ing with her
in the post-chaise, and a man armed on the coach-box to prevent any
danger of the road. Esmond and Frank thought of escorting the carriage,
but she indignantly refused their company, and another man was sent to
follow the coach, and not to leave it till it had passed over Hounslow
Heath on the next day. And these two forming the whole of Lady
Castlewood's male domestics, Mr. Esmond's faithful John Lockwood came
to wait on his mistress during their absence, though he would have
preferred to escort Mrs. Lucy, his sweetheart, on her journey into the
country.

We had a gloomy and silent meal; it seemed as if a darkness was over the
house, since the bright face of Beatrix had been withdrawn from it. In
the afternoon came a message from the favorite to relieve us somewhat
from this despondency. "The Queen hath been much shaken," the note said;
"she is better now, and all things will go well. Let MY LORD CASTLEWOOD
be ready against we send for him."

At night there came a second billet: "There hath been a great battle in
Council; Lord Treasurer hath broke his staff, and hath fallen never to
rise again; no successor is appointed. Lord B----receives a great Whig
company to-night at Golden Square. If he is trimming, others are true;
the Queen hath no more fits, but is a-bed now, and more quiet. Be ready
against morning, when I still hope all will be well."

The Prince came home shortly after the messenger who bore this billet
had left the house. His Royal Highness was so much the better for the
Bishop's liquor, that to talk affairs to him now was of little service.
He was helped to the Royal bed; he called Castlewood familiarly by his
own name; he quite forgot the part upon the acting of which his crown,
his safety, depended. 'Twas lucky that my Lady Castlewood's servants
were out of the way, and only those heard him who would not betray
him. He inquired after the adorable Beatrix, with a royal hiccup in his
voice; he was easily got to bed, and in a minute or two plunged in that
deep slumber and forgetfulness with which Bacchus rewards the votaries
of that god. We wished Beatrix had been there to see him in his cups. We
regretted, perhaps, that she was gone.

One of the party at Kensington Square was fool enough to ride to
Hounslow that night, coram latronibus, and to the inn which the family
used ordinarily in their journeys out of London. Esmond desired my
landlord not to acquaint Madam Beatrix with his coming,