He meant to go almost immediately into the country—all was settled with the queen. I told him I was most cordially glad his recruit was so near at hand.
“I shall, however,” he said, “be in town a few days longer, and come hither constantly to pay you all a little visit.”
Miss Planta then appeared. A more general conversation now took place, though in its course Mr. Fairly had the malice to give me a start I little expected from him. We were talk- ing of our poor king, and wondering at the delay of his arrival, when Mr. Fairly said, “The king now, Miss Planta, mentions everybody and everything that he knows or has heard mentioned in his whole life. Pray does he know any Of your secrets? he’ll surely tell them if he does!”
“So I hear,” cried she, “but I’m sure he can’t tell anything of Me! But I wonder what he says of everybody?”
“Why, everything,” cried he. “Have you not heard of yourself?”
“Dear, no! Dear me, Mr. Fairly!”
“And, dear Miss Planta! why should not you have your share? Have you not heard he spares nobody?”
“Yes, I have; but I can’t think what he says of them!”
Fearful of anything more, I arose and looked at the Window to see if any sign of approach appeared, but he dropped the subject without coming any nearer, and Miss Planta dropped it too.
I believe he wished to discover if she had heard of his learned ladies!