In February, Mrs. Potts is informed—(and thinks with a shiver of little Wilhelmina who has not yet had the scarlet fever)—in February:
"Mars retrogrades to the opposition of the Moon in the radix of the Princess Alice, and indicates a liability to feverish complaint or accident."
Mrs. Potts has conjugal fears for the health of Potts, and resolves to insist upon gutta percha soles. In March—
"The retrogradation of Mars in Virgo in opposition to Venus, also retrogade in Pisces, will stir up civil broils in Portugal; treachery and conspiracies amongst the priesthood are directed against the Queen and Government of that country."
Already, the poor Queen of Portugal sleeps in the tomb of the Braganzas; but even Raphael cannot be always infallible; not even for half-a-crown!
April is big with events; or rather with one event that must swallow up every other. Mrs. Potts is a playgoer, and with the sensibility of her sex, would "ten to one rather see the Corsican Brothers than Hamlet." Therefore she reads the subjoined with corresponding perturbation.
"Scandal or death awaits one renowned in the theatrical world."
This is in April! Perhaps on the first of April? It cannot be Barry, the deathless Clown, who shall be snatched from us? If, then, it should be the—the—the "renowned"—but no! we will not, we cannot think of it! Ha! ha! ha! Sardanapalus is himself again!
May is full of danger as of hawthorn. What can the loyal Mrs. Potts think of this?
"Mars hastens, as it were, to apply the torch to the train of evil he has previously laid. The highest power in the land is grievously afflicted. It is the earnest prayer of Raphael, that the direful influence of Saturn on the ascending degree and radical place of the luminaries in our beloved Sovereign's horoscope may be averted."