I understood him perfectly,—and answered, truly, that I was never affronted more than a minute with those by whom I could never longer be pleased.
MISS BURNEY IN A NEW CAPACITY.
March 2.—-In one of our Windsor excursions at this time, while I was in her majesty’s dressing-room, with only Mr. de Luc present, she suddenly said, “Prepare yourself, Miss Burney, with all your spirits, for to-night you must be reader.”
She then added that she recollected what she had been told by my honoured Mrs. Delany, of my reading Shakspeare to her, and was desirous that I should read a play to herself and the princesses; and she had lately heard, from Mrs. Schwellenberg, “nobody could do it better, when I would.”
I assured her majesty it was rather when I could, as any reading Mrs. Schwellenberg had heard must wholly have been better or worse according to my spirits, as she had justly seemed to suggest.
The moment coffee was over the Princess Elizabeth came for me. I found her majesty knotting, the princess royal drawing, Princess Augusta spinning, and Lady Courtown I believe in the same employment, but I saw none of them perfectly well.
“Come, Miss Burney,” cried the queen, “how are your spirits?—How is your voice?”
“She says, ma’am,” cried the kind Princess Elizabeth, “she shall do her best!”