Remember: if in the company of royalty, it’s always best to be polite – as this anecdote from an 1831 book at Project Gutenberg so aptly demonstrates:
Princess Esterhazy was a great favourite of George IV. At a ball given in honour of his Majesty’s birth-day, the young ladies were each expected to kneel, and present him with a nosegay; but the princess declared, that as she was of royal blood, she would prefer death to such degradation.
The King received her graciously, notwithstanding her obstinacy; but her governess sent the child to bed immediately after dinner.
“Bon pour la digestion,” exclaimed the princess; which so enraged the governess, that she took her out of bed and whipped her soundly.
“Bon pour la circulation,” said the princess; and the next day the governess resigned.
I thought surely you’d doctored the original reference until I realized it was in a gentleman’s magazine. How many search terms have you used for Project Gutenberg? Or is it important to read each item thoroughly to avoid missing references using archaic terms?
Well, I agree with the Princess about the circulation! Though one can certainly sympathise with the governess too.
Ah how wonderful – though I have to say the governess obviously didn’t have much backbone to give in so easily…