'"Gently, gently, my good Algernon; wait a bit. Where is her Majesty now?"
'"In her closet with the Princess Anne."
'"And is it usual to disturb her at this time?"
'I was obliged to admit that it was very unusual indeed, there being a sort of general order that at this time the Queen was to be molested on no pretext whatever, unless it were for some exceptionally weighty matter. And to-day the rule was more stringent than usual, as Her Majesty was closeted with the Princess Anne.
'"Then you must not go now. You must wait for a more convenient season. Algernon, I implore you not to be hasty. Everything depends upon speaking at the right moment."
'I saw the force of this counsel plainly enough, though had I been left to myself, I doubt if it would ever have struck me; for I was rather given to set about things in a blundering way, just at the moment when they came into my head.
'"When shall you next see the Queen?" asked Lady Dalrymple.
'"This afternoon, madam, she will walk in the gardens, or, mayhap, go on the river, and either way I shall attend her."
'"Then you will doubtless find some happy opportunity for your petition. I trust to you to choose your time wisely, and to make yourself heard. Now I must not stay longer. See, this is where I am lodging;" and she handed me a paper. "If you succeed, it will be easy enough to send me tidings."
'"But, madam, pray stay one moment. What must I say?"