MARGARET GODOLPI3YN, appearance, so steadily did she keep on her self- appointed way amid the quicksands of the profli- gate Court that Evelyn calls her " a little saint," and " a little miracle." As she advanced in years, her extreme grace and loveliness attracted much attention and prompted many compliments, but she never swerved from the path of humility and piety in which she had hitherto travelled ; always in per- fect good humour, always ready to join in any innocent recreation, she yet laid down and observed an almost Puritanical course for herself. Nor did this " eclipse her pretty humour, which was cheerful and easy," nor prevent her from being an agreeable friend and charming companion, or from enter- taining, and indeed instructing, many chosen friends by her fluent, well-informed conversation. That merry gossip, Pepys, mentions her admiringly. -" 4th March, 1669.-After dinner Sir Jer. Smith and I were invited down to dinner with some of the maids of honour, Mrs. Ogle, Blagge, and Howard, which dici me good to have the honour to dine with, and look on them. " -He enumerates others who were present, and then adds : -" Then we up ; and there I did find the Duke of York and Duchess, with all the great ladies, sitting upon a carpet, on the ground, there being no chairs, playing at `I love my love with an A, because he is so and so : and I hate him with an A, because of this and that ;' and some of them, but particularly the Duchess herself, and my Lady Castlemaine, were very witty." 14
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