Mr. Fairly was glad of the opportunity to sit for a moment also; for ’my part, I was quite alert.  Alas! my dear Susan, ’tis my mind that is so weak, and so open to disorder;- my body, I really find, when it is an independent person, very strong, and capable of much exertion without suffering from it.

Mr. Fairly now produced, from a paper repository concealed in his coat pocket, some apricots and bread, and insisted upon my eating ;-but I was not inclined to the repast, and saw he was half famished himself;-so was poor Miss Planta :  however, he was so persuaded I must both be as hungry and as tired as himself, that I was forced to eat an apricot to appease him.

Presently, while we were in the midst of this regale, the door suddenly opened, and the queen came in!—­followed by as many attendants as the room would contain.  Up we all started, myself alone not discountenanced ; for I really think it quite respect sufficient never to sit down in the royal presence, without aiming at having it supposed I have stood bolt upright ever since I have been admitted to it.  Quick into our pockets was crammed our bread, and close into our hands was squeezed our fruit; by which I discovered that our appetites were to be supposed annihilated, at the same time that our strength was to be invincible.

Very soon after this we were joined by the king, and in a few minutes we all paraded forth to the carriages, and drove back to Nuneham.

I have been very minute in this Oxford account, because it presented scenes so new to me, and because I concluded that, after you have had a month or two of general journal, you will have nothing more to be new to either of us.

This Oxford expedition was, altogether, highly entertaining to me; but I ought not to close it without telling you the sweetness of all the princesses, who each made a point of speaking to, Miss Planta and to me upon entering or quitting every college, as we stood in the ranks, while they passed. 396

AtNuneham again.

I stayed in my own room till a message from the miss Vernons brought me down to dinner; and from this time forward those ladies exerted themselves to the utmost in being attentive, sociable, and civil.  I found the major, Mr. Fairly Mr. Hagget, Miss Planta, and themselves ; and we had a very pleasant dinner, talking over the sights just seen.  All the afternoon was spent in the same party.  We went into Lord Harcourt’s library to tea and coffee, and there we had short visits from his lordship and the Duchess of Ancaster.

In the evening Lady Harcourt came also, and was amazingly courteous.  The queen then sent for the Miss Vernons into the drawing-room, and Miss Planta and myself left the gentlemen to take care of themselves, and retired for the evening to our own rooms.

You must know, wherever the king and queen are, nobody comes into their sight unsent for, not even the master and mistress of the house, unless they are publicly acquainted that their majesties are coming, and mean to see them.