"Let papa guess now," said Alfred.
"Then I shall ask, was the bride the daughter of the king of Norway?"
"You are right, and must not now refuse us your history."
"I have no desire to do so; and you must all take a journey with me into Scotland, for I wish to be present at a coronation in that country; we shall find a lady asserting the right of her family to crown all the kings of the nation. She was the only representative of it then able to perform the ceremony: she places the diadem on the brow of one destined to continual struggles for liberty; his countenance bespeaks prudence, valour, and great enthusiasm."
"I think, George," remarked Mrs. Macdonald, "you have taken a scene from Scottish annals. We have at present confined ourselves to English history. You have, however, puzzled the children, I perceive."
"I did not, you must remember, hear any of your rules; but I shall expect the true answer to my account to be given in five minutes by my watch."
"Oh, mama! how cruel papa is; pray help us."
"I think your father spoke of a Countess Buchan."
Ignorance was still confessed, till a hint was given of a spider having urged the same hero in after life to persevere in toil and exertions; the riddle was now soon solved.
"I have a story," said Mary, "of a great indignity that was once offered to a royal prisoner, by the orders of the hard-hearted man who had the custody of him. His attendants had brought some water out of a dirty ditch to shave him with; the poor victim meekly submitted; the tears trickled down his cheeks, and he murmured, 'Here is clean warm water, whether you will or no.'"