“She is popular and happy?”
“Popular, yes—with her sweet and gracious ways she has crept into the hearts of the people and for that reason is regarded by many as one of the strongest bulwarks of the throne. But happy; alas, no!”
“And why not?”
“Never did any mediæval monarch cling more strongly to the maxim that ‘The King can do no wrong,’ or more fully demand the liberties and immunities claimed by kingcraft, than this King who sits upon the American throne. His profligacy and licentiousness, his all too many and too flagrant intrigues, have deeply shocked the Queen, who is naturally possessed of strong religious and moral sentiments. There is an estrangement of long standing between them. They are together only when some public function demands and she maintains a surrounding of her own, entirely apart from the King’s, devoting her attention largely to the education of the two young princes. Ah, there is little Beatrice!”
All looked as General Mainwarren spoke and saw approaching in their direction Beatrice Cuming in company with four other ladies. The members of the party seated themselves a slight distance away.
“Who is that beautiful girl taking her place beside your daughter?” asked the Professor of Colonel Cuming.
“Ah!” exclaimed Kearns explosively; “so the man of science has an eye for feminine beauty, eh! Look out, Professor, that in spite of your hundred odd years, you don’t get enmeshed. Let me see this beauty. Whew! But the man is right. Beautiful! Why, she’s a dream—a lovely dream! What eyes—what teeth!”
“Who is she?” repeated the Professor.
“That,” answered Colonel Cuming, “is the lady to whom you heard Beatrice refer—Miss Dorothy Brandon, a distant cousin of Beatrice and one of the maids of honor to Her Majesty, the Queen.”
“And are the other three ladies also maids of honor?” asked Kearns, with a sly glance at General Mainwarren.