es
eo
ee)

A CONFESSION

At eight o’clock they again presented themselves. The
duke looked at them critically.

“You will do,” he said. ‘‘ Put your cloaks on again and
come with me. Where do you suppose that you are
going?”

“ Before the council, sir,” Harry suggested.

“Bless me, you don’t suppose that your business is so
pressing that ministers have been summoned in haste to sit
upon it. No, you are going to sup with the queen. I
told her your story this afternoon. She was much inter-
ested in it, and when I informed her that, young as you
both were, you had fought behind Charles of Sweden in all
his desperate battles, and that he had not only promoted
you to the rank of captain, but that he had under his own
hand given you a document expressing his satisfaction at
your conduct and bravery, she said that I must bring you
to supper at the palace. I told her that, being soldiers,
you had brought with you no clothes fit for appearance at
court; but as at little gatherings there is no ceremony, she
insisted that I should bring you as youare. My wife Sarah
went on half an hour ago in her chair. There will proba-
bly be two others, possibly Godolphin and Harley, but
more likely some courtier and his wife. You do not feel
nervous, I hope? After being accustomed to chat with
Charles of Sweden, to say nothing of the Czar of Russia,
Carstairs, you need not feel afraid of Queen Anne, who is
good-nature itself.”

Nevertheless, both the young men felt nervous. After
being conducted up some private stairs, the duke led them
into an oak-panelled room of comparatively small size,
lighted by numerous tapers, which displayed the rich hang-
ings and furniture. A lady was sitting by the fire. A tall,
handsome woman, with a somewhat imperious face, stood
on the rug before her talking to her, while a pleasant-
looking man, who by his appearance and manner might