Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously:The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously:The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously:The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously:
The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.
She pronounced it beautifully. When she had sung “The horse and his rider hath He thrown” she paused a moment, and then came out most emphatically with “into the sea!”...
Saturday, 12th September.— ... At 11 we left Bishopthorpe, but not without regret. They are a very amiable family. Miss Harcourt is a very nice person. She ought by rights to be called Miss Georgiana Harcourt, the Archbishop’s eldest daughter being unmarried, but as she never goes out and does not make thehonneursin the house, Miss Georgianais always called Miss Harcourt.[199]The Archbishop has10sons, 5 of whom were at Bishopthorpe; 3 staying in the house, Mr. Granville Harcourt, Colonel Harcourt,[200]and Mr. Egerton Harcourt, and two out of the house, Mr. William Harcourt[201]and Mr. Charles Harcourt,[202]staying at the residence. Mrs. William Harcourt is a very nice person. We passed a pleasant time at Bishopthorpe in spite of fatigues which werenot slightand which I begin tofeel....
Canterbury,Thursday, 29th September.—I awoke at 6 and got up at ½ past 7. At ½ past 8 we all breakfasted. At ½ past 9 Mamma received an address from the Mayor and Corporation here. We then saw some officers. After this we left Canterbury. It is a very clean nice Inn. It was a fine day. We reached Ramsgate at ½ past 12. The people received us in a most friendly and kind way. The whole was very well conducted, and the people were very orderly. The streets were ornamented with arches of flowers and flags. The open, free, boundless (to the eye) ocean looked very refreshing. There is nothing between us and France but the sea, here. We have got a small but very nice house, overlooking the sea. At a ¼ past 2 we walked down to the Albion Hotel to see the preparations made for dear Uncle Leopold and dear Aunt Louisa. At a little past 4 we went down to the Hotel with Lady Flora, Lehzen and Lady Conroy, as the steamerwas in sight. With beating hearts and longing eyes we sat at the window, anxiously watching the steamer’s progress. There was an immense concourse of people on the pier to see them arrive. After about half an hour’s time, the steamer entered the Harbour, amidst loud cheering and the salute of guns from the pier, with the Belgian flag on its mast. MydearestUncle Leopold, King of the Belgians, anddearestAunt Louisa were very warmly received. It was but the people’s duty to do so, as dear Uncle has lived for so long in England and was so much beloved. After another ¼ of an hour of anxious suspense, the waiter told us that “Their Majesties were coming.” We hastened downstairs to receive them. There was an immense crowd before the door. At length Uncle appeared, having Aunt Louisa at his arm. What a happiness was it for me to throw myself in the arms of thatdearestof Uncles, who has always been to me like a father, and whom I love sovery dearly! I had not seen him for 4 years and 2 months. I was also delighted to make the acquaintance of that dear Aunt who is such a perfection and who has been always so kind to me, without knowing me. We hastened upstairs, where Uncle Leopold and Aunt Louisa showed themselves at the window and were loudly cheered; as they ought to be. I do not find dear Uncle at all changed. On the contrary I think he looks better than he did when I last saw him. Aunt Louisa is not quite so tall as Mamma, and has a very pretty slight figure. Her hair is of a lovely fair colour; her nose is aquiline, her eyes are quite lovely; they are light blue and have such a charming expression. She has such a sweet mouth and smile too. She is delightful, and was so affectionate to me directly.She pronounces English extremely well and speaks it very fluently. She almost always speaks it with Uncle. She was very simply dressed in a light brown silk dress, with a sky-blue silk bonnet and white veil. Uncle and Aunt are accompanied by Comtesse Henri de Mérode (Dame d’Honneur to Aunt Louisa), and General Goblet.[203]M. Van de Weyer is also here. We then left them and Lehzen and I drove home and Mamma and the rest walked home. At a little after 7 we dined. Dear Uncle Leopold, dear Aunt Louisa, the Duc de Nemours (who had only arrived half an hour ago), Comtesse H. de Mérode, General Goblet, General Baudrand,[204]M. Van de Weyer, Dr. Clark,[205]Mr. and Miss V. Conroy, dined here. I sat between Uncle Leopold and the Duc de Nemours; twodelightfulneighbours. When I saynextto a person, as for instance I said the other day, and many days, “I sat next to the Duc de Nemours,” “I sat next to the Duke of Norfolk,” &c., &c., I mean, as I did today, that I satbetweenornextto them atdinner. The Duc de Nemours, now that I see him and AuntLouisa together, is not like her. He has such agoodkind expression in his face; and Aunt Louisa has the mostdelightful sweetexpression I ever saw. She is quite delightful and charming. She is so gay and merry too. She had a white moiré dress on, and her fine hair was so well done, in a plait behind and curls in front with a row of pearls and three black velvet bows in it. After dinner came two other gentlemen of the Duc de Nemours, Colonel Boyer and Monsieur Larnac. We passed amost delightfulevening....
Thursday, 5th November.—I awoke at 7 and got up at 8. Dressed, walked over to my room and breakfasted at 9. Read in the Exposition of St. Matt.’s Gospel, and in the Venetian History while my hair was doing.Dear goodLehzen takes such care of me, and is so unceasing in her attentions to me, that I shall never be able to repay her sufficiently for it but by my love and gratitude. I never can sufficiently repay her for all she hasborneand done for me. She is themost affectionate, devoted, attached, anddisinterestedfriend I have, and I love her mostdearly....
Wednesday, 2nd December.— ... We walked on the Pier which was very amusing. There are a number of foreign ships in the harbour; Portuguese, Finland, and a number of French fishing-boats. The dress of the French fishermen is very picturesque. There were some Spanish sailors playing on the pier, who looked very singular. Amongst others there was a little French fisher-boy playing with another boy with a pulley. He had a funny round rosy face, and was dressed in a loose blue woven woolen jacket, with huge boots which reached to his knees, and a red cap. Mamma asked him what he wasdoing, upon which he answered with naïveté, “Nous sommes à jouer un peu.” She asked him where he came from; “De Dunkirk,” was his reply. He said this all, and some other things, in such a funny naif way, and with such a sly arch smile, that it was quite amusing. He asked for a “sou,” and we gave him 6 pence, which pleased him very much....