Eustace and Nan were on the watch and soon were caring for
them, and heaping their plates with food, and then it was that my
sister's face began to light up, and I knew her for herself again,
while there was a general sound of full gruff English voices all
round, harsh and cracking my mother called it, but Nan said it was
perfect music to her, and I think she began to forgive me when she
found that to me likewise it had a sound of home.
But my mother was greatly gratified that evening, for there appeared
in our salon the dark bright face of the Prince of Wales, closely
followed by a tall handsome man in the prime of life, whom I had
never seen before.
'Do not derange yourself,' said Prince Charles, bending his black
head, bowing right and left, and signing with his hand to people to
continue their occupations. 'I always escape to places where I can
hear English tongues, and I wanted to congratulate Madame on her
reception yesterday, also to present to her my cousin Prince Rupert,
who arrived this afternoon.'
Prince Rupert and some of the wiser and more politic gentlemen,
Eustace among them, drew apart in consultation, while the Prince of
Wales stood by me.
'They are considering of a descent on the Isle of Wight to carry off
my father from Carisbrooke,' he said.
'And will not your Highness be with them?' I asked.
'Oh yes, I shall be with them, of course, as soon as there is
anything to be done; but as to the ways and means, they may arrange
that as they choose.
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