well the day. It was near the hour of ten when I saw her
leave the palace by the garden door. She wore a long dark cloak, a small
bonnet, and a full vizard which covered her entire face. I had never
known her to wear so large a vizard, as she detested even small ones, and
wore them only out of respect for the prevailing fashion. She hastened
toward the King Street Gate, and I, following at a short distance, saw
her take boat at the Charing Cross stairs.

After thinking over the situation, I determined to go to my uncle's
house. As I had suspected, Frances was not there. After greeting Sir
Richard and Sarah, I asked them, as though speaking by the way, when they
had seen Frances.

"She hasn't been home for a week or more," answered Sir Richard.

"I wish she would make haste in choosing a husband, or in wheedling
one to choose her," remarked Sarah. "I'll beat her in the race if she
doesn't. If I should, I might furnish a new saw to the world: 'The suitor
is not always to the beautiful, nor the husband to the soft of tongue.' I
have a gallant."

"So I have suspected of late," I answered.

"Yes, you're right--John Churchill," answered Sarah.

"He is a fine man," I returned.

"Yes," replied Sarah, apparently very serious, though there was a twinkle
in her eye. "But I'm not sure of him yet." Then with a sigh: "I would
that I were. If he knows what is for his own good, he'll speak soon, as
I intend to make a duke of him before he dies, and the sooner we get at
it the better. A sensible conscience, prepense to its own interest, a
good courtier, and a shrewd wife have made many a duke of far poorer
material than my John."

I laughed, and Sir Richard smiled, but we each seemed to feel that
Sarah's words were prophetic, and the future bore us out, as all the
world knows.

After waiting in my uncle's parlor an hour or more, hoping that Frances
would arrive, I took my leave and walked down to the Old Swan, where I
found her. What happened there I learned afterward from her and from
others--that is, what I did not see for myself.

After leaving Whitehall, Frances had made her way directly to the Old
Swan, where she soon found Betty. At first the girl did not seem inclined
to be at all cordial, but when Frances told her that she was in trouble
and wanted help, Betty's kind heart responded at once. "Trouble" was the
password to Betty's good graces.

"Let us go to a room where we may be by ourselves," suggested Frances. "I