KEW IN FAVOUR 59 



was the prescription for the King. As the 

 orders were to keep every one out of his way, 

 she made a point of inquiring whether he 

 would be in the Kew or the Richmond grounds ; 

 but once there was a misunderstanding that 

 led to the most violent agitation of her life. 

 While tramping her constitutional round of 

 Kew Gardens, through the trees she saw three 

 or four figures, whom at first her short-sighted 

 eyes took for workmen, till she was too late 

 aware of His Majesty's person among them. 



Alarmed past all possible expression, I waited not 

 to know more, but turning back, ran off with all 

 my might. But what was my terror to hear myself 

 pursued ! to hear the voice of the King himself loudly 

 and hoarsely calling after me, " Miss Burney ! Miss 

 Burney ! " 



I protest I was ready to die. I knew not in what 

 state he might be at the time ; I only knew the orders 

 to keep out of his way were universal ; that the Queen 

 would highly disapprove any unauthorised meeting, and 

 that the very action of my running away might deeply, 

 in his present irritable state, offend him. Nevertheless, 

 on I ran, too terrified to stop, and in search of some 

 short passage, for the garden is full of little labyrinths, 

 by which I might escape. 



The steps still pursued me, and still the poor hoarse 

 and altered voice rang in my ears more and more foot- 

 steps resounded frightfully behind me the attendants 

 all running, to catch their eager master, and the voices 



