Page:The Hessians and the other German auxiliaries of Great Britain in the revolutionary war.djvu/150

 of the 22d of November.’ ‘He is well,’ answered he; ‘I have inquired expressly about him; every one is pleased with him, and I hope the cold will do him no harm.’ I answered that I hoped and believed that he would not feel the cold so much, as he was born in a cold climate. ‘I hope so too,’ said he, ‘but I can assure you of this, that the air there is very healthy and clear.’ Thereupon he made me a pleasant bow and went on. When he was gone I said to Lady Germaine that I was now naturalized, since the king had kissed me.

“Afterwards came the queen, who was also very kind to me, and asked if I had been long in London. I said, two months. ‘I thought it was longer,’ answered she. I answered, in London only so long, but in England already seven months. She asked whether I liked it here. I said yes, but that I much wished to be in Canada.—‘Are you, then, not afraid of the sea?’ she then asked; ‘I don't like it at all.’—‘Nor I either,’ I replied, ‘only there is no other way to see my husband again, and I shall travel with friends.’—‘I admire your courage,’ said she, ‘for it is a great undertaking and very difficult, particularly with three children.’ “I saw, from this conversation, that she had already heard of me, and I was therefore glad that I had gone to court. After the ceremony I saw all the royal children, but one who was sick. There were ten of them, and I thought them all beautiful.

“I went again several times, as I had been so well received. When I took leave of the queen in the spring, before going to Portsmouth to embark, she asked me again if I were not afraid of so terrible a