Almost instantly upon his leaving me, a very gentle voice called out—“Miss Burney!”

It was the queen's. I walked a little nearer her, and a gracious inclination of her head made me go quite up to her.

“You have been,” she said, “at Mrs. Walsingham's?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“She has a pretty place, I believe?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Were you ever there before?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Oh, shocking! shocking! thought I; what will Mrs. Delany say to all these monosyllables?

“Has not she lately made some improvements?”