Early in the afternoon of the fifth day my horse and I staggered into Durham. Which was the more tired I cannot say. For myself I was utterly weary. What little good looks I might have boasted in the beginning had been entirely worn away. Had my errand been completed, I doubt not I should have collapsed utterly, but the hardest part was yet to come. I ascertained from the landlord of the hotel where I drew rein that His Majesty was still in Durham, or rather he was at Bishop-Auckland, the residence of the Lord Bishop of Durham. Rumour had it that His Majesty was to move on the morrow. I had no time to lose, therefore, and it was well that by hard riding, without sparing myself, I had arrived as soon as I had. I was shown to a private chamber and there summoned the landlady and took her into my confidence. She was an honest, motherly sort of a woman. There was no reason for concealment. I told her who I was, and for what I had come, and asked her aid. She was blithe to assist me. I was well provided with ready money, not merely the bills of exchange for the greater sum, but sufficient for all the expenses of my journey, and it was an easy matter, therefore, for the worthy woman to procure me dress suited to my sex and station. I lacked the freedom of my man's attire when I was again stayed within my woman's garments, and yet there was a certain satisfaction in being once more a girl as Nature had designed me. I forced myself to partake of food and wine. The landlady and her daughter acted as my tire-women. Somewhat refreshed by my meal and a bath, I called a carriage, and accompanied by the young girl, set out in more comfort than at any other period in my journey for Bishop-Auckland. I went just as I was, pale, haggard, drawn, and worn. With my short crop of curly hair I must have looked strangely out of mode. The landlady was for touching my cheeks with rouge and for supplementing my lack of long locks with false ones which she declared could easily be procured at the nearest wig-maker's, but I would have none of it. It was quite late when we reached the castle, and some demur was made as to my admittance. It was not until I had declared my name and rank to the gentleman-in-waiting that I effected entrance. When I told him that I was my father's daughter, he looked at me curiously, but after a momentary hesitation bowed before me and led me into the palace, leaving the maid without. I had never seen King James. The mean and treacherous qualities he afterward showed, indeed, which were first displayed in his conduct after Monmouth's rebellion, had not yet become widely known, but we in Scotland had our suspicions of his character. I looked for no royal magnanimity or generosity from His Majesty.