“I understand that our queen assumed the position of royalty with much grace,” Mrs. Adams remarked.
“With charming simplicity, madam,” responded Mr. Dapper. “She landed at Harwich, and had an ovation all the way to London. People hurrahed, bells rang, and cannon thundered. The poor girl was terribly frightened. The thought of meeting a husband whom she had never seen unstrung her nerves. The Duchess of Hamilton laughed at her, but it was a hot shot the queen let fly; she said: ‘You have been married twice to husbands of your own choosing, but poor me must marry a man whom I never have seen.’”
“Bravo! that raked the quarter-deck,” exclaimed the admiral.
“How did the king receive her?” Ruth inquired.
“When she stepped from the coach she knelt at his feet; he gave her a kiss, and led her into the palace.”
“Very gallant on the part of the king; fitting and humble the action of the queen,” said the rector.
“I would not have got down on my knees to him,” said Ruth.
“May I ask why Miss Newville would not have knelt to her future husband and sovereign, had she been Princess Sophia?” the rector asked.
“Because it was an acknowledgement at the outset that she was not his equal. She abased herself by taking an inferior position. In the days of chivalry, men knelt to women. The princess did not leave her happy home to be a subject of King George; but to be his wife to stand by his side, and not crouch at his feet.”