She sent me
away, but would not go herself; and I heard afterwards that the Duke
sat very still, seldom speaking. Once Eustace asked him if he had
his Book of Common Prayer, for his own had been put out of his reach.
'This is my sister's,' said the Duke, taking out a little worn velvet
book. 'Shall I read you her favourite Psalm?'
He read in a low gentle voice, trained by his ministry to his sweet
sister. He read the Easter Epistle and Gospel too; and at last
Eustace, relaxing the weary watch and guard of those dreadful days,
dropped into a calm sleep.
If a miracle of recovery could be said to have been wrought, surely
it was by Duke Henry of Gloucester.
Long and patiently the boy say there; for, as it turned out, the King
was in the Cours de la Reine playing at bowls, and it was long before
he could be found, and when Dr. Hargood brought it at last the Prince
had actually watched his friend for four hours. He might well say he
had been trained in waiting! And he himself gave the bouillon, when
Eustace awoke without the red flush, and with softer breathing!
The King had actually done more than the Duke had asked; for he had
not only given orders that the chaplain should come, and, if desired,
remain with Lord Walwyn, but he had also sent the Queen's physician,
the most skilful man at hand, to oust the Dominican. We heard that
he had sworn that it was as bad as being in a Scotch conventicler to
have cowls and hoods creeping about your bed before you were dead,
and that Harry had routed them like a very St.
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