ishop will pray for the result of the interview, and his Scots clerk
will say Amen! Quick, put on your hood, Madam Beatrix; why doth not his
Majesty come down? Such another chance may not present itself for months
again."

The Prince was late and lazy, and indeed had all but lost that chance
through his indolence. The Queen was actually about to leave the garden
just when the party reached it; the Doctor, the Bishop, the maid of
honor and her brother went off together in the physician's coach,
and had been gone half an hour when Colonel Esmond came to Kensington
Square.

The news of this errand, on which Beatrix was gone, of course for a
moment put all thoughts of private jealousy out of Colonel Esmond's
head. In half an hour more the coach returned; the Bishop descended from
it first, and gave his arm to Beatrix, who now came out. His lordship
went back into the carriage again, and the maid of honor entered the
house alone. We were all gazing at her from the upper window, trying to
read from her countenance the result of the interview from which she had
just come.

She came into the drawing-room in a great tremor and very pale; she
asked for a glass of water as her mother went to meet her, and after
drinking that and putting off her hood, she began to speak--"We may all
hope for the best," says she; "it has cost the Queen a fit. Her Majesty
was in her chair in the Cedar-walk, accompanied only by Lady ----, when
we entered by the private wicket from the west side of the garden, and
turned towards her, the Doctor following us. They waited in a side
walk hidden by the shrubs, as we advanced towards the chair. My heart
throbbed so I scarce could speak; but my Prince whispered, 'Courage,
Beatrix,' and marched on with a steady step. His face was a little
flushed, but he was not afraid of the danger. He who fought so bravely
at Malplaquet fears nothing." Esmond and Castlewood looked at each other
at this compliment, neither liking the sound of it.

"The Prince uncovered," Beatrix continued, "and I saw the Queen turning
round to Lady Masham, as if asking who these two were. Her Majesty
looked very pale and ill, and then flushed up; the favorite made us a
signal to advance, and I went up, leading my Prince by the hand, quite
close to the chair: 'Your Majesty will give my Lord Viscount your hand
to kiss,' says her lady, and the Queen put out her hand, which the
Prince kissed, kneeling on his knee, he who should kneel to no m