Atlength,inreturnforallthemiserywhichshehadundergone,andforthehealthwhichshehadsacrificed,anannuityofonehundredpoundswasgrantedtoher,dependentontheQueen’spleasure。
Thentheprisonwasopened,andFranceswasfreeoncemore。
Johnson,asBurkeobserved,mighthaveaddedastrikingpagetohispoemontheVanityofHumanWishes,ifhehadlivedtoseehislittleBurneyasshewentintothepalaceandasshecameoutofit。
Thepleasures,solonguntasted,ofliberty,offriendship,ofdomesticaffection,werealmosttooacuteforhershatteredframe。ButhappydaysandtranquilnightssoonrestoredthehealthwhichtheQueen’stoiletteandMadameSchwellenberg’scard—tablehadimpaired。Kindandanxiousfacessurroundedtheinvalid。Conversationthemostpolishedandbrilliantrevivedherspirits。Travellingwasrecommendedtoher;andsherambledbyeasyjourneysfromcathedraltocathedral,andfromwatering—
placetowatering—place。ShecrossedtheNewForest,andvisitedStonehengeandWilton,thecliffsofLyme,andthebeautifulvalleyofSidmouth。ThenceshejourneyedbyPowderhamCastle,andbytheruinsofGlastonburyAbbeytoBath,andfromBath,whenthewinterwasapproaching,returnedwellandcheerfultoLondon。