rson 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 supper that
night; nor did she show the least sign of confusion, whereas Castlewood
turned red, and Esmond was no less embarrassed. I think women have an
instinct of dissimulation; they know by nature how to disguise their
emotions far better than the most consummate male courtiers can do. Is not
the better part of the life of many of them spent in hiding their
feelings, in cajoling their tyrants, in masking over with fond smiles and
artful gaiety their doubt, or their grief, or their terror?

Our guest swallowed his supper very sulky; it was not till the second
bottle his highness began to rally. When Lady Castlewood asked leave to
depart, he sent a message to Beatrix, hoping she would be present at the
next day's dinner, and applied himself to drink, and to talk afterwards,
for which there was subject in plenty.

The next day, we heard from our informer at Kensington that the queen was
somewhat better, and had been up for an hour, though she was not well
enough yet to receive any visitor.

At dinner a single cover was laid for his royal highness; and the two
gentlemen alone waited on him. We had had a consultation in the morning
with Lady Castlewood, in which it had