58 RECOEDS AND BEMINISCENCES OF GOODWOOD 



about the rumours. He gravely replied, " Yes ; they 

 are true. "We are off to-morrow," which news circu- 

 lated immediately. Some of the officers hurriedly left 

 the ballroom to make necessary preparations ; others 

 remained, and actually had no time to change their 

 clothes, but fought in evening costume. 



"I went," states Lady de Eos, "with my eldest 

 brother — aide-de-camp to the Prince of Orange — to 

 his house to help him to pack up, and then returned 

 to the ballroom. 



" It was a dreadful evening, taking leave of friends 

 and acquaintances, many never to be seen again. 

 The Duke of Brunswick, upon taking leave of me, 

 made a civil speech, stating the Brunswickers were 

 sure to distinguish themselves after the 'honour' I 

 had done them by my having accompanied the Duke 

 of Wellington to their review. The first news we 

 had on the 16th was that he and Lord Hay — whom 

 I knew very well — were killed." At the ball supper, 

 her Ladyship states that she sat next to the Duke of 

 Wellington, when he gave her a miniature painting 

 of himself. " In the course of the evening the noble 

 Chief asked my father for a map of the country he 

 possessed ; and went into his study, putting his 

 finger on Waterloo, saying the battle would be fought 

 there. My father marked the spot with his pencil, 

 but alas ! this map was lost or stolen, as it never 

 returned from Canada with his other possessions. 



