Then, looking round at us all,—
“Did you know,” he said, “that Mrs. Delany once hunted herself?—and in a long gown, and a great hoop?”
It seems she had told his majesty an adventure of that sort which had befallen her in her youth, from some accident in which her will had no share.
THE QUEEN APPEARS UPON THE SCENE.
While this was talking over, a violent thunder was made at the door. I was almost certain it was the queen. Once more I would have given anything to escape; but in vain. I had been informed that nobody ever quitted the royal presence, after having been conversed with, till motioned to withdraw.
Miss Port, according to established etiquette on these occasions, opened the door which she stood next, by putting her hand behind her, and slid out, backwards, into the hall, to light the queen in. The door soon opened again, and her majesty entered.
Immediately seeing the king, she made him a low curtsey, and cried,—
“Oh, your majesty is here.”
“Yes,” he cried, “I ran here, without speaking to anybody.”