But somehow Lady Gowan did not look happy, and when she parted from her son there was a wistful look in her eyes which told of a greater trouble than that of which the boy was aware.
“Of course,” said Andrew Forbes, when he had drawn the full account of the boy’s experiences from him; “but you need not be so precious enthusiastic over it. You had done nothing, though plenty of people get hung nowadays for that.”
“But he was very kind and nice to me.”
“Kind and nice!” said Andrew, with a sneer. “That was his artfulness. He wants to make all the friends he can against a rainy day—his rainy day. He’s thinking of being king; but he won’t be. I do know that.”
Frank gave him an angry look, and turned away; but his companion caught his arm.
“Don’t go, Frank; that was only one of my snarls. I’m not so generous and ready to believe in people as you are.”
Frank remembered his companion’s position and his confidence about his father, and turned back.
“I can’t bear to hear you talk like that.”
“Slipped out,” said Andrew hurriedly. “There, then, it’s all right again for you. But there’s no mistake about your having a good friend in the Princess.”