CHAPTER XVI: A ROYAL NURSERY
"The duty that I owe unto your MajestyI seal upon the lips of this sweet babe."
King Richard III.
It was not till the Queen had moved from St. James's, where her sonhad been born, to take up her abode at Whitehall, that LadyOglethorpe was considered to be disinfected from her children'swhooping-cough, and could conduct Mistress Anne Jacobina Woodford toher new situation.
Anne remembered the place from times past, as she followed the ladyup the broad stairs to the state rooms, where the child was dailycarried for inspection by the nation to whom, it was assumed, he wasso welcome, but who, on the contrary, regarded him with the utmostdislike and suspicion.
Whitehall was, in those days, free to all the world, and thoughsentries in the Life-guards' uniform with huge grenadier caps wereposted here and there, every one walked up and down. Members ofParliament and fine gentlemen in embroidered coats and flowing wigscame to exchange news; country cousins came to stare and wonder,some to admire, some to whisper their disbelief in the Prince'sidentity; clergy in gown, cassock, and bands came to win what theycould in a losing cause; and one or two other clergy, who werelooked at askance, whose dress had a foreign air, and whose tonsurecould be detected as they threaded their way with quick, glidingsteps to the King's closet.
Lady Oglethorpe, as one to the manner born, made her way through themidst of this throng in the magnificent gallery, and Anne followedher closely, conscious of words of admiration and inquiries who shewas. Into the Prince's presence chamber, in fact his day-nursery,they came, and a sweet and gentle-looking lady met them, andembraced Lady Oglethorpe, who made known Mistress Woodford to LadyStrickland, of Sizergh, the second governess, as the fourth rockerwho had been appointed.
"You are welcome, Miss Woodford," said the lady, looking at Anne'shigh, handsome head and well-bred action in courtesying, with ashade of surprise. "You are young, but I trust you are discreet.There is much need thereof."
Following to a kind of alcove, raised by a step or two, Anne foundherself before a half-circle of ladies and gentlemen round a chairof state, in front of which stood a nurse, with an infant in herarms, holding him to be caressed and inspected by the lady on thethrone. Her beautiful soft dark eyes and hair, and an ivorycomplexion, with her dignified and graceful bearing, her long,slender throat and exquisite figure, were not so much concealed asenhanced by the simple mob cap and 'night-gown,' as it was then thefashion to call a morning wrapper, which she wore, and Anne's firstimpression was that no wonder Peregrine raved about her. PoorPeregrine! that very thought came like a stab, as, after courtesyinglow, she stood at the end of the long room--silent, and observing.
A few gentlemen waited by the opposite door, but not coming far intothe apartment, and Lady Oglethorpe was announced by one of them.The space was so great that Anne could not hear the words, and sheonly saw the gracious smile and greeting as Lady Oglethorpe kneltand kissed the Queen's hand. After a long conversation between themothers, during which Lady Oglethorpe was accommodated with acushion, Anne was beckoned forward, and was named to the Queen, whohonoured her with an inclination of the head and a few low murmuredwords.
Then there was an announcement of 'His Majesty,' and Anne, followingthe general example of standing back with low obeisances, beheld thetall active figure and dark heavy countenance of her Royalgodfather, under his great black, heavily-curled wig. He returnedLady Oglethorpe's greeting, and his face lighted up with a pleasantsmile that greatly changed the expression as he took his child intohis arms for a few moments; but the little one began to cry,whereupon he was carried off, and the King began to consult LadyOglethorpe upon the water-gruel on which the poor little Prince wasbeing reared, and of which she emphatically disapproved.
Before he left the room, however, Lady Oglethorpe took care topresent to him his god-daughter, Mistress Anne Jacobina Woodford,and very low was the girl's obeisance before him, but with far morefright and shyness than before the sweet-faced Queen.
"Oh ay!" he said, "I remember honest Will Woodford. He did goodservice at Southwold. I wish he had left a son like him. Have youa brother, young mistress?"
"No, please your Majesty, I am an only child."
"More's the pity," he said kindly, and with a smile brightening hisheavy features. "'Tis too good a breed to die out. You areCatholic?"
"I am bred in the English Church, so please your Majesty."
His Majesty was evidently less pleased than before, but he onlysaid, "Ha! and my godchild! We must amend that," and waved heraside.
The royal interview over, the newcomer was presented to the StateGoverness, the Countess of Powys, a fair and gracious matron, whowas, however, almost as far removed from her as the Queen. Then shewas called on to take a solemn oath before the Master of theHousehold, of dutiful loyalty to the Prince.
Mrs. Labadie was head nurse as well as being wife to the King'sFrench valet. She was a kindly, portly Englishwoman, who seemedwrapped up in her charge, and she greeted her new subordinate in afriendly way, which, however, seemed strange in one who at homewould have been of an inferior degree, expressed hopes of hersteadiness and discretion, and called to Miss Dunord to show MissWoodford her chamber. The abbreviation Miss sounded familiar andunsuitable, but it had just come into use for younger spinsters,though officially they were still termed Mistress.
Mistress or Miss Dunord was sallow and gray-eyed, somewhat olderthan Anne, and looking thoroughly French, though her English wasperfect. She was entirely dressed in blue and white, and had arosary and cross at her girdle. "This way," she said, tripping up asteep wooden stair. "We sleep above. 'Tis a huge, awkward place.Her Majesty calls it the biggest and most uncomfortable palace sheever was in."
Opening a heavy door, she showed a room of considerable size, hungwith faded frayed tapestry, and containing two huge bedsteads, withfour heavy posts, and canopies of wood, as near boxes as could wellbe. Privacy was a luxury not ordinarily coveted, and thearrangement did not surprise Anne, though she could have wished thaton that summer day curtains and tapestry had been less fusty. Twoyoung women were busy over a dress spread on one of the beds, andwith French ease and grace the guide said, "Here is our newcolleague, Miss Jacobina Woodford. Let me present Miss HesterBridgeman and Miss Jane Humphreys."
"Miss Woodford is welcome," said Miss Bridgeman, a keen, brown,lively, somewhat anxious-looking person, courtesying and holding outher hand, and her example was followed by Jane Humphreys, a stout,rosy, commonplace girl.
"Oh! I am glad," this last cried. "Now I shall have a bedfellow."
This Anne was the less sorry for, as she saw that the bed of theother two was furnished with a holy water stoup and a little shrinewith a waxen Madonna. There was only one looking-glass among thefour, and not much apparatus either for washing or the toilet, butMiss Bridgeman believed that they would soon go to Richmond, wherethings would be more comfortable. Then she turned to consult MissDunord on her endeavour to improve the trimmings of a dress of MissHumphreys.
"Yes, I know you are always in Our Lady's colours, Pauline, but youhave a pretty taste, and can convince Jane that rose colour andscarlet cannot go together."
"My father chose the ribbons," said Jane, as if that wereunanswerable.
"City taste," said Miss Bridgeman.
"They are pretty, very pretty with anything else," observed Pauline,with more tact. "See, now, with your white embroidered petticoatand the gray train they are ravishing--and the scarlet coat willenliven the black."
There was further a little murmur about what a Mr. Hopkins admired,but it was lost in the arrival of Miss Woodford's mails.
They clustered round, as eager as a set of schoolgirls, over Anne'sdresses. Happily even the extreme of fashion had not then becomeungraceful.
"Her Majesty will not have the loose drapery that folks used towear," said Hester Bridgeman.
"No," said Pauline; "it was all very well for those who coulddispose it with an artless neglig
ence, but for some I could name, itwas as though they had tumbled it on with a hay-fork and had theirhair tousled by being tickled in the hay."
"Now we have the tight bodice with plenty of muslin and lace, thegown open below to show the petticoat," said Hester; "and to my mindit is more decorous."
"Decorum was not the vogue then," laughed Pauline, "perhaps it willbe now. Oh, what lovely lace! real Flanders, on my word! Where didyou get it, Miss Woodford?"
"It was my mother's."
"And this? Why, 'tis old French point, you should hang it to yoursleeves."
"My Lady Archfield gave it to me in case I should need it."
"Ah! I see you have good friends and are a person of somecondition," put in Hester Bridgeman. "I shall be happy to consortwith you. Let us--"
Anne courtesied, and at the moment a bell was heard, Pauline at oncecrossed herself and fell on her knees before the small shrine with afigure of the Blessed Virgin, and Hester, breaking off her words,followed her example; but Jane Humphreys stood twisting the cornerof her apron.
In a very short time, almost before Anne had recovered from herbewilderment, the other two were up and chattering again.
"You are not a Catholic?" demanded Miss Bridgeman.
"I was bred in the Church," said Anne.
"And you the King's godchild!" exclaimed Pauline. "But we shallsoon amend that and make a convert of you like Miss Bridgemanthere."
Anne shook her head, but was glad to ask, "And what means the bellthat is ringing now?"
"That is the supper bell. It rings just after the Angelus," saidHester. "No, it is not ours. The great folks, Lady Powys, LadyStrickland, and the rest sup first. We have the dishes after them,with Nurses Labadie and Royer and the rest--no bad ones either.They are allowed five dishes and two bottles of wine apiece, andthey always leave plenty for us, and it is served hot too."
The preparations for going down to the second table now absorbed theparty.
As Hester said, the fare at this second table was not to bedespised. It was a formal meal shared with the two nurses and thetwo pages of the backstairs. Not the lads usually associated withthe term, but men of mature age, and of gentle, though not noble,birth and breeding; and there were likewise the attendants of theKing and Queen of the same grade, such as Mr. Labadie, the King'svalet, some English, but besides these, Dusian, the Queen's Frenchpage, and Signer and Signora Turini, who had come with her fromModena, Pere Giverlai, her confessor, and another priest. PereGiverlai said grace, and the conversation went on briskly betweenthe elders, the younger ones being supposed to hold their peace.
Their dishes went in reversion to the inferior class of servants,laundress, sempstress, chambermaids, and the like, who had much moreliberty than their betters, and not such a lack of occupation asAnne soon perceived that she should suffer from.
There was, however, a great muster of all the Prince'sestablishment, who stood round, as many as could, with littlegarments in their hands, while he was solemnly undressed and laid inhis richly inlaid and carved cradle--over which Pere Giverlaipronounced a Latin benediction.
The nursery establishment was then released, except one of thenurses, who was to sleep or wake on a couch by his side, and one ofthe rockers. These damsels had, two at a time, to divide the nightbetween them, one being always at hand to keep the food warm, touchthe rocker at need with her foot, or call up the nurse on duty ifthe child awoke, but not presume herself to handle his little RoyalHighness.
It was the night when Mistresses Dunord and Bridgeman were due, andAnne followed Jane Humphreys to her room, asking a little about theduties of the morrow.
"We must be dressed before seven," said the girl. "One of us willbe left on duty while the others go to Mass. I am glad you are aProtestant, Miss Woodford, for the Catholics put everything on methat they can."
"We must do our best to help and strengthen each other," said Anne.
"It is very hard," said Jane; "and the priests are always at me! Iwould change as Hester Bridgeman has done, but that I know it wouldbreak my grand-dame's heart. My father might not care so much, if Igot advancement, but I believe it would kill my grandmother."
"Advancement! oh, but faith comes first," exclaimed Anne, recallingthe warning.
"Hester says one religion is as good as another to get to Heavenby," murmured Jane.
"Not if we deny our own for the world's sake," said Anne. "Is thechapel here a Popish one?"
"No; the Queen has an Oratory, but the Popish chapel is at St.James's--across the Park. The Protestant one is here at Whitehall,and there are daily prayers at nine o'clock, and on Sunday musicwith three fiddlers, and my grandmother says it might almost as wellbe Popish at once."
"Did your grandmother bring you up?"
"Yes. My mother died when I was seven years old, and my grandmotherbred us all up. You should hear her talk of the good old timesbefore the Kings came back and there were no Bishops and no bookprayers--but my father says we must swim with the stream, or hewould not have got any custom at his coffee-house."
"Is that his calling?"
"Ay! No one has a better set of guests than in the Golden Lamb.The place is full. The great Dr. Hammond sees his patients there,and it is all one buzz of the wits. It was because of that that myLord Sunderland made interest, and got me here. How did you come?"
Anne briefly explained, and Jane broke out--
"Then you will be my friend, and we will tell each other all oursecrets. You are a Protestant too. You will be mine, and notBridgeman's or Dunord's--I hate them."
In point of fact Anne did not feel much attracted by the proffer offriendship, and she certainly did not intend to tell Jane Humphreysall her secrets, nor to vow enmity to the other colleagues, but shegravely answered that she trusted they would be friends and help tomaintain one another's faith. She was relieved that Miss Bridgemanhere came in to take her first turn of rest till she was to becalled up at one o'clock.
As Jane Humphreys had predicted, Mrs. Royer and Anne alone were leftin charge of the nursling while every one went to morning Mass.Then followed breakfast and the levee of his Royal Highness, lastingas on the previous day till dinner-time; and the afternoon was asbefore, except that the day was fine enough for the child to becarried out with all his attendants behind him to take the air inthe private gardens.
If this was to be the whole course of life at the palace, Anne beganto feel that she had made a great mistake. She was by no meansattracted by her companions, though Miss Bridgeman decided that shemust know persons of condition, and made overtures of friendship, tobe sealed by calling one another Oriana and Portia. She did notapprove of such common names as Princess Anne and Lady Churchillused--Mrs. Morley and Mrs. Freeman! They must have something betterthan what was used by the Cockpit folks, and she was sure that herdear Portia would soon be of the only true faith.