s
advanced in pregnancy; and, to complete her misfortune, the child had
fallen all on one side, so that even Euclid would have been puzzled to
say what her figure was. The disconsolate lady, seeing Miss Hamilton
and Mrs. Wetenhall set out every morning, sometimes on horseback and
sometimes in a coach, but ever attended by a gallant troop to conduct
them to court, and to convey them back, she fancied a thousand times
more delights at Tunbridge than in reality there were, and she did not
cease in her imagination, to dance over at Summer-hill all the country
dances which she thought had been danced at Tunbridge. She could no
longer support the racking torments which disturbed her mind, when
relenting heaven, out of pity to her pains and sufferings, caused Lord
Muskerry to repair to London, and kept him there two whole days: as soon
as ever he had turned his back, the Babylonian princess declared her
resolution to make a trip to court.

She had a domestic chaplain who did not want sense, and Lord Muskerry,
for fear of accidents, had recommended her to the wholesome counsels and
good prayers of this prudent divine; but in vain were all his preachings
and exhortations to stay at home; in vain did he set before her eyes her
husband's commands, and the dangers to which she would expose herself
in her present condition; he likewise added that her pregnancy, being a
particular blessing from heaven, she ought therefore to be so much the
more careful for its preservation, since it cost her husband, perhaps,
more trouble than she was aware of, to obtain it. These remonstrances
were altogether ineffectual: Miss Hamilton and her cousin Wetenhall,
having the complaisance to confirm her in her resolution, they assisted
in dressing her the next morning, and set out along with her all their
skill and dexterity were requisite to reduce her shape into some kind of
symmetry; but, having at last pinned a small cushion under her petticoat
on the right side, to counteract the untoward appearance the little
infant occasioned by throwing itself on the left, they almost split
their sides with laughter, assuring her at the same time that she looked
perfectly charming.

As soon as she appeared, it was generally believed that she had dressed
herself in a farthingale, in order to make her court to the queen; but
every person was pleased at her arrival: those who were unacquainted
with the circumstances assured her in earnest that she was pregnant
wi