without giving notice to the queen or to her father. The worthy king set to work to patch up this affairsent for the father to ask him to be reconciled to his daughter, while notice was given to the young lady that she was not to come to court until she had " made it up" with her family. Such pressure was not to be resisted, and his Majesty succeeded in his laudable aim. Then the queen generously gave her late maid of honour a present of £1000, which has since grown into an established custom or right. Miss Varnon, or Vernon, succeeded Miss Meadows.1 The queen had always been fond of cards for the pleasure of playing; but for some years, as we have seen, it would not be tolerated at the palace. At last, in 1768, she succeeded in introducing them, and had, in a quiet domestic way, her game with the king, Lady C. Finch, the Duchess of Ancaster and others of the entourage. Nothing she enjoyed more. 1 Lady M. Coke's Diaries. CHAPTER VI. THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD AND COURT. THE royal children were brought up in a very simple way at Kew under the direction of their governess. The young Prince of Wales when not more than four or five years old was a most precocious child. One day "Lady Mary," coming to pay a visit to Lady C. Finch, found him at dinner. He asked her to sit by the table, and confided to her that "he did not like his dinner, as it was not his meat day." He then insisted on her playing with him until it grew very late, when she told him she was going to his aunt, Princess Amelia, at Gunnersbury, when he put the odd question, "Pray are you well-dressed enough to visit her?" He then ordered her servants, and announced that he would go downstairs with her to the door. The Duke of Montague, who succeeded Lord Holdernesse as governor of the royal children, left among his papers the following routine of diet for the year 1776. It was very strictly regulated. "For breakfast there was simple milk or a basin two-thirds milk and one of tea, moderately sweetened, and dry toast of the Statute bread. Breakfast was at half-past nine, dinner from three to five, supper at half-past eight. On Mondays they had no supper, and every alternate Monday was bathing night. At dinner, soup if they chose it, when not very strong or heavy-any plain meat without fat of one sort, clear gravy and greens, of which they eat what they please. Fish when they please, but without butter, using the shrimps strained from the sauce or oil and vinegar. At the second course they eat the fruit of the tart without crust. Peas or what other simple thing they chose, but of one only. At the dessert on Sundays and Thursdays they eat ice of what sort they chose. Coffee allowed only on these two days, and one glass of any sort of wine they chose after dinner. For dress they had six suits of full dress clothes a year, various common suits, new boots spring and fall; new shoes each fortnight, new hats as wanted, but always four silver-looped, goldlooped, and two plain besides the Arm Hat." It will be noted that certain days were meat days. When the princes were older and reached the ages of thirteen and fourteen the same simple diet was continued. At Kew, the eldest young princes went regularly every day at five o'clock to pay a visit to their parents, at the Lodge. They drove in a little chaise that just held them, and were suffered to go without their governess. At half-past six Lady Charlotte Finch was expected to visit the royal pair and remain till nine, but not later; for the queen did not like the king to be out after that H |