| A woman of great energy , extremely
active and fearless. She was fond of travelling and visiting remote
places. On one occasion she insisted upon being taken in her carriage
to a village in Switzerland where very few strangers had ever been seen
by the half savage inhabitants. No lady, certainly no English Lady, had
ever penetrated the lofty recess in which it was situated. She was
received courteously by the landlord of the simple inn, and was about
to take her evening meal when she heard a strange noise as of a crowed
in front of the house. Shortly the landlord appeared, pale and
agitated, and informed her that the people of the village were desirous
of seeing her. She cut him short however, and with great dignity which
she could well assume and which was so natural to her, requested that
she might be left in peace to enjoy the rest she required after her
journey. He retired in confusion; but the hubbub increased. He soon
returned, apparently in terror, and entreated her to yield to the
entreaties of the people. There were two doors to the room in which she
was and he assured her hat she need fear no annoyance; the people would
enter at one door and retire by the other. She was greatly amuse, and
her curiosity to observe the demeanour of th people overcome the
offence which she had first felt. She sat there, and in came all the
inhabitants of the village, young and the old, hale and infirm, and
passed through the room in single file, sheepishly casting a wondering
glance at her on the way. There are other stories of her time in France during the French revolution. |
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