THE KING’s GENTLEMEN AND THE QUEEN’S LADIES.
Sunday, July 13—I was obliged to rise before six o’clock, that I might play the part of dresser to myself, before I played it to the queen; so that did not much recruit the fatigues of yesterday’s rising and journey! Not a little was I surprised to be told, this morning, by her majesty, that the gentlemen were to breakfast with Miss Planta and me, every morning, by the king’s orders.
When I left the queen, I found them already in my little parlour. Mr. Fairly came to the door to meet me, and hand me into the room, telling me of the new arrangement of the king, with an air of very civil satisfaction. Colonel Gwynn appeared precisely as I believe he felt,-perfectly indifferent to the matter. Miss Planta joined us, and Columb was hurried to get ready, lest the king should summon his esquires before they had broken their fast. Mr. Fairly undertook to settle our seats, and all the etiquette of the tea-table; and I was very well content, for when he had placed me where he conceived I should be most commodiously situated, he fixed upon the place next me for himself, and desired we might all keep to our posts. It was next agreed, that whoever came first to the room should order and make the tea; for I must often be detained by my waiting, and the king is so rapid in his meals, that whoever attends him must be rapid also, or follow fasting. Mr. Fairly said he should already have hastened Columb, had he not apprehended it might be too great a liberty; for they had waited near half an hour, and expected a call every half minute. I set him perfectly at his ease upon this subject, assuring him I should be very little at mine if he had ever the same scruple again. He had been in waiting, he said, himself, ever since a quarter after five o’clock in the morning, at which time he showed himself under the king’s window, and walked before the house till six! I was beginning to express my compassion for this harass, but he interrupted me with shrewdly saying,
“O, this will save future fatigue, for it will establish me such a character for early rising and punctuality, that I may now do as I will: ‘tis amazing what privileges a man obtains for taking liberties, when once his character is established for taking none.”
Neither Miss Planta nor myself could attempt going to church, we had both so much actual business to do for ourselves, in unpacking, and fitting up our rooms, etc. The rest of the day was all fasting, till the evening, and then—who should enter my little parlour, after all the speechifying of only one night, made yesterday, but Mr. Fairly, Colonel Gwynn, and Lord Courtown! Whether this, again, is by the king’s command, or in consequence of the morning arrangement, I know not: but not a word more has dropped of “no evening tea-table;” so, whether we are to unite, or to separate, in future, I know not, and, which is far more extraordinary, I care not! Nobody but you could imagine what a compliment that is, from me! I had made Miss Planta promise, in case such a thing should happen, to come down; and she was very ready, and we had a very cheerful evening. Great difficulties, however, arose about our tea-equipage, So few things are brought, or at least are yet arrived, that Columb is forced to be summoned every other moment, and I have no bell, and dare not, for this short time, beg for one, as my man herds with the King’s men; besides, I have no disposition to make a fuss here, where every body takes up with every thing that they get.
In lamenting, however, the incessant trouble I was obliged to give the gentlemen, of running after Columb, I told Mr. Fairly my obligation, at Windsor, to Colonel Wellbred, for my bell there.
“O yes,” cried he, laughing, “I am not surprised; Colonel Wellbred is quite the man for a ‘belle!’”
“Yes,” cried I, “that he is indeed, and for a ‘beau’ too.”
“O ho! you think him so, do you?” quoth he: to which my prompt assent followed.