After some general talk,
“When, ma’am,” he said, “am I to have the honour of introducing Colonel Wellbred to you?”
“Indeed, I have not settled that entirely!”
“Reflect a little, then, ma’am, and tell me. I only wish to know when.”
“Indeed to tell you that is somewhat more than I am able to do; I must find it out myself, first.”
“Well, ma’am, make the inquiry as speedily as possible, I beg. What say you to now? shall I call him up?
“No, no,—pray let him alone.”
“But will you not, at least, tell me your reasons for this conduct?" “Why, frankly, then, if you will hear them and be quiet, I will confess them.”
I then told him, that I had so little time to myself, that to gain even a single evening was to gain a treasure; and that I had no chance but this. “Not,” said I, “that I wish to avoid him, but to break the custom of constantly meeting with the equerries.”
“But it is impossible to break the custom, ma’am; it has been so always: the tea-table has been the time of uniting the company, ever since the king came to Windsor.”