ght of holding us
lingering in their chains; and Lord Greville would do well to remember
that his services are too important to his country to be held on the
caprices of a silly girl's affected coyness. But be it so--since you
are so petulant a lover, be prepared when you join her Majesty's circle
to-night, to expect Miss Marchmont's answer.'

"It happened that there was a splendid fete given at the palace that
evening in honour of the arrival of a French ambassador. When I entered
the ball-room I caught the eye of the king, who was standing apart, with
his hand resting negligently on the shoulder of the Duke of Buckingham,
and indulging in an immoderate gaiety apparently caused by some
'foolborn jest,' of the favourite's; in which, I know not why, I
immediately suspected myself to be concerned. On perceiving my arrival
however, Charles forsook his station, and approaching me with the
graceful ease which rendered him at all times the most finished
gentlemen of his court, he took me affectionately by the hand, and
congratulating me on my good fortune, he led me to Theresa who was
seated behind her companions. Occupied as I was with my own happiness,
and with the necessity of immediately expressing my gratitude both to
Theresa and the King, I could not avoid being struck by the dreadful
paleness of her agitated countenance which contrasted frightfully
with her brilliant attire; for I now saw her for the first time out of
mourning for Lady Wriothesly. When I entreated her to confirm by words
the happy tidings I had learned from his Majesty, who had again returned
to the enlivening society of his noble buffoon, she spoke with an
unfaltering voice, but in a tone of such deep dejection, and with a
fixed look of such sorrowful resolution that I could scarcely refrain,
even in that splendid assemblage, from throwing myself at her feet, and
imploring her to tell me whether her consent had not been obtained by an
undue exertion of the royal authority. But there was always in Theresa
an apparent dread of every cause of emotion and excitement, which
made me feel that a wilful disturbance of her calm serenity would be
sacrilege.

"During the short period intervening between her consent and our
marriage, which by the command of the king, was unnecessarily and even
indecorously hastened, these doubts, these fears, constantly recurred to
my mind whenever I found myself in the presence of Theresa, but during
my absence I listened to n