Page:Letters from India Vol 1.djvu/321

 George arrived at four yesterday, in great state, with the whole of the bodyguard, and the whole concern after him; and the guns fired and the trumpets sounded, and the people ran and the officers drew their swords; and when I called to Wright for my bonnet, she could not come because she was sobbing; and when I asked what was the matter, ‘I was looking at my lord, ma’am, and thinking of the day I first saw him in Grosvenor Street, and my lord persuaded you to take me, and now, ma’am, he is quite as good as a king.’ ‘Yes, but think of the climate and the dust and the bore of it all, Wright, and see if you can’t find my bonnet; and, moreover, if my lord had been a real king, he would not have stuck himself at the top of a prancing horse to go off at four in the broad sun to see a quantity of smoke and natives.’ The thermometer was at least 150° on the plain, I am sure. He took all his staff (with all their horses kicking) after him, and I followed in the open carriage with the four young horses kicking too, and the postilions not understanding a word I said. However, we lived through the first ten minutes, and then the horses were all stunned