"On one occasion," says Captain Napier (Lady Sarah's son
of much later days), "after a romp with my mother, the
King suddenly snatched her up in his arms, and, after
squeezing her in a large china jar, shut down the cover
to prove her courage; but soon released her when he found
that the only effect was to make her, with a merry voice,
begin singing the French song of Malbruc, with which he
was quite delighted."
But these happy days of romping with a King came too soon to an end. On
her mother's death Lady Sarah, then only five years old, was carried off
to Ireland, to the home of Lady Kildare. There she remained for eight
years, when she returned to England and the guardianship of her eldest
sister, Lady Holland. As soon as George heard of the return of his
little playmate he sent for her, hoping to resume the romps of early
years. But Lady Sarah, though prettier than ever, proved so shy and so
embarrassed by the King's familiarities that at last he exclaimed in
disgust: "Pooh! she has grown too stupid!"
But if Lady Sarah's shyness had cost her the King's favour, her beauty
and girlish grace quickly won for her another Royal friend--none other
than George's grandson and heir to the throne, then a handsome boy
little older than herself, and at least equally diffident. Every time
the young Prince saw her he became more and more her slave, until his
conquest was complete. He was only happy by her side; while she found
her dogs and squirrels more entertaining company than the King-to-be.
Lady Sarah was now blossoming into young womanhood. Every year added
some fresh touch of beauty and grace. She was the pet and idol of the
Court, captivating young and old alike by her charms and winsomeness.
Horace Walpole raved about her. When she took part in a play at Holland
House, of which he was a spectator, he wrote:
"Lady Sarah was more beautiful than you can conceive....
When she was in white, with her hair about her ears and
on the ground, no Magdalen by Correggio was half so
lovely and so expressive."
And Lord Holland, her brother-in-law, draws this alluring picture of
her:
"Her beauty is not easily described otherwise than by
saying she had the finest complexion, most beautiful
hair, and prettiest person that was ever seen, with a
sprightly and fine air, a pretty mouth, and remarkably
fine teeth, and excess of bloom in her cheeks."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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