royalty restored-第24部分

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er　hair　bright　and　luxuriant；　her　eyes　of　violet　hue；　moreover；　her　figure　being　tall；　straight；　and　shapely；　her　movements　possessed　an　air　of　exquisite　grace。　　An　exact　idea　of　her　lineaments　may　be　gained　unto　this　day；　from　the　fact　that　Philip　Rotier；　the　medallist；　who　loved　her　true；　represented　her　likeness　in　the　face　of　Britannia　on　the　reverse　of　coins；　and　so　faithful　was　the　likeness；　we　are　assured；　that　no　one　who　had　ever　seen　her　could　mistake　who　had　sat　as　model　of　the　figure。

Soon　after　her　arrival　in　England；　she　was　appointed　one　of　the　maids　of　honour　to　Queen　Catherine；　and　as　such　was　present　at　all　festivities　of　the　court。　　Now；　at　one　of　the　great　balls　given　in　honour　of　the　Duke　of　Monmouth's　nuptials；　the　fair　Frances　Stuart　appeared　in　the　full　lustre　of　her　charms。　　Her　beauty；　her　grace；　and　her　youth　completely　eclipsed　the　more　showy　gifts　of　my　Lady　Castlemaine；　who　on　this　occasion　looked　pale　and　thin；　she　being　in　the　commencement　of　another　pregnancy；　〃which　the　king　was　pleased　to　place　to　his　own　account。〃　The　merry　monarch　had　before　this　time　been　attracted　by　the　fair　maid　of　honour；　but　now　it　was　evident　his　heart　had　found　a　new　object　of　admiration　in　her　surpassing　beauty。　Henceforth　he　boldly　made　love　to　her。　　The　countess　was　not　much　disturbed　by　this；　for　she　possessed　great　faith　in　her　own　charms　and　implicit　belief　in　her　power　over　the　king。　　Besides；　she　had　sufficient　knowledge　of　mankind　to　comprehend　that　to　offer　opposition　in　pursuit　of　love　is　the　most　certain　method　to　foster　its　growth。　　She　therefore　resolved　to　seek　Miss　Stuart's　society；　cultivate　her　friendship；　and　constantly　bring　her　into　contact　with　his　majesty。　　This　would　not　only　prove　to　the　satisfaction　of　the　court　she　had　no　fear　of　losing　her　sovereignty　over　the　monarch；　but；　by　keeping　him　engaged　with　the　maid　of　honour；　would　likewise　divert　his　attention　from　an　intrigue　the　countess　was　then　carrying　on　with　Henry　Jermyn。　Accordingly；　she　made　overtures　of　friendship　to　Miss　Stuart；　invited　her　to　private　parties；　and　appeared　continually　with　her　in　public。

Concerning　these　ladies　and　the　merry　monarch；　Pepys　narrates　a　strange　story　which　Captain　Ferrers　told　him　as　they　〃walked　finely〃　in　the　park。　　This　was；　that　at　an　entertainment　given　by　my　Lady　Castlemaine；　towards　the　end　of　which　his　majesty　played　at　being　married　with　fair　Frances　Stuart；　〃with　ring　and　all　other　ceremonies　of　Church　service；　and　ribbands；　and　a　sack　posset　＇A　drink　composed　of　milk；　wine；　and　spices。＇　in　bed；　and　flinging　the　stocking。　　My　Lady　Castlemaine　looked　on　the　while；　evincing　neither　anger　nor　jealousy；　but　entering　into　the　diversion　with　great　spirit。〃　　Nor　was　this　the　only　indiscretion　of　which　she　was　culpable；　for；　in　the　full　confidence　of　her　charms；　she　frequently　kept　Miss　Stuart　to　stay　with　her。　　〃The　king；〃　says　Hamilton；　〃who　seldom　neglected　to　visit　the　countess　before　she　rose；　seldom　failed　likewise　to　find　Miss　Stuart　with　her。　　The　most　indifferent　objects　have　charms　in　a　new　attachment；　however；　the　imprudent　countess　was　not　jealous　of　this　rival's　appearing　with　her；　in　such　a　situation；　being　confident　that；　whenever　she　thought　fit；　she　could　triumph　over　all　the　advantages　which　these　opportunities　could　afford　Miss　Stuart。〃

No　doubt　Lady　Castlemaine's　imprudences　arose　from　knowledge　that　Miss　Stuart　was　devoid　of　tact；　and　incapable　of　turning　opportunities　to　her　own　advantage　in　the　king's　regard。　　For　though　the　maid　of　honour　was　richly　endowed　with　beauty；　she　was　wholly　devoid　of　wit。　　She　was　not　only　a　child　in　years；　but　likewise　in　behaviour。　　She　laughed　at　every　remark　made　her；　delighted　in　playing　blind　man's　buff；　and　was　never　more　happy　than　when　building　castles　of　cards。　　At　this　latter　amusement　she　continually　employed　herself　whilst　the　deepest　play　was　taking　place　in　her　apartments；　being　always　attended　by　groups　of　courtiers；　who　were　either　attracted　by　the　charm　of　her　beauty；　or　were　eager　to　make　court　through　her　favour。　　As　she　sat　upon　the　floor；　intent　on　her　favourite　occupation；　they　on　their　knees　handed　her　cards；　traced　out　designs　for　her；　or　built　elaborate　structures　rivalling　her　own。

Amongst　those　who　attended　her　in　this　manner　was　the　gay；　graceful；　and　profligate　Duke　of　Buckingham；　who　became　enamoured　of　her　loveliness。　　Not　only　did　he　raise　the　most　wonderful　of　card　mansions　for　her　delight；　but　having　a　good　voice；　and　she　possessing　a　passion　for　music；　he　invented　songs　and　sung　them　to　pleasure　her。　　Moreover；　he　told　her　the　wittiest　stories；　turned　the　courtiers　into　the　greatest　ridicule　for　her　entertainment；　and　made　her　acquainted　with　the　most　diverting　scandals。　　Finally；　he　professed　his　ardent　love　for　her；　but　at　this　the　fair　Stuart　either　felt；　or　feigned；　intense　astonishment；　and　so　repulsed　him　that　he　abandoned　the　pursuit　of　an　amour　over　which　he　had　wasted　so　much　time；　and　thenceforth　deprived　himself　of　her　company。

His　attentions　were；　however；　soon　replaced　by　those　of　the　Earl　of　Arlington；　a　lord　of　the　bedchamber；　and　a　man　of　grave　address　and　great　ambition。　　Owing　to　this　latter　trait　his　lordship　was　desirous　of　winning　the　good　graces　of　Miss　Stuart　in　the　present；　in　hopes　of　governing　his　majesty　in　the　future；　when　she　became　the　king's　mistress。　　But　these　sage　and　provident　intentions　of　his　were　speedily　overturned；　for　early　in　the　course　of　their　acquaintance；　when　he　had　commenced　to　tell　her　a　story；　his　manner　so　forcibly　reminded　her　of　Buckingham's　mimicry　of　him；　that　she　burst　out　laughing　in　the　earl's　face。　　This　being　utterly　uncalled　for　by　the　circumstances　of　his　tale；　and　still　less　by　the　manner　of　its　narration；　Lord　Arlington；　who　was　serious；　punctilious；　and　proud；　became　enraged；　abruptly　left　her　presence；　and　abandoned　his　schemes　of　governing　the　king　through　so　frivolous　a　medium。

A　man　who　had　better　chances　of　success　in　winning　this　beautiful　girl　was　George　Hamilton；　whose　name　has　been　already　mentioned。　It　was　not；　however；　his　graceful　person；　or　elegant　manner；　but　his　performance　of　a　trick　which　gained　her　attention。　　It　happened　one　night　that　an　Irish　peer；　old　Lord　Carlingford；　was　diverting　her　by　showing　how　she　might　hold　a　burning　candle　in　her　mouth　a　considerable　time　without　its　being　extinguished。　This　was　a　source　of　uncommon　delight　to　her；　seeing　which；　George　Hamilton　thought　he　would　give　her　still　further　entertainment。　　For　being　furnished　by　nature　with　a　wide　mouth；　he　placed　within　it　two　lighted　candles；　and　walked　three　times　round　the　room　without　extinguishing　them；　whilst　the　fair　Stuart　clapped　her　pretty　hands　in　delight；　and　shouted　aloud　with　laughter。

A　man　who　could　accomplish　such　a　feat　was　worthy　of　becoming　a　favourite。　　She　at　once　admitted　him　to　terms　of　familiarity；　and　he　had　a　hundred　chances　of　paying　her　the　attentions　he　greatly　desired；　and　which　she　freely　accepted。　　Grammont；　foreseeing　that　Hamilton　would　incur　the　royal　displeasure　if　his　love　for　Miss　Stuart　became　known　to　the　king；　besought　him　to　abandon　his　addresses；　but　this　advice　did　not　at　first　sound　pleasant　to　the　lover's　ears。　　〃Since　the　court　has　been　in　the　country；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　had　a　hundred　opportunities　of　seeing　her；　which　I　had　not　before。　　You　know　that　the　dishabille　of　the　bath　is　a　great　convenience　for　those　ladies；　who；　strictly　adhering　to　all　the　rules　of　decorum；　are　yet　desirous　to　display　all　their　charms　and　attractions。　　Miss　Stuart　is　so　fully　acquainted　with　the　advantages　she　possesses　over　all　other　women；　that　it　is　hardly　possible　to　praise　any　lady　at　court　for　a　well…turned　arm；　and　a　fine　leg　but　she　is　ever　ready　to　dispute　the　point　by　demonstration；　and　I　really　believe　that；　with　a　little　address；　it　would　not　be　difficult　to　induce　her　to　strip　naked；　without　ever　reflecting　upon　what　she　was　doing。　　After　all；　a　man　must　be　very　insensible　to　remain　unconcerned　and　unmoved　on　such　happy　occasions。〃

Hamilton　was　therefore　not　willing　to　renounce　Miss　Stuart；　but　upon　Grammont　showing　that　attentions　paid　the　lady　would　certainly　provoke　the　king's　anger；　he　resolved　on　sacrificing　love　to　interest；　and　abandoning　the　company　of　the　fair　maid　of　honour　for　evermore。　　The　truth　was；　his　majesty　loved　her　exceedingly；　as　was　indeed　evident；　for　he　constantly　sought　her　presence；　talked　to　her　at　the　drawing…rooms　as　if　no　one　else　were　by；　and　kissed　her　〃to　the　observation　of　all　the　world。〃　But　though　she　allowed　Charles　such　liberties；　she　refused　to　become　his　mistress；　notwithstanding　the　splendid　settlements　and　high　titles　with　which　the　monarch　engaged　to　reward　the　sacrifice　of　her　virtue。　　And　so；　though　a　king；　it　was　not　given　him　to　be　obeyed　in　all。　　And　though　generally　loved　for　his　easy　ways　and　gracious　manners；　he　was　continually　harassed　by　his　mistresses；　reproved　by　his　chancellor；　and　ridiculed　by　his　courtiers。　　Indeed；　they　now　spoke　of　him　in　his　absence　as　〃Old　Rowley；〃　the　reason　of　which　is　given　by　Richardson。　　〃There　was　an　old　goat；〃　writes　he；　〃in　the　privy　garden；　that　they　had　given　this　name　to；　a　rank　lecherous　devil；　that　everybody　knew　and　used　to　stroke；　because　he　was　good…humoured　and　familiar；　and　so　they　applied　this　name　to　the　king。〃



CHAPTER　VIII。

The　Duke　of　York's　intrigues。My　Lady　Chesterfield　and　his　royal　highnessThe　story　of　Lady　Southesk's　love。Lord　Arran　plays　the　guitar。Lord　Chesterfield　is　jealous。The　countess　is　taken　from　court。Mistress　Margaret　Brooke　and　the　king。Lady　Denham　and　the　duke。Sir　John　goes　mad。My　lady　is　poisoned。

The　while　his　majesty　devoted　himself　to　pleasure　and　intrigue；　neglectful　of　affairs　of　state；　and　heedless　of　public　scandal；　his　brother　of　York；　whose　disposition　was　not　less　amorous；　likewise　followed　the　bent　of　his　inclinations。　　Soon　after　her　appearance　at　court　he　professed　himself　in　love　with　the　beautiful　Elizabeth　Hamilton；　whom　to　behold　was　to　admire。　　But　the　duke　being　a　married　man；　and　she　a　virtuous　woman；　he　dared　not　address　her　on　the　subject　of　his　affection；　and　was　therefore　obliged　to　confine　the　expression　of　his　feelings　to　glances。　　These　she　refused　to　inter