THE DUCHESS'S WATCH.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1989, 20 May 1875, Page 3

THE DUCHESS'S WATCH.

. When Queen Victoria was about thirty- - nine years younger than she is now, she was inclined to be very exact in the way ' 6f ■business, and more especially in the way of promptness to appointed times and places. Seven years a queen, four years . $ wjfe, and three years a pother, she felt " prbbably a mote weighty'dignity resting upon her than she has felt since. And yet, no crust of dignity' or royal station could'ever entirely shut out her innate goodness of heart; At the time of which we speak the Duchess of Sutherland held the office of Mistress of the Kobes to the British Queen,, and on public, occasions |ieß position, was .very near to the royal person, and. deemed of, great importance. A day and an hour had been appointed for a certain p.ublip ceremony in' which the Queen was to take part. The hour, had arrived, and of all the Court the duchess alone, was absent, and her absence retarded the'departure. The Queen gave vent more'than, once -to her impatience* and at length, just as she was about to enter her carriage without her first lady of honour, the cjuchess, in breathless hasten iba'cle heir appearance, stammering some faint words of excuse. "My dear duchess," said the Queen, smiling, "I think you must have a bad watch." - Aad as she thus spoke she unloosed from,her neck the chain of a magnificent watch which she herself wore, and it around ; tho,neck of Lady Su|h.erla f pc|. SJhpagh. given as a present, tae" lesson dohveyed-withiC a:deep and lively impresiion. The proud duchess changed colour, and a'tear, which ahe could not repress', • fell upon her cheek. On %he next day, she tendered her resignation, tut it was not accepted. It is said that pyey aftervfarcis she was, if ajjythjng, moire punctual than the Queen herself.