In another college (we saw so many, and in such quick succession, that I
recollect not any by name, though all by situation) I saw a performance
of courtly etiquette, by Lady Charlotte Bertie, that seemed to me as
difficult as any feat I ever beheld, even at Astley's or Hughes's. It
was in an extremely large, long, spacious apartment. The king always led
the way out, as well as in, upon all entrances and exits: but here, for
some reason that I know not, the queen was handed out first; and the
princesses, and the aide-de-camp, and equerry followed. The king
was very earnest in conversation with some professor; the attendants
hesitated whether to wait or follow the queen; but presently the Duchess
of Ancaster, being near the door, slipped out, and Lady Harcourt after
her. The Miss Vernons, who were but a few steps from them, went next.
But Lady Charlotte, by chance, happened to be very high up the room, and
near to the king. Had I been in her situation, I had surely waited till
his majesty went first--but that would not, I saw, upon this occasion,
have been etiquette she therefore faced the king, and began a march
backwards,--her ankle already sprained, and to walk forward, and even
leaning upon an arm, was painful to her: nevertheless, back she went,
perfectly upright, without one stumble, without ever looking once behind
to see what she might encounter; and with as graceful a motion, and as
easy an air, as I ever saw anybody enter a long room, she retreated, I
am sure, full twenty yards backwards out of one.
For me, I was also, unluckily, at the upper end of the room, looking at
some portraits of founders, and one of Henry VIII. in particular,
from Holbein. However, as soon as I perceived what was going
forward,--backward, rather,--I glided near the wainscot, (Lady
Charlotte, I should mention, made her retreat along the very middle
of the room,) and having paced a few steps backwards, stopped short to
recover, and, while I seemed examining some other portrait, disentangled
my train from the heels of my shoes, and then proceeded a few steps only
more--and then, observing the king turn another way, I slipped a yard or
two at a time forwards--and hastily looked back, and then was able to go
again according to rule, and in this manner, by slow and varying means,
I at length made my escape. Miss Planta stood upon less ceremony, and
fairly ran off.
Since that time, however, I have come on prodigiously, by constant
practice, in the power and skill of walking backwards, without tripping
up my own heels, feeling my head giddy, or treading my train out of the
plaits--accidents very frequent among novices in that business; and I
have no doubt but that, in the course of a few months, I shall arrive at
all possible perfection in the true Court retrograde motion.
In another college, in an old chapter house, I had the opportunity to
see another Court-scene. It was nearly round in shape, and had various
old images and ornaments. We were all taken in by the doctors attendant,
and the party, with doctors and all, nearly filled it; but, finding it
crowded, everybody stood upon the less ceremony, and we all made our
examinations of the various contents of the room quite at our ease: till
suddenly the king and queen, perceiving two very heavy old-fashioned
chairs were placed at the head of the room for their reception,
graciously accepted them, and sat down. Nothing could exceed the
celerity with which all confusion instantly was over, and the most
solemn order succeeded to it. Chairs were presented to the three
princesses by the side of the queen, and the Duchess of Ancaster and
Lady Harcourt planted themselves at their backs; while Lady Charlotte
instantly retreated close to the wall, and so did every creature else in
the room, all according to their rank or station, and the royal family
remained conspicuous and alone, all crowd dispersed, and the space of
almost the whole room unoccupied before them, so close to the walls did
every body respectfully stand.