316 Life of Count Rumford. 



the Countess, but I stopped her, forbidding it ; and not till an 

 equally violent fever fit succeeded, the maid much frightened, 

 contrary to my orders, going to give them notice, all hands 

 arrived soon, followed by the doctor. My father had offended 

 me a few days previous by saying I was always ailing, and I 

 had not forgiven him. So I had two motives in going off in 

 that clandestine manner, one, because my father had affronted 

 me ; and another, the dread of the doctor's prescriptions. And 

 now they began. An emetic was proposed. I refused it, say- 

 ing that, so far from requiring it, I was then hungry. It was 

 urged, even insisted on. I declared if they approached me I 

 would dash the cup which contained it from their hands It 

 was given me, without my knowing it, in some herb tea. 



" On experiencing the sickness, and presuming from what 

 cause, I cried bitterly, and said they had deceived me. This 

 was the last trouble they had with me of this nature. I was 

 soon so ill as not to know or care what took place. I was con- 

 fined six weeks to my bed with a fever, part of the time be- 

 tween life and death. 



"My next appearance was in the banqueting-hall, celebrating 

 my father's birthday [in March, 1797], at my expense (my 

 father allowing me pocket-money), but planned and principally 

 executed by the Countess, on the sly, to occasion a surprise. 

 The preparations of this festival were various, requiring three 

 weeks' time to execute. I had little to do in them excepting 

 being enjoined to keep the secret from' my father. I was, 

 besides, convalescent only, unable to lend much assistance. 



44 The first concern was to have a bust made of my father. 

 For the want of the original to copy, a portrait was made use 

 of, which answered, they having got a very tolerable likeness. 

 A short time before the occasion arrived, having procured a 

 profusion of artificial flowers, this bust was ornamented, as 

 likewise some of the rooms, to the number of five, one of 

 which was an immense hall allowed for my use, my father hav- 

 ing no use for them. All of these being handsomely, some 

 even elegantly, furnished, and being reached by the splendid 

 staircase of looking-glass, rendered a festival easy to give, and 



