"I was not aware that you were studying my face," said Mr. Kenyon, smiling. "Well, it is serious news, and it is not serious, if you can understand that. The words you heard were those of dissatisfied folk, and these exist everywhere. Of course I have long known that the common, ignorant people resent our being here a good deal, especially the followers of the second king, as they call him; but most of the people like us, and I find that they are very eager to deal with me in business, trusting me largely with their goods, and quite content to wait till I choose to pay them. That looks as if we have a good character. Then, as regards our treatment in the place, you have never found any one insulting or offensive to you."
"No, father; every one is smiling and pleasant."
"Of course. You need not trouble yourself about the disagreeable remarks of a couple of malcontents."
These words cheered Harry, whose young imagination had been piling up horrors to come for the dwellers at the palace and the English people who were near.
Two days later, when he was a little higher up the river, a pleasant, musical voice saluted him from the other side of a hedge.
"What! going by without calling? For shame!"
Harry turned through a gate and down a path to where a lady was seated busy over some kind of needlework under a shady tree.
There was something so pleasant in her smile of welcome that the boy eagerly caught at her extended hand, before taking the chair that was pointed out.
"But that's the doctor's," he said.
"Yes, but he is down the river in his boat, seeing some of his patients. Have some fruit, Harry. All that basketful was sent us this morning by one of Duncan's patients."