Thy
petition is granted. While England remains, and the crown continues,
the privilege shall not lapse.'
His majesty walked apart, musing, and Hendon dropped into a
chair at table, observing to himself, ''Twas a brave thought, and hath
wrought me a mighty deliverance; my legs are grievously wearied. An
I had not thought of that, I must have had to stand for weeks, till my
poor lad's wits are cured.' After a little he went on, 'And so I am
become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows! A most odd and
strange position, truly, for one so matter-of-fact as I. I will not
laugh- no, God forbid, for this thing which is so substanceless to
me is real to him. And to me, also, in one way, it is not a falsity,
for it reflects with truth the sweet and generous spirit that is in
him.' After a pause: 'Ah, what if he should call me by my fine title
before folk!- there'd be a merry contrast betwixt my glory and my
raiment! But no matter; let him call me what he will, so it please
him; I shall be content.'
CHAPTER XIII
The Dissappearance of the Prince
A HEAVY drowsiness presently fell upon the two comrades. The
king said:
'Remove these rags'- meaning his clothing.
Hendon disappareled the boy without dissent or remark, tucked
him up in bed, then glanced about the room, saying to himself,
ruefully, 'He hath taken my bed again, as before- marry, what shall
I do?' The little king observed his perplexity, and dissipated it with
a word.
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