children of all classes played among the trees and flower-beds and
artificial ponds, and the King sat and watched them, because he took
delight in children, and because the sight of them cheered his only
daughter, who had fallen into a deep melancholy. But the rich citizens
clung to it, for it gave a pleasant neighbourly air to their roadway,
and showed what friendliness there was between the monarch of Illyria
and his people.

At either end you entered the roadway (if you were allowed) by an iron
gate, and each gate had a sentry-box beside it, and a tall beadle, and a
notice-board to save him the trouble of explanation. The notice ran--

PRIVATE.--_The Beadle has orders to refuse
admittance to all Waggons, Tradesmen's
Carts, Hackney Coaches, Donkeys, Beggars,
Disorderly Characters, or Persons carrying
Burdens_.

A sedentary life had told so severely upon one of the two beadles that
he could no longer enter his box with dignity or read his newspaper
there with any comfort. He resigned, and John obtained the post by his
brothers' interest, in spite of his cork leg.

He had now a bright green suit with scarlet pipings, a gold-laced hat, a
fashionable address, and very little to do. But the army had taught him
to be active, and for lack of anything better he fell into deep
thinking. This came near to bringing him into trouble. One evening he
looked out of his sentry-box and saw a mild and somewhat sad-featured
old gentleman approaching the gate.