MR. FAIRLY’S MARRIAGE IMMINENT.
NOV. 20.—Some business sent me to speak with Miss Planta before our journey back to Windsor. When it was executed and I was coming away, she called out, “O! apropos—it’s all declared, and the princesses wished Miss Fuzilier joy yesterday in the Drawing-room. She looked remarkably well; but said Mr. Fairly had still a little gout, and could not appear.”
Now first my belief followed assertion;—but it was only because it was inevitable, since the princesses could not have proceeded so far without certainty......
We returned to Windsor as usual, and there I was, just as usual, obliged to finish every evening with picquet!—and to pass all and every afternoon, from dinner to midnight, in picquet company.
Nov. 28.—The queen, after a very long airing, came in to dress, and summoned me immediately; and in two minutes the princess royal entered, and said something in German, and then added, “And Mr. Fairly, ma’am, begs he may see you a moment, now, if possible.”
This is his first coming to the house since her royal highness’s birthday, just two months ago.
“I am very sorry,” was answered coolly, “but I am going to dress.”
“He won’t keep you a moment, mamma, only he wants to get on to St. Leonards to dinner.”
“Miss Fuzilier is now there.”
“Well, then,” she answered, “I’ll slip on my powdering-gown, and see him.” I found, however, they had already met, probably in the passage, for the queen added, “How melancholy he looks, does not he, princess royal?”
“Yes, indeed, mamma!”—They then again talked German.
The princess then went to call him; and I hastened into the next room, with some caps just then inspecting.
Mr. Turbulent again dined with us, and said, “I find Mr. Fairly is here to-day? when is he to be married?”
Mrs. Schwellenberg reproved him for talking of “soch things:” she holds it petty treason to speak of it, as they are both in office about the Court; though she confessed it would be in a fortnight.
At tea, when the gentlemen—General Budé, Majors Price and Garth, and Mr. Willis—appeared, she said, “Where be Mr. Fairly?” They all exclaimed, “Is he here?”
“O, certain, if he ben’t gone!”
I then said he had gone on to St. Leonards.
They all expressed the utmost surprise that he should come, and go, and see none of them.
When they retired, Mrs. Schwellenberg exclaimed, “For what not stay one night? For what not go to the gentlemen? It looks like when he been ashamed.—O fie! I don’t not like soch ting. And for what always say contrarie?—always say to everybody he won’t not have her!—There might be something wrong in all that—it looks not well.”
I saw a strong desire to have me enter into the merits of the case; but I constantly answer to these exclamations, that these sort of situations are regarded in the world as licensing denials first, and truancy from all others afterwards.