

314 Life of Count Rumford. 



words. I had been indisposed for several days, b Jt said nothing 

 about it, from the childish, foolish idea that I s hould be, as I 

 termed it, dosed. From the same childishness,, because I was 

 fond of going on horseback, I came out when I ought to have 

 staved at home ; and from being in a restrained posture and 

 among strangers, it naturally made me worse, fln short, I grew 

 so bad I thought I was dying, and told the Count I wished to 

 get off the horse. While he was dismounting and making 

 suns to the groom to approach, without his perceiving it I 

 slipped my foot out of the stirrup, and took hole' of the saddle 

 to let myself down, but before I could do it my senses had left 

 me ; so that when Taxis turned his head, it wa! not to see me 

 on the seat, but prostrate on the ground. Ihere was the 

 greater cause for alarm from his supposing I hac fallen, instead 

 of letting myself down, and that my fainting w> owing, most 

 likely, to some hurt. The first thing I realizedon coming to 

 my senses, was Taxis and the groom exceeding frightened, 

 lifting me about, not knowing what to do with rd It would 

 be difficult to describe the expression of their facesphen they 

 found me alive instead of dead, as they owned ey much 

 feared ; supposing me to have received some great, ai perhaps 

 fatal, blow from the fall. They were likewise muchejoiced 

 on my giving particulars, and assuring them I was nun the 

 least hurt. The groom thought he should never daro see 

 my father again, had anything terrible happened to his da'cfer 

 while in part under his care. The expressions of Count Tax.a 

 were more refined, as may be imagined. He showed such feel- 

 ing and friendship on the occasion, I own it impressed me with 

 the most lively gratitude and friendship for him. He thought 

 best to let the groom go in search of my father, who soon 

 joined us, when we all returned safely together. 



" As under absolute governments distinction of classes is 

 observed, so that between the General and his aids is not 

 forgotten. My father, in coming to the door after our ride, 

 with a familiar nod of the head, without asking them to enter, 

 dismissed his aids. But Taxis, as it appeared, went straight to 

 the Countess, giving her information of the bad success of our 



