62 KEW GARDENS 



it short. He talked of Mrs. Schwellenberg, 

 seeming quite well aware of what Miss Burney 

 had to bear from her " Cerbera " ; of the lady's 

 own father, author of the History of Music ; of 

 his favourite composer, Handel, snatches from 

 whose oratorios he tried to hum over with 

 painful effect. As they walked on together, 

 he asked endless questions about his friends, 

 expressed his intention of appointing new 

 officials, complained angrily of his pages. At 

 last he was persuaded to part from this reluctant 

 confidante, promising to be her friend as long as 

 he lived ; then she went off to the Queen with 

 a report which ensured forgiveness for that 

 innocent adventure. 



The favourable symptoms continued, little 

 to the satisfaction of the Prince and his friends, 

 who are credited with passing brutal jests on 

 the King's condition. Just as power seemed 

 to be within their grasp, the Regency Bill was 

 shelved, after an audience given by the King 

 to the Lord Chancellor, Thurlow, though that 

 shifty Polonius is said to have remarked that 

 His Majesty had been "wound up" to talk to 

 him. Miss Burney, who now confined her 

 walks to the roadside, had the happiness of 



