The princess, seeing that we were at some little distance from the table, told us that we could draw up close to it.

There was some little drawing up, but not as if it were a dinner-party.

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Several pieces were read; and then the director, who was M.de la Chambre, told the queen that the ordinary exercise of the society was to work at the Dictionary, and that, if it were agreeable to her Majesty, a sheet should be read.