358 REMINISCENCES OF 



found him on the lawn close to Holyrood Palace 

 administering the oath of fidelity to the archers. 



The King and Queen arrived in the afternoon 

 at Waverley Station. We were asked by the Mon- 

 tague Johnstones to see them pass from the North 

 British Hotel. Charlie as Silver Stick was close to 

 the King's carriage ; Major Longfield was in com- 

 mand of the escort. 



The lev^e took place at Holyrood on Tuesday at 

 twelve o'clock. Only three officers were allowed 

 to go from each regiment. Major Mitchell, John 

 Haig and I represented the Fife Yeomanry. About 

 1,000 officers were present. The court was at four 

 o'clock. Only 600 ladies were to be admitted, and 

 only those who had not been or were not going to 

 a drawing-room at Buckingham Palace this year. 

 There was a tremendous competition for permission 

 to attend, and as toques and high dresses were 

 substituted for the regulation court dress, many 

 and various were the results. Lord Balfour was 

 besieged with letters. One lady appeared with 

 ermine trimmings, which were removed in the ante- 

 room. An ermine tippet lined with white rabbit 

 fur was tactfully turned inside out by the attendants, 

 and the wearer did not discover what had occurred 

 till the ceremony was over ! Archers with their bows 

 crossed were placed at intervals to keep the ladies 

 from advancing too rapidly into the Presence 

 Chamber. 



Many ladies had started soon after one o'clock 

 to be in time. My wife and Miss Johnstone of Alva 



