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conversation - both of them - and they were desperately anxious
to hear what had been "settled" about the reception at Washington.
They were much relieved to learn that a dinner party wd be
offered in the Duke's honour and no more.

What interests me is the fact that this feeling of insecurity
shd exist - the consciousness of a rival whose movements are
always uncertain, whose perceptions are astute and who does not
command any particular reputation for loyalty. He has behaved
well hitherto, but more by force of circumstance than from any
higher motive - at least that is what his recent pronouncements
lead people to believe.

Already nearly 3 months ago when the K and Q
went to Balmoral, solitude and its reflections began to make
them timorous. Previously it was the burden and responsibility
of court ceremonial which appeared to weigh them down - but
in the freedom of Scotland it transpired that they felt a
rival was always hovering in the background and planning
a open appeal to publicity, to popularity. How wrong