff might be put into a box on the table.

I did not execute my task very expeditiously:  for I was glad of this opportunity of witnessing, the maternal piety with which she enforced, in voice and expression, every sentence that contained any lesson that might be useful to her royal daughters.  She reads extremely well, with great force, clearness, and meaning.

just as I had slowly finished my commission, the king entered.  She then stopped, and rose ; so instantly did the princesses.  He had a letter in his hand open:  he said something to the queen in German, and they left the room together but he turned round from the door, and first spoke to me, with a good-humoured laugh, saying, “Miss Burney, I hear you cook snuff very well!”

“Cook snuff!” repeated the Princess Augusta, laughing and coming up to me the moment they left the room.  “Pray, Miss Burney, let me have one pinch!” The Princess Elizabeth ran up to me, also, exclaiming, “Miss Burney, I hope you hate snuff?  I hope you do, for I hate it of all things in the world!”

A supper mystery.

After tea, one of Mrs. Schwellenberg’s domestics called me out of the room.  John waited to speak to me in the gallery.  “What time, ma’am,” cried he, “shall you have your Supper?”

“What supper?” cried I.  “I only eat fruit, as usual.”

“Have not you ordered supper, ma’am, for to-night?

“No.”

“There is one cooking for you—­a fowl and peas.”

“It’s some great mistake; run down and tell them so.”

I returned to the company, and would have related the adventure, had I been in spirits; but voluntary speech escaped me not.  Where I am not happy, or forced to it, it never does.  Presently I was called out again. 363

“Ma’am,” cried John, “the supper is ordered in your name.  I saw the order—­the clerk of the kitchen gave it in.”

This was the most ridiculous thing I ever heard.  I desired him to run down forthwith, and inquire by whose directions all this was done.  He came back, and said, “By Sir Francis Drake’s.”  Sir Francis Drake is, I think, steward of the housebold.  I then desired John to interfere no more, but let the matter be pursued in their own way.