The conversation turned upon music, and the Queen who had been
describing with national partiality the beauty of the hymns sung by
the Portuguese mariners, suddenly addressing me, observed that since
she left her native country she had heard no vocal music which had
given her pleasure except from the lips of Miss Marchmont: 'I
cannot' said she kindly smiling, 'as you may perceive, forget the
name of one whose society I prized so highly; but if 'Lady Greville'
will pardon my inadvertence, and oblige me by singing one of those
airs with which she was wont formerly to charm me to sleep when I
suffered either mental or bodily affliction, I will in turn forgive
_you_, my lord, for robbing me of the attendance of my friend.'

"Theresa instantly obeyed, and while she hung over her instrument
her attitude was so graceful, that the Queen again observed to me,
'we must have our Theresa seen by Lely in that costume, and thus
occupied she would make a charming study for his pencil; and I
promise myself the pleasure of possessing it as a lasting memorial
of my young friend.' The portrait to which this observation gave
rise, you must have seen yourself, my Helen, in the gallery at
Silsea castle.

"While I was thus engaged by her Majesty, I observed the Duke of
Buckingham approach my wife with an air of deference bordering on
irony; he appeared to make some unpleasant request which he affected
to urge with an earnestness beyond the rules of gallantry or good
breeding, and which she refused with an appearance of haughtiness I
had never before seen her excise. He than respectfully addressed the
Queen, and entreated her intercession with Lady Greville for a
favourite Italian air, one, he said, which her Majesty had probably
never enjoyed the happiness of hearing--but before the Queen could