CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
WITH PRINCE AND PRINCESS.
Frank thought over his companion's proposals for spending such time asthey could get away from duty, and soon after breakfast said what hethought.
"Every one seems to know about it," he said mournfully. "It's wonderfulwhat an excitement it has caused."
"Not a bit. Every one knows Lady Gowan and her son, and how Sir Robertwas sent out of the country on account of that duel in the Park; so ofcourse they talk about it."
"But wherever we go we shall be meeting people who will want to questionme."
"Yes," said Andrew quietly. "I've been thinking the same. It's a greatnuisance, for I wanted to go soldiering to-day."
"There's nothing to prevent you going."
"Yes, there is--you. I'm not going without you go too."
"But, Drew--"
"There, don't say any more about it," said the lad warmly. "I know. Itwouldn't be pleasant for you to go, so you stay in, and we'll read ortalk."
"But I don't like to force you to give up."
"Not going to force me. I'm going to stay because I like it, and keepyou company, and stop people from talking to you."
Frank said little, but he thought a great deal, and the most about how,in spite of his old belief that he should never thoroughly care for hisfellow-page, the tie of sympathy between them from the similarity oftheir positions was growing stronger every day.
As it happened they did not lose much, for they found that they wouldhave to be a good deal on duty, and the consequence was that much of theearly part of the day was spent in the antechamber to help usher inquite a long string of gentlemen, who wished for an audience with thePrince.
In the afternoon, just as Frank was longing for his freedom so that hemight go and inquire how Lady Gowan was, he received a sharp nudge fromAndrew, and turned quickly, to find that a knot of ladies had enteredthe room, and naturally his first glance was to see if his mother waswith them. But he did not see her, his eyes lighting instead upon thePrincess, who was on her way to join her husband.
The blood rose to Frank's cheeks as he saw that her Royal Highness waslooking at him intently, and his confusion increased as she smiledpleasantly at him in passing. Instead of hurrying forward to open thedoor for her as usual, he stood in his place as if frozen, and the dutyfell to Andrew, who joined him as soon as the last lady had passedthrough the door and the curtain was let fall.
"I say, Frank," said the lad merrily, "she didn't seem very cross withyou. Lucky to be you, with your mother a favourite. You're all right,and I don't suppose you'll hear another word about the business. It's agood thing sometimes to be a boy."
But Andrew proved to be wrong, and within the next hour or so; for thelast of the audience--reckless officers praying for promotion andgentlemen asking the Prince's support as they sought for place--hadgone, when a servant entered the anteroom, and took Frank's breath awayby saying that the Prince wished to speak with him directly.
"It's all over with you, Frank," whispered Andrew; "leave me a lock ofyour hair, and you may as well give me your sword for a keepsake.You'll never want it again."
These bantering words did not quell the boy's alarm, but he had no timefor thought; he had to go, and, drawing himself up and trying to put ona firm mien, he went to the door, drew aside the curtain, knocked, andentered.
The Prince was busy at a table covered with papers, the Princess satnear him in the opening of one of the windows, and her ladies were atthe other end of the room beyond earshot.
The boy grasped all this as he moved toward the table, and then stoodwaiting respectfully for his Royal Highness to speak.
But some minutes elapsed, during which the boy's heart beat heavily, andhe stood watching the Prince, as he kept on dipping his pen in the inkand signed some of the papers by him, and drew the pen across others.
Frank would have given anything for a look of encouragement from thePrincess; but she sat with her face still turned away, reading. Atlast!
The Prince looked up sharply, as if he had just become aware of theboy's presence, and said in rather imperfect English: "Well, my boy!"
Frank, who had felt so manly the previous night and that morning, wasthe schoolboy again, completely taken aback, and for a few moments stoodstaring blankly at the inquiring eyes before him. Then, as the Princeraised his brows as if about to say, "Why don't you speak?" the boy saidhurriedly:
"Your Royal Highness sent for me."
"Sent for you? No--oh yes, I remember. Well, sir, what excuse have youto make for yourself?"
"None, your Highness," said the boy firmly.
"Humph! Defiant and obstinate?"
Frank shook his head. He could not trust himself to speak.
"Hah! that's better," said the Prince. "Well, what have you to say inexcuse for your conduct, before I order you to quit my service?"
"Nothing, your Highness."
"Humph! Very wise of you, sir. I hate lying excuses."
Frank darted a quick glance in the direction of the Princess, in thehope that she would intercede for him, as he saw himself sent off indisgrace, separated from the mother whom his father had bidden him towatch over and protect. The idea was horrible, and with his handsturning moist in the palms, and the dew gathering in fine drops abouthis temples, he felt ready to promise anything to ensure his stay at thePalace.
"I may tell you what I have heard from the officer in charge of theguard last night--everything which took place. What am I to think ofone of my servants standing with his sword drawn to resist his Majesty'sofficer in the execution of his duty?"
"It was to defend my mother, sir," said Frank firmly. "Oh! Well, thatis what a son should do, and that is some excuse. A lady I respect, andwhom the Princess esteems. But this is very serious at a time likethis, when his Majesty is surrounded by enemies; and there must be nomore such acts as this, Mr Gowan. If you were a man, I should not havespoken as I do; you would have been dealt with by others. But as youare a mere thoughtless boy, ready to act on the impulse of the moment,and as, for your mother's sake, the Princess has interceded for you, Iam disposed to look over it."
"Thank your Royal Highness," cried Frank, drawing a long, deep breath,full of relief.
"Now you may go back to your duties, and remember this: you are veryyoung, and have good prospects before you. You are my servant now youare a boy; I hope you will be my servant still when you grow up to be aman. I shall want men whom I can trust--men to whom I can say `Protectme,' and who will do it."
"Yes, your Highness, and I will," cried Frank eagerly, as he took acouple of steps forward. "So would my father, your Highness. He is afine, brave, true soldier, and--"
"He has a son who believes in him. Well?"
"He was forced to fight, your Highness. You would not have believed inhim as a soldier if he had refused, and it is so cruel and hard that heshould have been sent away. Pray--pray ask the King to forgive himnow."
"Humph! You are a very plain-spoken young gentleman," said the Princesternly. "You draw your sword to protect your mother, and now I supposeif your father is not pardoned you will turn rebel and draw it again toprotect him."
"Your Royal Highness has no right to think such a thing of me," said theboy, flushing warmly. "I was taught that I was to do my duty here."
"And very good teaching too, sir; but boys are very ready to forget whatthey are taught; and princes and kings have a right to think and saywhat they please."
"I beg your Royal Highness's pardon. You said you wanted faithfulservants, and a truer and better man than my father never lived."
"Here, how old are you, young fellow?"
"Seventeen, your Highness."
"And you are arguing like a man of seven-and-forty. Well, it is a finething for a boy to be able to speak like that of his father, and I willnot quarrel with you for being so plain. But look here, my boy: I amnot the King."
"But your Royal Highness will be some da
y," said Frank excitedly, for hehad the wild belief that he was going to carry the day.
"Humph! Perhaps, boy; but that is a bad argument to use. There, I willbe plain with you. It does not rest with me to pardon your father."
"But his Majesty--" began the boy excitedly.
"I cannot ask his Majesty, boy," said the Prince sternly. "I am veryangry to find that one of my attendants was mixed up with last night'stroubles; but, as I told you, at the intercession of the Princess, I amdisposed to look over it, if you promise me that in future you will bemore careful, and do your duty as my servant should."
"I will, your Highness.--But my poor father?"
"Must wait until his Majesty is disposed to pardon his offence. Go."
The Prince waved his hand toward the door, and then for a moment or twohe looked startled, for in a quick, impulsive way the boy darted forwardand caught the raised hand.
The sudden movement startled the Princess too, and she sprang from herchair; but the look of alarm passed from her eyes as she saw the boybending down to kiss the Prince's hand, and as he let it fall she heldout her own.
Frank saw the movement, and the next instant he was down on one knee,kissing it, and rose to give the Princess a smile full of gratitude.
At that moment he felt his shoulder heavily grasped by the Prince.
"Good lad!" he said. "Go to your duties. I see I shall have in you aservant I can trust."
Frank did not know how he got out of the room, for his head was in awhirl, and he did not thoroughly come to himself till he had been seatedfor some time by his mother's couch and had told her all that hadpassed.
But somehow Lady Gowan did not look happy, and when she parted from herson there was a wistful look in her eyes which told of a greater troublethan that of which the boy was aware.
"Of course," said Andrew Forbes, when he had drawn the full account ofthe boy's experiences from him; "but you need not be so preciousenthusiastic over it. You had done nothing, though plenty of people gethung nowadays for that."
"But he was very kind and nice to me."
"Kind and nice!" said Andrew, with a sneer. "That was his artfulness.He wants to make all the friends he can against a rainy day--his rainyday. He's thinking of being king; but he won't be. I do know that."
Frank gave him an angry look, and turned away; but his companion caughthis arm.
"Don't go, Frank; that was only one of my snarls. I'm not so generousand ready to believe in people as you are."
Frank remembered his companion's position and his confidence about hisfather, and turned back.
"I can't bear to hear you talk like that."
"Slipped out," said Andrew hurriedly. "There, then, it's all rightagain for you. But there's no mistake about your having a good friendin the Princess."