"Yes," said Hadrian, thinking what a frightful old fool He must appear.
"I liked You when I saw You in that forest; and I like You now: but mother told me that the White Father was not my father's friend."
"Mother made a mistake, little son;" said the Empress, leaning forward in sudden confusion. "The White Father is father's best friend."
"Oh, how I am glad for that: because now You can be also my friend!" the prince cried, scattering his deliberate English to the four quarters of the globe.
"Most willingly," said Hadrian, taking the rose-brown hand, and drawing the child towards Him. Innocence put up its pretty lips. The Apostle lost one breath;—and stooped and kissed the stainless brow. Then He turned to greet the girls.
"This child once asked my husband a very awkward question," the mother said, presenting the Princess Yolanda. "The King of England was coming here; and Victor was shewing her His Majesty's incoronation portrait. Ah, but how she admired it! And she said, 'Father why don't you wear a hat like that king?'"
The Supreme Pontiff looked at the blushing child. "You would not call it a 'hat,' Princess, now that you are grown up?"
"No, Papa Inglese,—a crown."
"You would like your father to have a crown? Tell him that there are two waiting for him, one at Monza, and another in the Lateran."