"I had already heard this, Ma'am. I believe she is thought handsome. The
Drawing-Room must have been particularly elegant from the rejoicing crowds
who would wish to pay their duty."
No more was said on the subject. Later, she complained of headache to me,
and I, breathing it into the sympathising ear of Her Royal Highness, Miss
Burney was recommended, nay, commanded to return to her room, and the
truly amiable Queen dispensed with her attendance.
The marriage took place in due course, and in a private house, a
circumstance which met with Her Majesty's warm disapproval, as considering
that a contract so solemn needs all the blessing and ratification imposed
at such tunes by the church's ordinance.
During all this tune, Colonel Digby did not appear at Court, though
whether by his own choice or the kind concern of Her Majesty, I cannot
tell. Miss Burney visibly drooped--I could see suffering written on her
face, and it awoke a sympathy which I dared not offer. The Queen's
consideration for her increased, and the lovely Princesses avoided with
true delicacy every subject which could recall the image of the past,
making what soft amends lay in their power.
Yet but a very short while after, will it be believed that Colonel Digby
sent his bride to call upon Miss Burney, having himself resumed attendance
upon the Court immediately after his marriage! I sincerely felt for Miss
Burney when a bustle was heard and before us there appeared the bride,
glowing in health and happiness, and dressed in the last perfection of the
milliner's art. Triumph, visible and exultant, sat on her brow; and as she
took her place on the sofa by Miss Burney, who looked wan and aged beside
so much splendour, I felt it would have declared a better heart had she
deferred her visit. Miss Burney, with an effort of courage, parried all
the speeches which could hardly fail to have the appearance of thrusts,
and undertook to deliver the bride's duty to the Queen with a calmness
which did her honour.
I have more than once in my life seen reason to congratulate myself on
passing through life untroubled by the attentions of that sex which, while
the blessing, is also the curse of our own, and felt this with peculiar
energy during that scene, when I saw one so justly celebrated, triumphed
over almost publicly by a young lady whose face was her chief
recommendation.
I concluded that we should soon now lose Miss Burney and could not harshly
censure (though disapproving) the course she took in attributing her
waning health to the tyranny of Mrs Schwellenberg and even to the
hardships of her attendance on the Queen. Nevertheless, Her Majesty more
than once favoured me with the remark:--
"Large allowance must be made for Miss Burney. I foresee she will before
long wish to be among the healing influences of her own home circle; and
as I would not for the world dismiss her, all must be done on the foot she
herself chooses, and with reluctance on my part. I know her good sense
will dictate a commendable course."
Of this I was by no means certain, but could, of course, make no
rejoinder; and Her Majesty's face, beneath her becoming fly-cap, beamed
with a true benevolence as she pronounced these words. I have certain
knowledge that she favoured Mrs Schwellenberg also with this injunction,
and that she also exerted herself to show many little pleasing attentions
on our return to Windsor. It was that day Miss Burney came in, with an
animation to which she had long been a stranger, to say she had met Mr
Boswell--friend and survivor of the Great Lexicographer--near St.
George's Chapel, on his way to view the alterations, and he had arrested
her steps.
"It was like a breath of fresh air in a shut room!" she cried; "and indeed
almost too much for my weak health. 'O Ma'am,' he said with energy, 'when
do you return to us? You must resign--you must indeed. It won't do,
Ma'am. We can put up with it no longer!' I laughed and stared, but he
continued: 'We shall address Dr Burney in a body. It was so resolved at
the Club last week--Charles Fox in the chair. I need your aid in my book
on the Great Man, soon to appear. You are to lighten the picture. In my
hands he is grave Sam, great Sam, learned Sam. With your aid we will deck
him with all the graces. He shall be gay Sam, agreeable Sam, and, to that
end, I claim all the little pleasing billets he has written to your fair
self.' So he rattled on, and I could with difficulty extricate myself.
But, O Miss P., though your goodness will not repeat the scene, it was
such a view of home and its surroundings as may greet the returning sailor
when his country rises on his view."