ding the state of the august patient there lying.
At mid-day she was somewhat better; at evening the torpor again seized
her, and she wandered in her mind. At night Dr. A---- was with us again,
with a report rather more favorable: no instant danger at any rate was
apprehended. In the course of the last two years her Majesty had had
many attacks similar, but more severe.

By this time we had finished a half-dozen of Proclamations, (the wording
of them so as to offend no parties, and not to give umbrage to Whigs or
Dissenters, required very great caution,) and the young Prince, who had
indeed shown, during a long day's labor, both alacrity at seizing the
information given him, and ingenuity and skill in turning the phrases
which were to go out signed by his name, here exhibited a good-humor and
thoughtfulness that ought to be set down to his credit.

"Were these papers to be mislaid," says he, "or our scheme to come to
mishap, my Lord Esmond's writing would bring him to a place where I
heartily hope never to see him; and so, by your leave, I will copy the
papers myself, though I am not very strong in spelling; and if they are
found they will implicate none but the person they most concern;" and
so, having carefully copied the Proclamations out, the Prince burned
those in Colonel Esmond's handwriting: "And now, and now, gentlemen,"
says he, "let us go to supper, and drink a glass with the ladies. My
Lord Esmond, you will sup with us to-night; you have given us of late
too little of your company."

The Prince's meals were commonly served in the chamber which had been
Beatrix's bedroom, adjoining that in which he slept. And the dutiful
practice of his entertainers was to wait until their Royal guest bade
them take their places at table before they sat down to partake of the
meal. On this night, as you may suppose, only Frank Castlewood and his
mother were in waiting when the supper was announced to receive the
Prince; who had passed the whole of the day in his own apartment, with
the Bishop as his Minister of State, and Colonel Esmond officiating as
Secretary of his Council.

The Prince's countenance wore an expression by no means pleasant; when
looking towards the little company assembled, and waiting for him, he
did not see Beatrix's bright face there as usual to greet him. He asked
Lady Esmond for his fair introducer of yesterday: her ladyship only cast
her eyes down, and said quietly, Beatrix could not be of the suppe