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Danvers, Princess Anne's amanuensis. At once
from in side, a plaintive
voice called:
    "Who be there
Mrs Danvers?" and upon Sarah's response came a loud scream of
delight from the same quarter and as Mrs Danvers stood aside to
allow Sarah to sweep past her in all her bustled glory, from the
direction of the day-bed upon which a woman reclined, the scream
was followed by:
    "My dear Mrs
Freeman! So good of you to come to see me." The two friends quickly
went from clasping hands to fulsome hugs while Abigail, also
invited far enough inside to allow Mrs Danvers to close the door,
retiring into an ante-room, stood on the threshold of the
saloon.
    Sarah broke
away from the princess to exclaim: "Your royal highness. It is so
good to be here, at last. Let me look upon my dear Mrs Morley."
Upon which survey the princess shyly looked down and then up again
spotting the figure of Abigail standing there. Sarah also noticed
saying:
    "Allow me to
present my cousin, Mistress Abigail Hill." At the finish of which
Abigail curtsied but otherwise said nothing upon which the princess
spoke to her:
    "Come round to
ye light, Mistress Hill. Let me look at you." After a few moments
of appraisal, the princess said: "Your cousin, her ladyship, has
spoken highly of you. Are you prepared for ye onerous duties of ye
bedchamber?"
    "I believe so,
your royal highness," was her response and the princess smiled
warmly saying: "We start very early of a morning. Are you used to
getting up at an early hour?"
    It was Sarah
who answered: "Lord, ma'am. She be up sooner than anybody else.
There be the cows to milk for one thing. In the country; we all do
keep very early hours. Why it'll be like a holyday for my cousin in
the city."
    The princess
looked astonished saying:
    "Gracious me, L ady Marlborough. Do draw up a chair! Danvers, have
we a chair for Mistress Hill, as well?" There was an awkward pause
as Sarah did not expect her cousin to be asked but, as Danvers
found the chair for Abigail, the princess seemed unaware of it,
saying:
    "Your cousin
tells me you are musical, mistress Hill." Abigail thanking Mrs
Danvers for the chair did not reply to the princess looking to
Sarah perhaps to elucidate, who happily took the cue:
    "She plays the
harpsichord, right well, your highness." At which the princess
clapped her hands, clearly delighted crying out:
    "Ye harpsichord! Indeed!" Then without
pause turned to Sarah: "Have yo u seen Vanbrugh's latest play, Lady
Marlborough?"
    "Lord, no, ma'am! How should I get to see
such things? Perhaps, when his lordship resumes residence in Kensington?" At the same time
Sarah gave her friend, the princess, a knowing glance upon which
the latter cried out:
    "You'll have a
great deal to catch up on." Then turning again to Abigail, she
mused: "So you play ye harpsichord. We have an instrument somewhere
in my rooms though my present family seems little musical."
    Sarah did not forgo the opportunity to
take credit, deserved or not, for any foresightedness on her part, saying to
Abigail:
    "Her royal
highness sets great store by the happiness of her family servants,
and" glancing at the princess, added: "mistress Hill's musical
accomplishments will be very welcome."
    "Did you see
ye keeper of ye portal. That is to let my George, I mean, his royal
highness, feel more at home. Denmark is so far away and he does
miss his home so."
    Sarah played up her friend's idea with
some obsequious flattery belying the amusement she felt earlier: "I
thought I espied a little bit of home-making," wagging her finger
in mock admonishment, adding: "You spoil his royal highness. With
such consideration he won't want to return t o Denmark, even for a holyday."
    Abigail could
hardly believe what she was hearing and wondered whether the
princess discerned any flattery giving her an occasional glance to
appraise her reaction. It was the princess, who reminded Sarah of
another objective, saying:
    "My dear Mrs
Freeman, I nearly forgot. You mentioned in your letter