CHAPTER XI.
THE TWO QUEENS.
After all, I was put to shame by finding that I had done my poor
mother an injustice in supposing that she intended to assume the
government of the house, for no sooner was I admitted to her room
than she gave me up the keys, and indeed I believe she was not sorry
to resign them, for she had not loved housewifery in her prosperous
days, and there had been a hard struggle with absolute poverty during
the last years in England.
She was delighted likewise that I was quite ready to accompany her to
thank Queen Henrietta for her intercession, and to take her advice
for the future, nor did she object for that day to my mourning
costume, as I was to appear in the character of a suppliant. When I
caught Annora's almost contemptuous eyes, I was ready to have gone in
diamonds and feathers.
However, forth we set, attended by both my brothers. Lord Walwyn
indeed held some appointment at the little court, and in due time we
were ushered into the room where Queen Henrietta was seated with a
pretty little girl playing at her feet with a dog, and a youth of
about seventeen leaning over the elbow of her couch telling her
something with great animation, while a few ladies were at work, with
gentlemen scattered among them. How sociable and friendly it looked,
and how strangely yet pleasantly the English tones fell on my ear!
And I was received most kindly too. 'Madame has brought her--our
little--nay, our great conspirator, the Firebrand of the Bocage.
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