But though the light-hearted actress frequently treated disdain
with ridicule, she could occasionally analyze the respective
positions held by herself and the duchess with seriousness,
Madame de Sevigne tells us, Nell would reason in this manner:
"This duchess pretends to be a person of quality: she affirms
she is related to the best families in France, and when any
person of distinction dies she puts herself in mourning. If she
be a lady of such quality, why does she demean herself to be a
courtesan? She ought to die with shame. As for me, it is my
profession. I do not pretend to anything better. The king
entertains me, and I am constant to him at present. He has a son
by me; I contend that he ought to acknowledge him--and I am well
assured that he will, for he loves me as well as the duchess."
To have her son ennobled, and by this means raise him to an
equality with the offspring of her grace, became the desire of
Nell Gwynn's life. To her request that this favour might be
granted, the king had promised compliance from time to time, but
had as frequently postponed the fulfilment of his word. At last,
weary of beseeching him, she devised a speech which she trusted
might have the desired effect. Accordingly, when the monarch
came to see her one day, he found her in a pensive mood, playing
with her pretty boy; and the lad, being presently set upon his
feet, he promptly tottered down the room, whereon she cried out
to him, "Come here, you little bastard!" Hearing this word of
evil import applied to his son, the monarch begged she would not
use the expression, "I am sorry," said she regretfully, "but,
alas, I have no other name to give him! "His majesty took the
hint, and soon after bestowed on him that of Charles Beauclerk,
and created him Baron of Heddington, in Oxon, and Earl of Burford
in the same county; and finally, when he had reached the age of
ten years, raised him to the dignity of Duke of St.
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