Mrs. Schwellenberg, Miss Planta, and myself travelled to Kew together.
I have two rooms there; both small, and up two pair of stairs; but tidy
and comfortable enough. Indeed all the apartments but the king's
and queen's, and one of Mrs. Schwellenberg's, are small, dark, and
old-fashioned. There are staircases in every passage, and passages to
every closet. I lost myself continually, only in passing from my own
room to the queen's. Just as I got upstairs, shown the way first by Miss
Planta, I heard the king's voice. I slipped into my room; but he saw me,
and following, said,
“What! is Miss Burney taking possession?”
And then he walked round the room, as if to see if it were comfortable
for me, and smiling very good-humouredly, walked out again. A surveyor
was with him,--I believe he is giving orders for some alterations and
additions....
When I went to the queen before dinner, the little Princess Amelia was
with her; and, though shy of me at first, we afterwards made a very
pleasant acquaintance. She is a most lovely little thing, just three
years old, and full of sense, spirit, and playful prettiness: yet
decorous and dignified when called upon to appear en princesse to any
strangers, as if conscious of her high rank, and of the importance of
condescendingly sustaining it. 'Tis amazing what education can do, in
the earliest years, to those of quick understandings.[205] This little
princess, thus in infancy, by practice and example, taught her own
consequence, conducts herself, upon all proper occasions, with an air
of dignity that is quite astonishing, though her natural character seems
all sport and humour.
When we became a little acquainted, the queen desired me to take her by
the hand, and carry her downstairs to the king, who was waiting for
her in the garden. She trusted herself to me with a grave and examining
look, and shewed me, for I knew it not, the way. The king, who dotes
upon her, seemed good-humouredly pleased to see me bring her. He took
her little hand and led her away.