COUNT RTJMFORD. 129 



an intention to give dramatic force to a revelation to be 

 made at the time. It was observed that Rumford had 

 singled out from the children a little girl of eight, who 

 accompanied him when he walked, and took her place 

 beside him when he sat. The little girl was his illegiti- 

 mate child. Sarah, on learning this, threw herself into 

 the dance she had previously declined, and thus whirled 

 away her indignation. Her partner was the young 

 Count Taxis, Rumford's aide-de-camp, between whom 

 and Rumford's daughter a friendly intimacy was ob- 

 viously growing up. Rumford noticed this, and disap- 

 proved of it. Being invited to dinner at the house of the 

 Countess Lerchenfeld, with her father's consent Miss 

 Thompson went. Count Taxis happened to be one of 

 the part}', and on hearing this Rumford jumped to the 

 conclusion that a ladies' conspiracy was afoot to counter- 

 act his wishes. With a lowering look he taxed his daugh- 

 ter with what he supposed to be an intrigue. At first she 

 could only stare at him in surprise. " After which, on 

 knowing what it meant, like many young people who 

 laugh when there is nothing to laugh at, an irresistible 

 inclination seized me to laugh." She gave way to her 

 inclination, " and it ended in my father's boxing my 

 ears." She was stunned by the indignity, and " quitted 

 the room, without making an observation, or trying to 

 appease him by saying I was innocent." 



The Elector put the seal to his esteem for Rumford 

 by appointing him as Plenipotentiary from Bavaria to 

 the Court of London. King George, however, declined 

 to accept him in this capacity. Mr. Paget, the Minister 

 at the Court of Bavaria, was desired " to lose no time in 

 apprising the Ministers of His Electoral Highness that 

 such an appointment would be by no means agreeable 

 to His Majesty, and that His Majesty relies therefore 

 on the friendship and good understanding which have 



