THE TRUE MAID OF HONOUR. the Service in the Chapel at Whitehall, by seven in the morning ; and her anxiety to be regular in this respect was so great that, fearing her maid might not call her at the appointed time, she tied a strong packthread to her wrist, and passed the other end through the key-hole of her chamber door, desiring the sentinel who patrolled the corridor, " to pull it very hard at such an hour," in order that the pain might waken her. Nor did she occupy her time altogether in the contemplations of a holy recluse ; her liberal charities frequently, as we have mentioned, involved toil and inconvenience. She gave personal industry to working with her needle for indigent people, " cutting out and making waist- coats and other coverings, which she constantly dis- tributed among them like another Dorcas ;" being, at the same time, quite celebrated in the palace for her fancy and taste in ornamental works, and her ingenuity in arranging Court suits and jewels. Whenever there was any festivity going forward, " happy was the most illustrious of the circle who could have her to dress and set them out." Her delight was to glide away, unobserved, from the gaiety of her royal residence, and flit to the side of the sick or infirm poor, administering to them, or giving them instruction with that insinuatinggrace, whichwas " so infinitely agreeable to all who knew her." She was assisted in her bounty by a poor but worthywidow, through whom she distributed weekly pensions, put orphan children to school, and performed many 25
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