“As nearly true as possible, ma'am; it actually split with the force of the almost convulsive motion of a cough that seemed loud and powerful enough for a giant. I could hardly myself believe it was little I that made so formidable a noise.”
“Well, I could not have given credit to it if I had not heard it from yourself! I wanted so much to know the truth, that I determined, at last, to take courage and ask you.”
“And pray, Miss Burney,” cried the Princess Elizabeth, “had you not a blister that gave you great torture?”
“Yes, ma'am,—in another illness.”
“O!—I know how to pity you!—I have one on at this moment!”
“And pray, Miss Burney,” cried the princess royal, “were not you carried out of town, when you were in such a weak condition that you could not walk?”
“Where could your royal highness hear all this?”
“And were you not almost starved by Sir Richard Jebb?” cried Princess Elizabeth.
“And did you not receive great benefit from asses' milk?” exclaimed the princess royal.
Again I begged to know their means of hearing all this; but the queen's entrance silenced us all.