The king laughed and said he would gladly grant the privilege in private,
but that in public he had a "damnable dignity" to uphold.

* * * * *

After the dancing was over for the evening, the king offered Frances a
purse of gold to be used at the card-table, but she declined, and as
nearly every one else went to the tables, the duchess granted leave to
Frances, Mary, and myself to depart.

Mary and I went with Frances to her parlor adjoining her bedroom, where
we remained for an hour or more talking over the events of the night.
Mary had heard one in the ballroom say this and another say that. Frances
had heard all sorts of remarks, some of them kind, others spiteful.
I had heard nothing but praise of my cousin, and all that we had heard
was discussed excitedly and commented on earnestly or laughingly, as the
case might be.

Frances was in high spirits till by an unlucky chance Mary spoke of her
brother George, of whose acquaintance with Frances she knew nothing, and
instantly my cousin's eyes began to fill. I saw that the tears would
come, despite all her efforts, if something were not done to stay them.
Therefore I spoke of her father's joy when he should hear of her triumph,
and my remark furnished an excuse for her weeping. In the course of an
hour Mary and I left Frances and went to the card-tables, where we found
Mary's mother, who at that time, happening to be winner in a large sum,
was ready to quit the game, so we all walked home across the park with
linkboys.

* * * * *