‘The first thing,’ she whispered to him, ‘will be to hold a council.’
‘Of course!’ assented Charlie. ‘We must hold a council at once. Let me see. May Tom—I mean Mr Checkstone—act as my private secretary until I can appoint some one else to the post?’
‘Most certainly! Your Majesty’s wishes are commands. I will send Mr Checkstone to you.’ And the amiable Princess respectfully kissed her nephew and retired.
A minute later, Tom peeped in at Charlie’s door and entered his room. The two young men at once burst into fits of suppressed laughter.
‘It is really too bad!’ exclaimed Charlie. ‘You can’t imagine how difficult it has been for me to keep my countenance.’
‘Never mind; you have done very well so far,’ returned Tom. ‘I am to be your private secretary pro tem., and you are to hold a council. I must therefore beg your Majesty to graciously nominate your councillors.’
‘Whom shall I nominate? There is Father M‘Fillan.’
‘And Alexander Gordon, the factor; he is a presentable sort of fellow.’
‘And my aunt, the Princess.’
‘Ah, the constitution doesn’t permit you to nominate women.’