At the queen's dressing-time, as I opened the door, her majesty said, “O, here she is!—Est-il permis?—Come, come in to Augusta!” and made me follow her into the next room, the door of which was open, where the princess was seated at a writing-desk, probably answering some congratulatory letters.
Immediately, in a manner the most pleasing, she thanked me for the little cadeau, saying, “Only one thing I must beg, that you will write the motto with a pen.”
The queen seconded this motion, smilingly repeating “Est-il permis?”
And afterwards, in the evening, the Princess Augusta came to the parlour, to fetch Mrs. Delany and Mrs. Smelt, and again said, “Now, will you, Miss Burney—will you write that for me with a pen?”
THE PLUMP PROVOST AND HIS LADY.
Nov. 23.-In the evening I had a large party of new acquaintance; the provost of Eton, Dr. Roberts, his lady, Mr. Dewes, Miss Port, the Duke of Montagu, General Bude, Colonel Goldsworthy, and Madame de la Fite. The party had the royal sanction, I need not tell you. The king and queen are always well disposed to shew civility to the people of Eton and Windsor, and were therefore even pleased at the visit.
The provost is very fat, with a large paunch and gouty legs. He is good-humoured, loquacious, gay, civil, and parading. I am told, nevertheless, he is a poet, and a very good one. This, indeed, appears not, neither in a person such as I have described, nor in manners such as have drawn from me the character just given.
Mrs. Roberts is a fine woman, though no longer very young; she is his second wife, and very kind to all his family. She seems good-natured and sensible.
The evening turned out very well: they were so delighted with making a visit under the royal roof, that everything that passed pleased them: and the sight of that disposition helped me to a little more spirit than usual in receiving them.