The king immediately raised his opera-glass to look at me,
laughing heartily--the queen's presently took the same
direction--all the princesses looked up, and all the attendants,
and all the maids of honour!

I protest I was never more at a loss what to do with myself:
nobody was in the front row with me but Miss Goldsworthy, who
instantly seeing how I was disconcerted, prudently and
good-naturedly forbore taking any notice of me. I sat as far
back as I could, and kept my fan against the exposed profile for
the rest of the night, never once leaning forward, nor using my
glass.

None of the royal family spoke to me on this matter till a few
days after; but I heard from Mrs. Delany they had all declared

Page 33

themselves sorry for the confusion it had caused me. And some
time after the queen could not forbear saying, "I hope, Miss
Burney, YOU minded the epilogue the other night?"

And the king, very comically, said, "I took a peep at you!--I
could not help that. I wanted to see how you looked when your
father first discovered your writing--and now I think I know!"


THE KING's BIRTHDAY.