nciling her to her husband. In spite
of all Mrs. Potter's predictions, the county families did come and visit
the manufacturer's daughter; and when Madame de Florac became Madame la
Princesse de Moncontour, when it was announced that she was coming
to stay at Rosebury for Christmas, I leave you to imagine whether the
circumstance was or was not mentioned in the Newcome Sentinel and the
Newcome Independent; and whether Rev. G. Potter, D.D., and Mrs. Potter
did or did not call on the Prince and Princess. I leave you to imagine
whether the lady did or did not inspect all the alterations which
Vineer's people from Newcome were making at Rosebury House--the chaste
yellow satin and gold of the drawing-room--the carved oak for the
dining-room--the chintz for the bedrooms--the Princess's apartment--the
Prince's apartment--the guests' apartments--the smoking-room, gracious
goodness!--the stables (these were under Tom Potter's superintendence),
"and I'm finished," says he one day, "if here doesn't come a
billiard-table!"

The house was most comfortably and snugly appointed from top to bottom;
and thus it will be seen that Mr. and Mrs. Pendennis were likely to be
in very good quarters for Christmas of 184-.

Tom Potter was so kind as to call on me two days after our arrival; and
to greet me in the Princess's pew at church on the previous day. Before
desiring to be introduced to my wife, he requested me to present him to
my friend the Prince. He called him your Highness. His Highness, who had
behaved with exemplary gravity, save once when he shrieked an "ah!" as
Miss Liddy led off the children in the organ-loft in a hymn, and the
whole pack went woefully out of tune, complimented Monsieur Tom on
the sermon of monsieur his father. Tom walked with us to Rosebury
lodge-gate. "Will you not come in, and make a party of billiard with
me?" says His Highness. "Ah Pardon! I forgot, you do not play the
billiard the Sunday!" "Any other day, Prince, I shall be delighted,"
says Tom; and squeezed His Highness's hand tenderly at parting. "Your
comrade of college was he?" asks Florac. "My dear, what men are these
comrades of college! What men are you English! My word of honour, there
are some of them here--if I were to say to them wax my boots, they would
take them and wax them! Didst thou see how the Reverend eyed us during
the sermon? He regarded us over his book, my word of honour!"

Madame de Florac said simply, she wished the Prince would g