I thought it mighty unnecessary to have acquainted the equerries with what could only furnish a laugh against ourselves :  however, the thing was done, and down we went together.

A check for the colonel.

The two Miss Vernons, General Harcourt, Colonel Fairly, Major Price, and -Mr. Hagget were all at breakfast.  The Miss Vernons immediately began an apology about the supper the preceding night, declaring themselves exceedingly sorry we should not have had any, which they found was entirely owing to a blunder in the message given by the servants.

The gentlemen were all dying to make a laugh about the equerries " wanting the ladies ; " and Colonel Fairly began ; but the gravity of my behaviour soon quieted him.  Mr. Hagget was content to be observant of a new person ; General Harcourt scarce ever speaks but from necessity; and Major Price was as grave as myself.

The eldest Miss Vernon is plain, and a little old-maidish but I found her afterwards sensible, well read, and well bred but not quite immediately did she appear so, as you will soon see.  The youngest is many years her junior, and fat and handsome, good-humoured, and pleasing in her smiles, though high and distant till they are called forth.

After breakfast, when we were all breaking up, to prepare for church, I had a short explanatory conversation with Major Price, who came to speak to me concerning the preceding evening, and to confess his extreme surprise at our shutting 384

ourselves up from their society.  He had had a great mind, he said, to have come himself to see for us, but did not know whether it would be right.  They waited, he added—­Miss Vernons and all of them -a quarter of an hour after the supper was upon the table, and then a servant came in from us, to tell the equerries that we would not have any supper;—­“And, indeed,” continued he, a little forcibly, “I must own I was rather hurt by the message.”

“Hurt?” cried I,—­“what a gentle word!—­I am sure I think you might rather have been angry.”

“Why-to own the truth—­I believe I was.”

I was interrupted before I could explain more fully how the matter stood ; nor have I ever found opportunity since.  However, I think it very likely he suggested the truth himself.  Be that as it may, Miss Vernons went for their cloaks, and Miss Planta ran to the princesses, and therefore I was obliged to be a little abrupt, and retreat also.

When Miss Planta was ready, she came to fetch me.  We went downstairs, but knew not whither to proceed.  In the eating-parlour we had left only the gentlemen, and they were waiting to attend the king.  There was no other place to which we could turn, and we had another of those wandering distresses that had made me so comfortless the night before.  My wish was to find Miss Vernons:-niy expectation was to be found by them.  Neither, however, happened; and the first time we met anybody that could give us any information, we were told they had been gone some time.