Wont suit me.’
“How entirely we sometimes change our minds! On the morning of the 26th, the ‘batch’ who once thus sung had not the slightest, but the strongest notion—and launching forth soon followed.”
Having changed his mind the suitor allowed little time to slip by till he had won the object of his heart’s desire. A month and a day after the engagement, on Nov. 27, 1855, the marriage occurred.
The bridal couple sailed for Siam in the spring of 1856, arriving at Bangkok in July. On the part of the natives connected with the mission the bride was received with a quiet curiosity, for these people were slow to receive newcomers into their affections. But King Mongkut, having first given a private audience to Dr. House, requested particularly that the bride might come to the palace to receive his congratulations. Mrs. House describes the call:
“A few weeks afterwards a note came from him inviting the ladies who, as he expressed it, ‘had not yet been to pay their personal interview to H. M.,’ and saying he would send a boat for us. About 2 p. m., the boat came with one of the ladies of the king’s household and a train of servants; and Mrs. Morse and I went.... Passing through a gate in the wall of the palace we were conducted through paved streets on each side of which are the brick dwellings of the various inmates. As we passed along we attracted the attention of the residents who crowded about the doors, curious to see the foreign ladies.
“At length we arrived at a large building on the portico of which were chairs, and here we were invited to sit to await summons into the royal presence.... After an hour or more a message came from H. M. announcing his readiness to receive us. We entered a door guarded by several female soldiers; and here stood the king to meet us; dressed in a mouse colored, figured silk sacque, over a white garment—a large diamond on his breast, a number of very brilliant rings and a gold watch, and sandals on feet. He extended his right hand very graciously to us and led the way to a spacious hall, hung round with mirrors, where we were seated.
“He sent for his favorite wife whom he introduced as his queen consort, and afterwards sent for her two children; the eldest a boy of about four years, was loaded with chains of gold; the youngest a daughter. Both very handsome. His Majesty was exceedingly affable, speaking English so that with strict attention we could understand. He conversed on various subjects intelligently. Refreshments were served, during which H. M. left us. When he returned he presented to us each, as a memento of our visit, a very heavy gold ring of Siamese manufacture, set with five sapphires. After being shown through some of the apartments, at sundown we took our leave.”
A belated sequence of this royal welcome was an invitation to Mrs. House and Mrs. Jonathan Wilson (newly arrived) to dine with the queen and some of her ladies in the palace the following year.
AN INDUSTRIOUS WOMAN
We catch glimpses of the indefatigable industry of this woman slightly from her few letters but chiefly from those of Dr. House. Within a month after landing, before the house was fairly settled, she began where the first opportunity presented: