Things were in this state, madam, when I was born. I will not trouble you with the relation of what I did in my infancy.
No, pray skip over all that, interrupted Sir Charles; I suppose your infancy was like other people's; what can there be worth hearing in that?
You are deceived, sir, said Arabella: the infancy of illustrious personages has always something very extraordinary in it; and from their childish words and actions there have been often presages drawn of their future greatness and glory.
Not to disoblige Sir Charles, however, said the young prince of Kent, I will not repeat many things which I said and did in the first years of my life, that those about me thought very surprising; and from them prognosticated that very strange accidents would befall me.
I have been a witness of some very unfavourable prognostics of you, said Sir Charles, smiling; for you was the most unlucky bold spark that ever I knew in my life.
It is very certain, pursued Sir George, that the forwardness of my spirit gave great uneasiness to my father; who being, as I said before, inclinable to a peaceable and sedentary life, endeavoured as much as possible to repress that vivacity in my disposition which he feared might involve me in dangerous enterprises. The pains he took in my education, I recompensed by a more than ordinary docility; and before I was thirteen, performed all my exercises with a marvellous grace; and, if I may dare say so, was, at those early years, the admiration and wonder of all that saw me.
Lady Bella had some reason to fear your modesty, I find, said Sir Charles, smiling; for, methinks you really speak too slightly of your excellencies.
However that may be, resumed Sir George, my father saw these early instances of a towering genius in me, with a pleasure, chastened by his fears, that the grandeur of my courage would lead me to attempt something for the recovery of that kingdom, which was my due; and which might haply occasion his losing me.
Possessed with these thoughts, he carefully avoided saying any thing to me concerning the glorious pretences to which my birth gave me a right; and often wished it had been possible for him to conceal from me, that I was the true and lawful heir of the kingdom of Kent; a circumstance he never chose to mention to any person, and would have been glad if it had always remained a secret.
And so it was a secret, interrupted Sir Charles; for, till this day, I never heard of it; and it might still have been a secret if you had pleased; for nobody, I dare say, would suspect such a thing; and very few, I believe, will be inclined to think there is any thing in such an improbable tale.