When I learned that he was away, and that I would not be
needed that morning at the Wardrobe, I went to seek Frances.
Before ten o'clock, the hour at which the maids assembled to greet the
duchess in her closet, Frances was on hand, looking pale, and explaining
that she had been ill at her father's house over night.
Near the hour of four that afternoon, while I was looking out the window,
I saw a coach approach from the direction of Charing Cross, and seemed to
know that the king was in it. I hastened to Frances and told her to
station herself where the king could see her before he went to his
closet, and perhaps speak to her. I stood near by, and when the king
entered I noticed him start on seeing Frances. When he came up to us, she
smiled and made so deep a courtesy that one would have thought she was
overjoyed to see him.
The king stopped before us for a moment, saying, "We have had a terrible
storm, baron."
"Indeed we have, your Majesty," I answered, bowing, "though I have not so
much as thrust my head out-of-doors save to go down to Sir Richard's
yesterday evening to fetch Mistress Jennings home."
"Did she come--I mean, would she face the storm?" asked the king.
"No, no," answered Frances, laughing. "Why face the storm to return to
Whitehall when the king was away? I remained with my father, and was so
ill that a physician was called at seven o'clock."
"I hope you are well again," said the king.
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