The little princess went up to Mrs. Delany, of whom she is very fond, and behaved like a little angel to her:  she then, with a look of inquiry and recollection, slowly, of her own accord, came behind Mrs. Delany to look at me.  “I am afraid,” said I, in a whisper, and stooping down, “your royal highness does not remember me?”

What think you was her answer?  An arch little smile, and a nearer approach, with her lips pouted out to kiss me.  I could not resist so innocent an invitation, but the moment I had accepted it, I was half afraid it might seem, in so public a place, an improper liberty:  however, there was no help for it. she then took my fan, and, having looked at

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it on both sides, gravely returned it me, saying, “O! a brown fan!”

The king and queen then bid her curtsey to Mrs. Delany which she did most gracefully, and they all moved on; each of the princesses speaking to Mrs. Delany as they passed, and condescending to curtsey to her companion.

The cipher becomes A number.

Mrs. Delany was too much fatigued to return to the Lodge to tea; but Mrs. Fielding and her three daughters, L ord Courtown, Mr. Fisher, the general, and the major, made up our set.

Mrs. Schwellenberg was very ill.  She declined making tea, and put it into the hands of’ the general.  I had always kept back from that office, as well as from presiding at the table, that I might keep the more quiet, and be permitted to sit silent; which, at first, was a repose quite necessary to my depressed state of spirits, and which, as they grew better, I found equally necessary to keep off the foul fiends of Jealousy and Rivalry in my colleague; who, apparently, never wishes to hear my voice but when we are t`ete-`a-t`ete, and then never is in good-humour when it is at rest.  I could not, however, see this feminine occupation in masculine hands, and not, for shame, propose taking it upon myself.  The general readily relinquished it, and I was fain to come forth and do the honours.

Lord Courtown sat himself next me, and talked with me the whole time, in well-bred and pleasant discourse.  The Major waited upon me as assiduously as if he had been as much my equerry as the king’s, and all went smooth, well, and naturally, except that the poor sick lady grew evidently less and less pleased with the arrangement of things, and less and less in humour with its arrangers:  so obvious, indeed, was the displeasure that the cipher should become a number, that had my own mind been easy, I should have felt much vexed to observe what a curb was placed over me:  for hitherto, except when she had been engaged herself, and only to Major Price and Mr. Fisher, that cipher had “word spoke never one.”  ’Tis wonderful, my dearest Susan, what wretched tempers are to be met with—­wretched in and to themselves—­ wretched to and for all that surround them.  However, while only to be Stupid and silent will do, we shall not be at variance.  Were I 367