that I could not help suspecting she nourished some secret and hidden
cause of grief; and once on hinting this opinion to the king, who
frequently in our familiar intercourse rallied me on my passion for
Theresa, and questioned me as to the progress of my suit, he told me
that Miss Marchmont's dejection was generally attributed to her
regret, for the loss of Lady Wriothesly, the kind patroness who had
first recommended her to his protection, and by whose death,
immediately before my return from Holland, she had lost her only
surviving friend. 'It remains to be proved,' added he, 'whether her
lingering affection for the memory of an old woman will yield
readily to her dawning attachment for her future husband.'

"Another suspicion sometimes crossed my mind, but in so uncertain a
form, that I could scarcely myself resolve the nature of the evil I
apprehended. I observed that Theresa constantly and anxiously
watched the eye of the king, whenever she formed a part of the royal
suite; and if she perceived his attention fixed on herself, or if he
chanced to approach the spot where she stood, she would turn
abruptly to me, and enter into conversation with an air of
_empressement_, as though to confirm his opinion of our mutual good
understanding. Upon one occasion as I passed through the gallery
leading to the Queen's apartments, I found His Majesty standing in
the embrasure of a window, in earnest conversation with Miss
Marchmont. They did not at first perceive me; and I had leisure to
observe that Theresa was agitated even to tears. She turned round at
the sound of approaching footsteps, but betrayed no distress at my
surprising her in this unusual situation. In reply to some
observation of the King's, she answered with a respectful
inclination, 'Sir, I will not forget;' and left the gallery; while
Charles, gaily taking my arm, led me into the adjoining saloon, and