“Oh, that is quite too bad an affront to us!--Don't you think so?”
addressing herself to me, with great gentleness of voice and manner.
I assented; and the king continued his relation, which she listened to
with a look of some interest; but when he told her some particulars of
my secrecy, she again spoke to me.
“But! your sister was your confidant, was she not?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
My sisters, I might have said, but I was always glad to have done.
“Oh, yes!” cried the king, laughing, “but I assure you she is of
Baretti's opinion herself; for I asked her if she thought it was her
sister or her brother that betrayed her to her father?--and she says her
sister, she thinks.”
Poor Esther!--but I shall make her amends by what follows; for the
queen, again addressing me, said--
“But to betray to a father is no crime-don't you think so?”
I agreed; and plainly saw she thought Esther, if Esther it was, had only
done right.
The king then went on, and when he had finished his narration the queen
took her seat. She made Mrs. Delany sit next her, and Miss Port brought
her some tea.
“MISS BURNEY PLAYS--BUT NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT.”
The king, meanwhile, came to me again, and said,--“Are you musical?”
“Not a performer, sir.”
Then, going from me to the queen, he cried,--“She does not play.” I did
not hear what the queen answered---she spoke in a low voice, and seemed
much out of spirits.
They now talked together a little while, about the Princess Elizabeth,
and the king mentioned having had a very promising account from her
physician, Sir George Baker and the queen soon brightened up.