Page:Wives of the prime ministers, 1844-1906.djvu/139

LADY PALMERSTON Emily was shouting "Bethgelert" three rooms off,—the Princess was playing whist,—and that as she had already had to hear "cette terrible Chanson," containing thirteen stanzas, twice, she had no wish to hear it again.

Naturally, Lady Cowper had many admirers, among whom, however, Lord Palmerston held the chief place, and it was inevitable that a certain amount of gossip should get about. One day a curious incident caused Lady Cowper to overhear a conversation about herself. She had, because the house was full, turned her dressing-room into a bedroom for Rogers. Luttrell, another guest, came in to talk to Rogers, and neither realising who was in the next room, began to discuss Lady Cowper and her "beaux." Rogers's voice was too weak for her to hear what he said, but she heard distinctly Luttrell's replies, two of which were: "Oh, come, come, women will have their beaux." "Well, I really don't know, but I have loved her from a child." It is a warning to guests not to discuss their hostess when on a visit to her, even in the privacy of their bedchambers.

Lord Cowper died on 27th June 1837.

No one was greatly surprised when Lady Cowper's engagement to Lord Palmerston was 107