CHAPTER III.
The following evening, Mrs. Macdonald, who had spent the day with an invalid friend, found all the children seated and ready to resume their historical amusement; her bonnet and shawl were soon taken from her, and leading her to a chair, all once more crowded round her.
"We could not begin without you, dear mama; but aunt has been so kind in entertaining us, that we have not been in the least impatient."
"As you have all had so much time to prepare, and I am tired," replied Mrs. Macdonald, "one of you must commence. Louisa, you look as if you had meditated on something with which to entertain us; let us hear your thoughts."
"That I am quite ready to do, and will beg you to follow me to a coronation; the king, about to have the crown placed on his head, is a man with strongly marked features and a stern expression, of the middle height, but showing great bodily power. His followers are dressed in armour, made of very small iron rings linked together like net-work, and so flexible, that it fits close to their bodies. The ceremony is not yet completed; the people inside the building are noisy in expressing their exultation and applause, but outside there are signs of a tumult; the mob, in its excited state, has set fire to the neighbouring houses, and is riotous in its indignation at some supposed evil."
"There has been more than one king whose accession to the throne has been against the wish of the nation," remarked Edward; "but I do not remember any opposition when they were crowned."
"I believe," said Mrs. Macdonald, "that this king was a foreigner, whose attendants had unjustly feared that their prince was betrayed."
"You have guessed it, I see, mama."
"And so have I," exclaimed an exulting little voice; "I think they spoke a different language from our last night's Saxon friends. Annie, it is now your turn."
"I shall," she directly began, "describe a quieter scene than the noisy event just represented. A royal lady, with a mild, rather intellectual countenance, is seated with her attendant ladies, busily employed in working a large piece of tapestry. The history she is carefully depicting appears to absorb her very much, and her industry has produced the representation of some stirring scenes, for on her work we descry horses, and riders, ships, soldiers, &c."