CHAPTER X.
William asked leave to commence the historical entertainment this evening, and the whole party begged for something very amusing, as the cold snow without, gave a cheerless look to all within, and poor Alfred complained of chilblains.
"I am going to describe a battle," said Willie; "the two contending armies are drawn up on opposite sides of a river; the surrounding scene bears marks of great poverty, nevertheless the inhabitants are a fine, generous-looking people. The principal figure in the group is standing on the bank, taking a survey of the enemy; he is of the middle height, with a high forehead, aquiline nose, fine eyes, and a very grave countenance. His thin form would give an idea of feebleness, were it not for the energy of the mind within. Two persons are lying dead by his side, and he himself appears to be wounded in the shoulder, but with the greatest composure is continuing to give his orders."
"That was a hero," said Edward; "I like to hear of mind overcoming bodily pain. Was it Edward III.?"
"No."
"The Duke of Marlborough?"
"You are getting nearer the time."
"Prince Eugene," said another.
"Prince Eugene was a cotemporary of the Duke of Marlborough."
"The person you mention was associated with some one else in the government of England, was he not?" said Edward.
"Yes, my dear boy."
"Was he not very much attached to his wife?"
"Yes; and all historians agree in giving her an amiable character, and in describing her person as pleasing."
"Did not William III. give Greenwich Hospital to disabled seamen?" asked Willie.
"Yes, my dear; it was formerly a royal palace. Queen Elizabeth was nursed there when a child. You young ladies can, perhaps, tell me what Queen Mary introduced into England."
"You must give us a clue, mama."
"It is something which tended to make women more industrious; but the revival of it in the present day, has, I fear, caused a great deal of time to be employed on it which might have been devoted to more useful objects."
"We know what you mean, mama; tent-stitch and cross-stitch; your last remark has told us."
Louisa then described a bed-chamber: "a high four-post bedstead, the canopy of which reaches to the ceiling: a coronet, surmounted by a plume of feathers, is raised over the crimson curtains at the foot: it is a bright and beautiful summer morning, but a pale, restless invalid seems incapable of enjoying it. She is wrapt in a loose robe, and stands with her eyes fixed on a large clock, which now-a-days we should, from its antique, cumbersome form, condemn to a staircase, or a kitchen; there is almost a vacant expression in her eyes, and an attendant lady looks enquiringly in her face. Who is my poor heroine?"
"Catherine of Aragon?" asked Emily.
"No, she was but a queen consort; my heroine was a queen regnant."
"Was it bloody Mary, who had the poor little children burnt?" said Alfred.
"No, my boy; but a similar circumstance, namely, that of leaving no descendants, preyed equally on the minds of these two royal personages, and hastened their deaths."
"I know," cried Willie; "but, dear mama, will you tell us what is the difference between a queen consort and a queen regnant?"
"A queen consort is the wife of a king; a queen regnant is one who reigns in her own right; a queen dowager is the widow of a king."
"Thank you, mama," said Willie; "now another story, if you please."
"You really give me no time to collect my thoughts; but it is a long while since your aunt has described a picture, and I think it is now her turn."
Mrs. Arabin then began:—"My scene is laid, where many of our scenes have been laid before, within the cold walls of a prison; but a strange circumstance is there taking place, very different to any you have yet depicted. A great interchange of clothing seems to be taking place. Three figures occupy the apartment; one lady is attiring herself in a riding dress, whilst another is assisting a dark man to put on a lady's costume; much anxiety is pourtrayed in the face of the latter lady, and none of them seem to think it as good a joke as Alfred does, to judge by his smiling face; the lady who is disrobing has a fair complexion and yellow hair."
"I suppose the gentleman intended to pass for the lady whose clothes he assumed," said Edward; "but how did they contrive to hide his dark hair?"
"By putting on a woman's wig of yellow hair, painting his eye-brows the same colour, and adding white and red paint to his cheeks."
"Your hero stands confessed, aunt," said Annie; "but what a courageous woman his wife must have been."
"True, my dear; but you must remember that the life of the dearest being she had on earth was at stake; and surely she would rather have died with him, than have left untried any plan which might offer a possibility of saving him, however dangerous it might be to herself."
"I am glad we do not live in such times now," said Louisa.
"You have reason to be so," replied Mrs. Arabin, "and we ought all to be deeply grateful for it; but I fear we take our blessings too much as matters of course; we seem to view them as our right, and only learn to appreciate them when justly deprived of them, or when we hear of the sufferings of others."
"Well, mama," added Edward, "if no other good arise from our perusal of history than that of making us more grateful for the blessings of peace and quiet times, we shall not have studied in vain."
"Edward, you do speak so like a book," exclaimed Willie, half impatient at this digression.
"Like a good book, however," answered Mrs. Macdonald; "for what your cousin has said is quite true. But, Emily, you have been silent a long time: let us now have a picture from you."
Emily complied. "The scene of my picture appears to be onboard a man-of-war. The numerous masts of other vessels near seem to indicate a harbour. An elderly man, dressed in an admiral's uniform, is kneeling down; some one stands behind him binding a handkerchief over his eyes; those immediately around appear to be his friends, judging by the sorrow depicted on their countenances. The admiral is in the act of raising his hand, as a signal to some soldiers arranged at the further end of the deck, and who have their muskets pointed at him."
All were puzzled by Emily's narration; and finding none of the children able to guess, Mrs. Arabin ventured to solve the mystery.
"I never clearly understood the exact cause of the Admiral's punishment, mama," said Willie; "will you explain it to me?"
"I will, my dear, as well as I can; but I think papa would be able to tell you better. During the war between France and England, in the reign of George II., Admiral Byng was sent out with ten ships of war to relieve Minorca, taking with him orders to throw a body of troops into the garrison. This he thought was venturing too much; and being surprised by the appearance of a French fleet, he gave orders to form in line of battle, and act on the defensive, instead of obeying the commands he had brought out. A part of the English fleet engaged, but the admiral still kept in the background. The French slowly sailed away, and no other opportunity offered of their coming to a closer engagement. But six o'clock strikes; therefore go, my darlings, and do not keep nurse waiting."
1. Battle of the Boyne. A.D. 1690.
2. Death of Queen Anne. A.D. 1714.
3. Escape of Lord Nithsdale. A.D. 1715.
4. Execution of Admiral Byng. A.D. 1758.