“Ods-pitikins,” he thought, “a loophole for me.”
“Well,–you see–” he said, “a little surprise, Nelly,–a little surprise–for me.” The last two words were not audible to his hearers. He looked at the beautiful rivals an instant, then ventured, “I hoped to be in time to introduce you, ladies.”
“Oh, your Majesty,” asserted Nell, consolingly, “we are already quite well acquainted. I knew her grace through her veil.”
“No doubt on’t,” observed the King, knowingly.
“Yes, Sire,” said the Duchess, haughtily, casting a frigid glance at Nell, “I warrant we understand each other perfectly.”
“Better and better,” said Charles, with a sickly laugh.
His Majesty saw rocks and shoals ahead, and his wits could find no channel of escape. He turned in dire distress upon Nell, who stood aloof. She looked up into his face with the innocence of a babe in every feature.
“Minx, this is your work!” he whispered.
“Yes, Sire!” she answered, mock-reprovingly, bending quite to the floor as she courtesied low.
“‘Yes, Sire.’ Baggage!” he exclaimed good-naturedly despite himself.