"Indeed," answered the Prince, laughing, "I am only too delighted to accept your kind invitation, and I thank you for it very heartily. If you lead the way, we will follow at once."
So Prince George, the officer, and Duddlestone, passed out of the Exchange together.
"Ours is but humble fare," said Duddlestone; "for, sir, I can offer you only roast beef and plum-pudding."
"Very good, very good indeed!" exclaimed the Prince; "it is food to which I bring a hearty appetite."
They stopped before a small house. John pulled the latch, and, walking in, looked for his wife; but she was upstairs.
"Here, wife, wife!" he called in a loud whisper, as he put his head up the narrow staircase; "put on a clean apron, and make haste and come down, for the Queen's husband and a soldier-gentleman have come to dine with, us."
As you may think, Mrs. Duddlestone was strangely surprised at the news; but she did not become excited; she very seldom did, I believe.
"Ay, ay!" she called. "I'm coming;" and then muttered, "The Queen's husband! the Queen's husband! Sure, that can never be—however, I'll go down and see."
She ran to her closet, and pulled out a nice, clean apron and cap, and tied, the one round her waist, and the other round her comely face, saying all the time, "Dear me, dear me, to think of it!" and away she ran down stairs, where stood her husband and the two gentlemen.
The good woman bowed low, first to one and then to the other.