et expressed just as resolute a dislike or
detestation of her son, and an utter disbelief in his sincerity. She
declared that she knew he only wanted to see her in order that he
should have the joy of knowing she was dead five minutes sooner than if
he had to wait in Pall Mall to hear the glad tidings. She told the
listeners that if ever she should consent to see the prince they might
be sure she had lost her senses. Princess Caroline was in constant
attendance on the Queen. So was Lord Hervey. The princess, however,
became unwell herself and the Princess Emily sat up with the Queen.
But Caroline would not consent to be removed from her mother. A couch
was fitted up for her in a room adjoining the Queen's; and Lord Hervey
lay on a mattress on the floor at the foot of the princess's bed. The
King occasionally went to his own rooms, and there was peace for the
time in the dying woman's chamber. Probably the only two that truly
and unselfishly loved the Queen were occupying the couch and the
mattress in that outer room.

The Queen talked often to Princess Caroline, and commended to her the
care of her two younger sisters. She talked to her son William, Duke
of Cumberland, then little more than sixteen years old, admonished him
to be a support to his father, and to "try to make up for the
disappointment and vexation he must receive from your {119} profligate
and worthless brother." But she also admonished him to attempt nothing
against his brother, and only to mortify him by showing superior merit.
She asked for her keys, and gave them to the King. She took off her
finger a ruby ring which he had given her at her coronation, and put it
on his finger, and said to him, almost as patient Grizzel does, "Naked
I came to you, and naked I go from you." All who were present at this
episode in the dying were in tears, except the Queen herself. She
seemed absolutely composed; indeed she was anxious that the end should
come. She had no belief in the possibility of her recovery, and she
only wanted to be released now from "the fever called living." Except
for the bitter outbursts of anger and hatred against the Prince of
Wales, the poor Queen seems to have borne herself like a true-hearted,
resigned, tender wife, kind mother, and Christian woman.

[Sidenote: 1737--A fatal mistake]

An operation was tried, with the consent of the King. Thereupon arises
a controversy not unlike that which followed an imperial death in v