if one could do so with King Charles. He is too near home; he suffered
to much from scoffs and railings; his heart was too tender, his
repentance too deep for his friends to add one word even in jest to the
heap of reproach. How one would have loved him!' proceeded Guy,
wrapped up in his own thoughts,--'loved him for the gentleness so
little accordant with the rude times and the part he had to act--served
him with half like a knight's devotion to his lady-love, half like
devotion to a saint, as Montrose did--


'Great, good, and just, could I but rate
My grief, and thy too rigid fate,
I'd weep the world in such a strain,
As it should deluge once again.'


'And, oh!' cried he, with sudden vehemence, 'how one would have fought
for him!'

'You would!' said Charles. 'I should like to see you and Deloraine
charging at the head of Prince Rupert's troopers.'

'I beg your pardon,' said Guy, suddenly recalled, and colouring deeply;
'I believe I forgot where I was, and have treated you to one of my old
dreams in my boatings at home. You may quiz me as much as you please
tomorrow. Good night'

'It was a rhapsody!' thought Charles; 'yes it was. I wonder I don't
laugh at it; but I was naturally carried along. Fancy that! He did it
so naturally; in fact, it was all from the bottom of his heart, and I