'
"Theresa instantly obeyed, and while she hung over her instrument
her attitude was so graceful, that the Queen again observed to me,
'we must have our Theresa seen by Lely in that costume, and thus
occupied she would make a charming study for his pencil; and I
promise myself the pleasure of possessing it as a lasting memorial
of my young friend.' The portrait to which this observation gave
rise, you must have seen yourself, my Helen, in the gallery at
Silsea castle.
"While I was thus engaged by her Majesty, I observed the Duke of
Buckingham approach my wife with an air of deference bordering on
irony; he appeared to make some unpleasant request which he affected
to urge with an earnestness beyond the rules of gallantry or good
breeding, and which she refused with an appearance of haughtiness I
had never before seen her excise. He than respectfully addressed the
Queen, and entreated her intercession with Lady Greville for a
favourite Italian air, one, he said, which her Majesty had probably
never enjoyed the happiness of hearing--but before the Queen could
reply, before I had time to inquire into the cause of the agony and
shame which were mingled in Lady Greville's looks, she covered her
brow with her hands, and exclaimed with hysteric violence, 'No, never
more--never again. Alas! it is too late.'
"The queen, herself too deeply skilled in the sorrows of a wounded
heart, appeared warmly to compassionate the distress which had robbed
her favourite of all presence of mind; and rising evidently to divert
the attention of the circle, whose malignant smiles were instantly
repressed, she invited us to follow her into the adjoining gallery,
at that time occupied by Sir Peter Lely for the completion of his
exquisite series of portraits of the beauties of Charles's court.
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