God knows that would make a great turn." But
to such proposals as were made regarding her return to Whitehall,
her husband would not pay heed, and she therefore remained a
stranger to its drawing-rooms for some time longer. And when two
years later she appeared there, her beauty had lost much of its
famed lustre, for meantime she was overtaken by smallpox, a
scourge ever prevalent in the capital. During her illness the
king paid her several visits, and was sorely grieved that the
loveliness he so much prized should be marred by foul disease.
But on her recovery, the disfigurement she suffered scarce
lessened his admiration, and by no means abated his love; which
seemed to have gained fresh force from the fact of its being
interrupted awhile.
This soon became perceptible to all, and rumour whispered that
the young duchess would shortly return to Whitehall in a position
which she had declined before marriage. And amongst other
stories concerning the king's love for her, it was common talk
that one fair evening in May, when he had ordered his coach to be
ready that he might take an airing in the park, he, on a sudden
impulse, ran down the broad steps leading from his palace gardens
to the riverside. Here, entering a boat alone, he rowed himself
adown the placid river now crossed by early shadows, until he
came to Somerset House, where his lady-love dwelt; and finding
the garden-door locked, he, in his impatience to be with her,
clambered over the wall and sought her.
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