174 PRINCE RICARDO.

 

“Tell me how it all happened, Dick,”
said the princess; “‘I’m sure it’s not so
bad as you make out. Perhaps I can help
you.”

“How can a girl help a man?” cried Dick,
angrily ; and poor Jaqueline, remembering how
she had helped him, at the risk of her own life,
when King James nearly crushed her in the
shape of a mosquito, turned her head away, and
cried silently.

“‘T’m a beast,” said Dick. ‘I beg your par-
don, Jack dear. You are always a trump, I
will say; but I don’t see what you can do.”

Then he told her all the story (which, of
course, she knew perfectly well already), except
the part played by the mosquito, of which he
could not be aware.

‘‘T was sure it was not so bad as you made it
out, Dick,’ she said. ‘“‘ You see, the old king,
who is not very wise, but is a perfectly honour-
able gentleman, gave you the highest praise.”

She thought of lecturing him a little about
disobeying his father, but it did not seem a good
opportunity. Besides, Jaqueline had been
lectured herself lately, and had not enjoyed
it.

‘‘ What am I to say to my mother?” Dick
repeated. :

“We must think of something to say,’ said
Jaqueline.

“T can’t tell my mother anything but the