384 A JACOBITE EXILE

have been taken for a country squire, was sitting opposite
playing with the ears of a spaniel lying on his knee. ‘The
tall lady moved aside as they entered, and Charlie noticed
a little glance of affectionate welcome pass between her and
the duke—for the pair were devotedly attached to each
other—then he bowed to the seated lady.

“Madam,” he said, “allow me to present to you the two
young officers of whose bravery Charles of Sweden has writ-
ten so strongly, and whose parents have with other gentle-
men been driven from the land by villainy.”

The young men bowed deeply. Anne held out her hand,
and each in turn bending on one knee, raised it to his lips.

“There,” she said, “let that be the beginning and end of
ceremony. ‘This is not a court gathering, but a family
meeting. I want to hear your stories, and I want you for
the time to forget that I am Anne of England. I know
that your fathers have always been faithful to our house, and
I hope that their sons will ere long do as good service for
me as they have done for a foreign prince. You have not
seen these gentlemen yet, Sarah?”

“No, my husband has kept them to himself.”

“T have had but little time to give them, Sarah, and
wanted it all to question them on the Swedish modes of
warfare.”

“And you thought I should be an interruption? I am
glad to meet you both, nevertheless. Since my husband
likes you, I am sure to do so;” and she smiled pleasantly
as she gave a hand to each.

They were then introduced to the Prince Consort, George
of Denmark. At this moment supper was announced.
The queen and the duchess went in together, followed by
the four gentlemen.

“Lord Godolphin and Mr. Harley were to have been of
the party to-night,” the queen said as she took her seat at
table, “but I put them off till to-morrow, as I wanted to
hear these gentlemen's story.”