CHAPTER TWELVE.
THE TROUBLE GROWS.
Frank was thinking in this strain when he went to his mother's rooms inthe Palace soon after, and her maid showed him at once to where she wassitting reading, having dressed for the Princess's reception in goodtime, so as to be free to receive her son.
"Oh!" ejaculated the maid, as she was just about to leave the room; andthere was a look of dismay in her countenance.
"What is it?" cried Lady Gowan, turning sharply with her son clasped inher arms.
"Your dress, my lady--the lace. It will be crushed flat."
"Oh," said Lady Gowan, with a merry laugh, "never mind that. Come in anhour and set all straight again."
"Yes, my lady," said the maid; and mother and son were left alone.
"As if we cared for satins and laces, Frank darling, at a time likethis. My own dear boy," she whispered, as she kissed him again andagain, holding his face between her white hands and gazing at himproudly. "There, I'm crushing your curls."
"Go on," said Frank; "crush away. You can brush them for me before Igo--like you used to when I was home for the holidays."
"In the dear old times, Frank darling," cried Lady Gowan, "when we didnot have to look at each other from a distance. But never mind; weshall soon go down into the country for a month or two, away from thisweary, formal court, and then we'll have a happy time."
Frank gazed proudly at his mother again and again during that littlehappy interview, which seemed all sunshine as he looked back upon itfrom among the clouds of the troubles which so soon came; and he thoughthow young and girlish and beautiful she appeared. "The most beautifullady at the court," he told himself, "as well as the sweetest and thebest."
Time after time the words he wished to speak rose to his lips, for thelonging to make her his confidante over the Jacobite difficulty wasintense. But somehow at the critical moments he either shrank from fearof causing her trouble and anxiety, or else felt that he ought not torun the risk of bringing Andrew into trouble after what had passed. Heknew that Lady Gowan would not injure the mistaken lad; but still therewas the risk of danger following. Besides, he had to some extentconfided in his father, and would probably say more; so that if it wasright that Lady Gowan should know, his father would speak.
She gave him very little chance for making confidences till just at theend of the hour she had set apart for him, when the maid appeared torepair the disorder which she alone could see, but was dismissed atonce.
"Another ten minutes by the clock, and then Mr Frank will be going."
The maid withdrew.
"Oh, how time flies, my darling!" said the lady. "And I had so manymore things to say to you, so much advice to give to my dearest boy.But I am proud to have you here, Frank. Your father's so much away fromme, that it is nice to feel that I have my big, brave son to protectme."
Frank coloured, and thought of his companion's words.
"It reconciles me more to being here, my boy," she continued; "for yousee it means your advancement as well. But these are very anxious,troublous times for both your father and me. And you are going to dinewith him at the mess this evening. Well, you are very young, and I wantto keep you still a boy; but, heigh-ho! you are growing fast, and willsoon be a man. So be careful and grow into the brave, honourable, loyalgentleman I wish you to be."
"I will try so hard," he said eagerly; and once more he longed to speakout, but she gave him no time, though at the last moment he would hardlyhave spoken. As it was, he stood feeling as if he were very guiltywhile she held his hand.
"Of course, my dear," she said, "you are too young to have taken anyinterest in the political troubles of the time; but I want you tounderstand that it's the happiest thing for England to be as it is, andI want you as you grow older to be very careful not to be led away bydiscontented men who may want to plunge the country into war by bringingforward another whom they wish to make king."
"Mother!" began Frank excitedly.
"Don't interrupt me, dear. In a few minutes you must go. Whateverfeelings your father and I may at one time have had, we are now fixed inour determination to support those who are now our rulers. The Princehas been very kind to us, and the Princess has become my dearest friend.I believe she loves me, Frank, and I want her to find that my boy willprove one of her truest and best followers. I want you to grow up to beeither a great soldier or statesman."
"I shall be a soldier like my father," said Frank proudly.
"We shall see, Frank," said Lady Gowan, smiling. "You are too young yetto decide. Wait a little--bide a wee, as they say in the north country.Now you must go; but you will promise me to be careful and avoid allwho might try to lead you away. Think that your course is marked outfor you--the way to become a true, loyal gentleman."
"I promise, mother," said the lad firmly.
"Of course you do, my boy," said Lady Gowan proudly. "There, kiss meand go. I have to play butterfly in the court sunshine for a while; buthow glad shall I be to get away from it all to our dear old countryhome."
"And so shall I, mother," cried Frank, with his eyes sparkling.
"For a holiday, Frank. Life is not to be all play, my boy; andrecollect that play comes the sweeter after good work done. There, Ihad you here for a pleasant chat, and I have done nothing but give youlessons on being loyal to your king; but we are separated so much, Ihave so few opportunities for talking to you, that I am obliged to giveyou a little serious advice."
"Go on talking to me like that, mother," said the boy, clinging to her."I like to hear you."
"And you always will, won't you, Frank?"
"Of course," he said proudly.
"One word Frank, dear, and then you must go. Do you know why I havespoken like this? No, I will not make a question of it, but tell you atonce. Andrew Forbes"--Frank started and changed colour--"is your veryclose companion, and with all his vanity and little weaknesses, he isstill a gallant lad and a gentleman. Poor boy! he is very strangelyplaced here at the court, an attendant on the Prince and Princess, whilehis father is known to be a staunch adherent of the Pretender--aJacobite. He was your father's closest friend, and I knew his poorwife--Andrew's mother--well. It was very sad her dying so young, andleaving her motherless boy to the tender mercies of a hard world justwhen dissensions led his father to take the other side. The Princessknows everything about him, and it was at my request that he was placedhere, where I could try and watch over him. Now, naturally enough,Andrew has leanings toward his father's side; but he must be taught togrow more and more staunch to the King, and I want you, who are hisclosest companion, to carefully avoid letting him influence you, whileyou try hard to wean him from every folly, so that, though he is olderin some things, he may learn the right way from my calm, grave, steadyboy."
"But, mother--"
"Yes," she said, smiling; "I can guess what you are about to say. Go,dearest. No: not another word.--Yes, I am ready now."
This to her maid, who was standing in the doorway, looking very severe;and Frank was hurried out to return to his own quarters.