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MIOOCOrf RESOLUTION TEST CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHAR! No, 2|
^ -APPLIED IM^GE In
^^ 1653 East Main 5(reet
=^= RDchBaler, Ne* York U609 USA
'— — ("6) 482 - OMO - Phone
^= (716) 3S8 - 5989 - Fo.
--<. r
' (*-■
-^A-^
V
MISTRESS NELL
MISTRESS NELL
A MERRY TALE OF
A MERRY TIME .
VTwixt Faa and J^ancy)
GEORGE C. HAZELTON, Jr.
AUTHOR OF THE PLAy
-LBrxoTPoOS ^ELLy STARVE"
TORONTO
THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY,
1901
LIMITED
Hoi
Entered according to Act of the Parliftment of Canada, in the year ono
thousand nine hu.;dred and one, by Thk Corp, Clark Co., Limitbd,
Toronto, Ontario, in the Office of the Minister of Asrioulture.
A WORD
TTisthevoguetodramatize successful novels
A The author of the present Nell G wyn story
has pursued the contrary course. His "merry "
playofthe same name was written and produced
before he undertook to compose this tale, sug-
gested by the same historic sources.
A word of tribute is gratefully given to the
comedienne. Miss Crosman, whose courage and
exquisite art introduced the "Mistress Nell"
Of the play to the public.
^
Jiu
Mil.
EPILOGUE
Spoken by Miss Crosman for the first time in
New York at the Bijou Theatre on the evening
of Odtober 9, 1900:
GOOD friends, before we end the play,
^ beg you all a moment stay :
I warn my sex, by Nell's afiair.
Against a rascal called Adair ! '
If lovers' hearts you'd truly scan,
Odsfish, perk up, and be a man ! '
JJU.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
"And oncf Nell Gwyn, a frail young sprite.
Look d kindly when 1 met her;
I shook my head' perhaps — but q'uite
Forgot to quite forget her"
CHAPTER II
It's near your cue. Mistress Nell!
CHAPTER III
He toot them from Castiemainc's hand to
throw to you.
CHAPTER IV
Flowers and Music fied naught hut Love.
CHAPTER V
It was never treason to steal a King's kisses.
CHAPTER VI
Softly on tiptoe;
Here Nell doth lie.
CHAPTER VII
Come down!
Come up!
CHAPTER VIII
"And the man that is drunk is as greai as a
king."
CHAPTER IX
Three chickens!
[ vii ]
41
62
87
lOI
III
1x6
142
CHAPTER X
Arrtst him yourself!
CHAPTER XI
In the J! fid, men; at court, women!
CHAPTER XII
Beau Adair is my name.
CHAPTER XIII
for the glory of England?
CHAPTER XIV
He loves me! He Ivues me!
CHAPTER XV
/ come, my love; I come.
CHAPTER XVI
Ods-pitikins, my own refeaion!
CHAPTER XVII
'"':hei:i!'.''"'"'^''y'fi-''^'""'y'^'"
i68
182
'95
232
240
259
276
290
[ viii ]
^^^^~
MISTRESS NELL
"And ome Ne/lQwy», a fr<ul young >pr.te,
Look d kindly when I met hir ;
I ihook my head perhaps — but qliit,
Forgot to quite forget her."
It was a merry time in merry old Eng-
land; for King Charles II. was on the
throne.
Not that the wines were better or the
ladies fairer in his day, but the renaissance
ot carelessness and good-living had set
in. True Roundheads again sought quiet
abodes in which to worship in their gray
and sombre way. Cromwell, their un-
crowned king, was dead; and there was
no place for his followers at court or in
tavern. Even the austere and Catholic
smile of brother James of York, one day
to be the ruler of the land, could not cast
a gloom over the assemblies at Whitehall
Th-re were those to laugh merrily at the
[ I ]
—■6 o v,,i, a„a at the p avers' wif TfvT""
morrow. ^' *"'' °° "re for the
prosperous? Are nnffK I ^^^ '^^J
est London fil ed wff T''"' '" '■^'"°^-
who drink and sinrtn /h°-'' k'"S ^P'"'^
tent of their deel^ u ^'^ ''^^'■^^' """
Can they not sTet wh^ ^^ J"^* ''^^^
mand when dryP '" '^""^^^^ ^"^ de-
sword once f ,owe7c7or '^r^"" '""^
gay cloalc and thTbig'^E:^" ^ ^^/
not ^uue hide the notLTdifc^H^" '^•^
rass of an Ironside. ^ '^■scarded cui-
Cockpits and theatres' It i. .K d
toration.'Themavnnl. ''^^ ^^S"
ne maypole IS up again at May-
[ 2 J ■'
A Merry T ale of a Merry Time
pole Lane, and the milk-maids bedecked
with garlands dance to the tunes of the
hddle. Boys no longer serve for heroines at
the play, as was the misfortune in Shake-
speare's day. The air is full of hilarity and
joy-
Let us too for a little hour forget re-
sponsibility and fall in with the spirit of
the times; while we tipple and toast, and
vainly boast: "The King! Long live the
King!"
Old Drury Lane was alive as the sun
was setting, on the day of our visit to
London Town, with loungers and loafers;
busy-bodies and hawkers; traffickers of
sweets and other petty wares; swagger-
ing soldiers, roistering by, stopping for-
sooth to throw kisses to inviting eyes at
the windows above.
As we turn into Little Russell Street
from the Lane, passing many chairs richly
made, awaiting their fair occupants, we
come upon the main entrance to ' the
King's House. Not an imposing or spa-
cious structure to be sure, it nevertheless
was suited to the managerial purposes of
[3]
ish wSt a d en T'""' ^""^ '" ' fi"-
revealed seT/inh^ T"'"!^ ^"'^'^' '^^^
r^.jnJi '"^ '^^nce by means nf
"Thnr^ "p" -"'5 play was on
- The Conquest of Granada " The L,f
ot London were fh^r^. r \- ^ "^ ^^st
then was as attraV 'e "s' ats? n "^ "'^'^
In the balcony were dr. n'^.^^'" °^-
which lovely JolTwe Keen T' j"
"'g pretty compliments with the fl iff "
vountes by his side h;, . j ^"^ ^^-
or her golden warec Tu^^ ,, '"*= cost
fcrred Lin, rS ^^nf f^"/^ ^^
shame of it r ''ss^'ng— forthe
L 4 J
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
A knowing one in the crowd was heard
to say: "'Tis Castlemaine to the King's
left." ^
" No, 't is Madame Carwell ; curse her,"
snarled a more vulgar companion.
"Madame Querouaille, knave, Duch-
ess of Portsmouth," irritably exclaimed
a handsome gallant, himself stumbling
somewhat over the French name, though
making a bold play for it, as he passed
toward his box, pushing the fellow aside.
He added a moment later, but so that no
one heard : " Portsmouth is far from here."
It was the Duke of Buckingham— the
great Duke of Buckingham, in the pit of
the King's House! Truly, we see strange
things in these strange times! Indeed,
William Penn himself did not hesitate
to gossip with the orange-wenches, unless
Pepys lied— and Pepys never lied.
" What said he ? " asked a stander-by,
a butcher, who, with apron on and sleeves
to elbow, had hastily left his stall at one of
the afternoon and still stood with mouth
agape and fingers widespread waiting for
the play. Before, however, his sooty com-
[5]
was on every lip. ^^"- ^^J^-'
And who was "Nell"?
Nell Gw;„ :ie ,rt!lT ^''^^^P^'^ ^""'^
England ''^'^f '^^"'est rogue in merry
i-ane and eh*. h.,k-. - ""^ "^ Urury
House ^''"^"'^^ °f 'h^ King's
nowVe;" 'on eTheIr ^^H^^f^''-'^^
of the Lane H tneatre, and the dol
deli-lS a, ,L! ""'"" '"°™<' "ith
[6]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
This pace in foolery had been set at the
Duke's House, but Nell out-did them,
with her broad-brimmed hat as large as
a cart-wheel and her quaint waist-belt;
for was not her hat larger by half than
that at the rival house and her waist-belt
quainter?
As she came forward to speak the pro-
logue, her laugh too was merrier and more
roguisii:
"This jest was first of the other house's making,
And, five times tried, has never fail' d of taking ;
This is that hat, whose very sight did win ye
To laugh and clap as though the devil were in ye.
I'll write a play, says one, for I have got
A broad-brimm'd hat, and waist-belt, towards
a plot.
Says the other, I have one more large than that.
Thus they out-write each other with a hat!
The brims still grew with every play they writ;
An' grew so targe, they cover d all the wit.
Hat was the play ; V wa; language, wit, and
tale:
Like them that find meat, drink, and cloth in ale."
[7 ]
I
A fair Jmnd hn ' "''°" ^^"'« face.
Patienti; upon'hl sT' M ^" ^'^"'^ ™-
gently ^0^' Les ^ .'n'"^ ^'■^^^™
"Thanks r7?, ^ " ^^"' '"X ^^^g^"
thoughtful." ^^" " ^""^ always
The play went on. The ^ftr...
went. Hart appeared ,„7,''^*°'^^"meand
Almanzor-^^dre" "^ i^''"' '°^'' ^'
served its purposes foroTh 1^'^^^^ ^^^
hap had not; for cast^ff °''"f '"^y-
without regard tn fi. court-dresses,
'-'ourite cStumes nTh' "T '^' P'^^-^'
"ess more than the "^'^ ^^'' '^"■''^^-
With m X fore? h ""'"f f ^•
centre of th^e silel:^^" T'^ ^'°"' '^'
and syllable precE' Dri^ °^"'"'" ''""^
the poet The" ? , ''^ approvingly to
thepatronlgeKeT'^^'P^^ -
aud4cewefeeneha„e"DrTi'°^'-^™^
a tnumphant smile as he 7 >'"'"' "^'"^
poetic lines and heard fh T'" V^"" ^^'
lables receive rounds of- l^"'''^"^ ^y''
Londoners "^'^^^^PP'ause trom the
L ^ J
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
Was it the thought, dear Dryden; or
was It Nell's pretty ways that bewitched
the most of it? Nell's laugh still echoes in
the world; but where are your plays, dear
Dryden?
CHAPTER II
s near your cue. Mistress Nell/
Ti
was s^alSfa oZ °'''^ ^'"^''^ "«"-
to the Let o„ ? "^^ ^'=^g^' another
armour hung upon, he w,ll.g™,;[„°i;j
[ 1° ]
^
A Merry T ale of a Merry Time
light of candles fixed in brazieVs. Rushes
were strewn about the floor.
Ah! Pepys, Pepys, was it here that
you recalled "sp- daily kissing of Nell"?
Mayhap; for we read in your book: "I
kissed her, and so did my wife, and a
mighty pretty soul she is." Be that as
It may, however, you must have found
Nell's hps very agreeable; for a great wit
has suggested that it was well that Mrs.
Pepys was present on the occasion.
On great play-nights, however, this
most unroyal room assumed the propor-
tions of royalty. Gallants and even lords
sought entrance here and elbowed their
way about; and none dared say them nay.
They forced a way even upon the stage
during the play, though not so commonly
as before the Restoration, yet still too
much; and the players played as best they
could, and where best they could. fi/Z/m-
^/o«x passed, sweet words were said, — all
in this dilapidated, unpretentious, candle-
lighted room.
At the moment of which we speak, the
greenroom was deserted save for a lad of
r IT 1
from " Hamlet "h'"^ del.venng bits
The lad strurk a /°V "& ' '"o"se.
clouded Pleassle.K'"''"'^'' ^'^ ^'^^
the proper pSe fori ''''r^^ ^°^™
meditations anS h 'T^ '^^"^- His
broken rupon tZ"' ^T''''^ ---
of Manager Hart fl^ 'f'^^'' ^"'™^e
"sualstatrof^S^^^^^^^^^
''W?a7areTV™^^^^'^"^«J°-Jy.
--^-5.;°^^St£s: -
S"S^=Varar"'^^^"''''^-'"g-
:;-.iono;rdrs^^;;S:
the"irrn:n;'jr'"^i'''--'"^
wisenotto yra'rfh^^
"1VT *"ch a time
Never m>nd where I left ,> n ■
[ 12 ] »'
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
f'^f 'ly-" Hart rushed to the door"^
looked off in an increasing state of ex-
citement.
. " ^^y- yo" 've got your dagger on,
sir, hesitatingly suggested the lad, as he
caught the gleam of a small scimiter
amon^ the foi>, of Almanzor's tunic
Ha. t's face flushed.
^^ "Devil take you, boy," he exclaimed;
you are too stupid ever to make an ac-
tor!"
With this speech, the manager strode
out of the greenroom toward the stage.
Poor Dick sank back in an attitude of
resignation. "How long, O Rome, must
1 endure this bondage.?" he said, sadly.
He again observed his boyish figure
in the mirror, and the pretty face bright-
ened as he realized that there might still
be hope in life, despite Manager Hart's
assertion that he would never be able to
aft. His features slowly sank into a set
expression of tremendous gloom, such a^^
he thought should characterize his con-
ception of himself as Hamlet when in
days to come the mantles of Burbage and
[ ^3 ]
__________^)^rx Nell
Hart must bow to him H. ^^"^S'^'"
fixed before th. Iss'^a^/ ^""^ ^'■^"^-
g«fu» of his ills. H^prett?. '""'^°'-
and one close by mi JL^h! ^u'^' '"°^^'^'
"To be or notl be ' n ''.^"''^ ^'S^''"'
phrase. '" ^ell-modulated
"Ah, boy; here'"
O'ck started.
rose'wi;rrot^'oVd""^'K^^"^"''-°'d-
theroomquSv h r' T^" ^^'^ ^"^-'"ed
the streetTl'S ^.^TtT'"'''^ '^"^^
we observed ,n the J-f nf,^ ^"^°"^^^
that of one accu.tnnf I [ '"^""^'' ^as
quickly too ThebH. '°u^.' '^'^^>'^d ^"d
low. -^ ^ ^^'^ ^"^^ J^^m and bowed
woIm^V'^^-J,^,^^!' ?1^"^'^-
^'vely," he said ' -^'^^^3^' '=»d;
abou?tLX't?r"^"'^"^p^'^
Wrs,nhertiin;!-root"^^"^'^-
The boy took the beautiful bouquet
[ H J
1
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
of white roses. " Yes, my lord," he re-
plied, and turned to do the bidding.
"Flowers strewn in ladies' v/ays oft'
lead to princely favours," muttered his
lordship, thoughtfi'lly, as he removed his
gloves and vainly adjusted his hat and
swoid. "Portsmouth at Dover told me
that."
It was apparent from his face that
much passed before his mind, in ths
little second, of days when, at Dover
Castle not long since, he had been a part
— and no small part— of the intrigue
well planned by Louis of France, and
well executed by the Duchess of Orleans
assisted by the fair Louise, now Duchess
of Portsmouth, in which his own purse
and power had waxed mightily. What-
ever his lordship thought, however, it
was gone like the panorama before a
drowning brain.
He stopped the lad as he was entering
Nell s tiring-room, with an exclamation
The boy returned.
" You gave Mistress Nell my note bid-
ding her to supper.?" he asked, quesfion-
No my lord; quite serious."
he mifih have r \^"'"'"^'^' ^^ere
d.aw o'ut the hd"'^'' ^""'^^ '°
"She threw it on the floor, mv lord! "
meekly answered Dirt ua- ■( .5
on t, she said somethin,^ n.S '*&"''
swer, boy?" The d nl^^' '°'"*= ^"-
y- i he diplomat was growing
i6 J ^
r
A Merry T ale of a Merry Time
earnest despite himself, as diplomats often
do in the cause of women.
Dick trembled.
" She said your dinners made amends
for your company, my lord," he said,
meekly.
Buckingham's eyes snapped; but he
was too clever to reveal his feelings fur-
ther to a call-boy, whom he dismissed
with a wave of the hand. He then swag-
gered to the table and complacently ex-
claimed: "The rogue! Nelly, Nelly, your
lips shall pay tribute for that. Rosy im-
pudence! Buckingham's dinners make
amends for his company.? Minx!" He
threw himself into a chair, filled with
deep reflexions of supper and wine, wit
and beauty, rather than state-craft.
Thus lost in selfish reflection, he did
not observe, or, if he did, cared not for,
the frail figure and sweet face of one who
cautiously tiptoed into the greenroom.
It was Orange Moll, whose sad counte-
nance and tattered garments betokened
a sadder story. Her place was in the nit
with her back to the stage, vending her
[ 17 ]
•^ran^res to artisans L'irlT^TiT""^ ~j
foolish LMlIant. Sk' u, ^" ^'=''»'''^s "r
thescei';'.''^''''''^"°'-'«ht behind
out Ndr 'T'u ^"''^ '" '^"'^^ fiere with-
"Oranges? W M i , , ""^'^'"gham.
Only sixpSe mv lord • ^ '"^ """g--^
len/th th^n k ^^ ' ^f'e ventured at
offSd tr wrres''"lf' ^ .^'""'"'^ -'^
thoughts wereTlU," ''^ '"^^^'^'P'^
his''sI'::,Sn"!.^-^°-"PperP^
'■ke spiced tonTue " r ^""^ ^°"''i
and eyes were Sd "'''"']y .^'^ hands
ofthe^•nte^v:„"o'^rp^'"r
Be, and so suddenly that MnlM I '^''
" Ve Hods " h^ Z I . ' '^'■^^ hack,
has e,, .uth of ,tf '"^^^ =iloud, "she
vintage ofl" '^'' '^'"''^y'- Ah, the
hirrMoT"''^".-"-^^ which
famiir o7an^!4^ :rt'"^ h>s ^^^
[ i8 J
A Merry Tak of a Merry Time
Buckingham's eyes ri^i^d'withln^^
he was not wont to have his way, miicli
less his pleasure, disturbed by the lowly
"Oh, hang you, you disturb me. I am
thmkmg; don't you perceive I am think-
ing? Begone!"
"Only sixpence, my lord; I have not
sold one to-night," pleaded the girl, sadly
His lordship rose irritably. " I have no
pauper's pence," he exclaimed. "Out of
my way! Ragbag!" He pushed the girl
roughly aside and crossed the room.
At the same instant, there was confu-
sion at the stage-door, the climax of
which was the re-entrance of Hart into
the greenroom.
" How can a man play when he trem-
bles for his life lest he step upon a lord?"
cried the angry manager. "They should
behorsewhippedoffthestage,and"_his
eyes falling upon Buckingham— "out of
the greenroom."
"Ah, Hart," began his lordship, with
a patronizing air, "why is Nelly so lonc.f
i desire to see her." "
Hart's lips trembled, but he controlled
[ 19 ]
his passion. "Indeed? His~!Vn;j;;;^77rd
the good folk in front ..„uld ioub^s^
gladly awau you,- .nterview with mIs-
tress Eleanor Gwyn. Shall I announce
rp^rpiTvV-^'"-°^'^^''^^-y"nd
piie/h-Ki;:;"'"''^'*^"^"-'"-
^^ " Not so," said the aftor, bowing low-
^ Um your lordship's most obedient ser^
Buckin,t^ham's lip curled and his eves
but the room was meantime filling with
players from the stage, some exchanging
comphments, some strutting before th!
glass, and he would not so degrade his
tTn?n tf°" ''^'"•. ^'^''' ^-' •" hand
even ,n he manager's room, was testing
lshSLT""^''"''^"^™''"''''y
forl'''^ "'"^"''°" 'T ^°" ""'•^g^. 3"d
Wll "'"l^g^'" cheery: "Oranges?
W,ll^you_have my oranges? Onlyl..
She boidly offered her wares to Al-
[ 20 J
mp? Back to the pit, where y<.u be-
long. I he manager's voice was full of
meaning.
. " ^,^" '°'«1 'Pe I might come here, sir,"
said the g,rl, faintly excusing herself.
Harts tempe; got the better of him.
To admit before all that Nell ruled the
theatre was an affront to his managerial
dignity which he could not brook
hneked, as he angrily paced the room
hke^^some caged beast, gesticulating
The adtors gathered in groups and
looked askant.
" Gadso," he continued, " who is man-
ager, 1 should like to know! Nell would
mtroduce her whole trade here if she
could. Every orange-peddler in London
will set up a stand in the greenroom at
the King s, next we know. Out with you '
This is^a temple of art, not a market-
place. Out with you ! '*
[ 21 ]
Mistress Ne/I
He seized Moll roughly in his anger
and almost hurled her out at the door
He would have done so, indeed, had not
iN 11 entered at this moment from the
stage. Her eye caught the situation at a
glance.
"Oh, blood, lago, blood!" she ex-
claimed, mock-heroically, then burst
into the merriest laugh that one could
care to hear. "How now, a tragedy in
the greenroom! What lamb is being sac-
rinced.?"
Hart stood confused; the players whs-
pered in expedation; and an amused smile
played upon the features of my Lord B uck-
ingham at the manager's discomfiture
b inally Hart found his tongue.
" An old comrade of yours at orange-
vending before you lost the art of afting "
he^suggested, with a glance at Moll.
"By association with you. Jack?"' re-
plied the witch of the theatre in a way
which bespoke more answers that wis-
dom best not bring forth.
Nell's whole heart went out to the sub-
jedt of thecontroversy.Poorlittle tattered
[ 22 ]
A Merry Tale of a Mt.
■J
Orange Moll! She was carried back in an
instant to her own bitter life and bitter
struggles when an orange-girl. Throwinj/
an arm about the child, she kissed awav
the tears with, « What is the matter, dear
"They are all mocking me, and sent
me back to the pit," repli-d the girl, hys-
terically. •'
" Shame on you all,"said Nell; and the
eyes that were so full of comedv revealed
tragic fire.
" Fy, fy," pleaded Hart; " I '11 be char-
itable to-morrow, Nell, after this strain
IS off— but a first night — "
"You need charity yourself.?" sug-
gested Nell; and she burst into a merry
laugh, m which many joined.
Buckingham instantly took up the
gauntlet for a bold play, for a coup d'etat
in flattery. "Pshaw!" he cried, waving
aside the players in a princely fashion!
When Nell plays, we have no time to
munch oranges. Let the wench bawl in
the street."
Poor Moll's tears flowed again with
roil
i- ^j J
Mistress Ne//
!
each harsh word. Nell was not so easily
afFefted. ^
" Odso, my lord ! It is a pity your lord-
ship is not a player. Then the orange-trade
would flourish," she said.
Buckingham bowed, amused and cu-
rious. "Say you so, i' faith! Pray, why,
mad minx.?"
"Your lordship would make such a
good mark for the peel," retorted Nell,
tossing a bit of orange-peel in his face, to
the infinite delight of Hart andhis fellow-
players.
"Devil!" angrily exclaimed his lord-
ship as he realized the insult. "I would
kill a man for this; a woman, I can only
love." His hand left his sword-hilt; and
he bowed low to the vixen of the theatre,
picked from the floor the bit of peel
which had fallen, kissed it, tossed it over
his shoulder and turned away.
Nell was not done, however; her re-
venge was incomplete. "There! dry your
eyes, Moll," she exclaimed. "Give me
your basket, child. You shall be avenged
still further." ^
[ H]
greenroom „^u now niied from
course of her vengeance none could
The manager, catching at the prohahl^
outcome when Nell seized fro^ £•
;C>eatHea;eS^,^^.^lXe;-!:
which kept the grrenrrmC'b::r;'
the suspense of a drama; for Nell herself
was a whole play as she stood in 1 cen f
of that httle group of lords and plavers
arm Wh.f °^°'-^"g« on her dimpled
arm. What a pretty pifture she was too-
[ 25 ]
Mistress Nell
prettier here even than on the stage ! The
nearer, the prettier ! A band of roses, one
end of which formed a garland falling to
the floor, circled and bound in her curls.
What a figure in her Oriental garb, hid-
ing and revealing. Indeed, the greenroom
seemed bewitched by her cry: "Oranges,
will you have my oranges?"
She lifted the basket high and offered
the fruit in her enchanting old-time way,
a way which had won for her the place
of first aftress in England. Could it not
now dispose of Moll's wares and make the
child happy.? Almahyde's royal train was
caught up most unroyally, revealing two
dainty ankles;and she laughed and danced
and disposed of her wares all in a breath.
Listen and love:
Sweet as love-lips, dearest mine.
Picked by Spanish maids divine.
Black-eyed beauties, who, like Eve,
With golden fruit their loves deceive!
Buy oranges; buy oranges!
Close your eyes, when these you taste;
Think your arm about her waist:
[ 26]
I
__£^^f^V^J}^^ejfaMerry rime
•Thus with sixpence may mTwTn
Happiness unstained with sin.
Buy oranges; buy oranges!
As the luscious fruit you sip^
You will wager 'tis her lip)
Nothing sweeter since the rise
Of wickedness in Paradise.
Buy oranges; buy oranges!
There were cries of "Brava'" "An
otherj.g!" and "Hurrah for Nellv-" It
was one of those bits of adting behind the
scenes which are so rare and exquisite and
which the audience never see.
"Marry gallants, deny me after that
if you dare ; and Nell's little foot came
down firmly m the last step of a trium-
Phantj.g, mdicating a determination that
Moll s oranges should be sold and quickly
"Last ad! All ready for the last aft"
rang out m Dick's familiar voice from the
stage-door as she ended. It was well some
one thought of the play and of the audi-
ence in waiting.
Many of the players hastily departed to
[ 27 ]
Mistress Nell
take up their cues; but not so Nell. Her
eyes were upon the lordly Buckingham,
who was endeavouring to effed a crafty
exit. ■'
Not so fast, my lord," she said as
she caught his handsome cloak and drew
him back into the room. "I want you
with me." She looked coyly into his lord-
ship's face as though he were the one man
in all the world she loved, and her curls
and cheek almost nestled against his rich
cloak. "A dozen, did you say.? What a
heart you have, my lord. A bountiful
heart ! "
Buckingham was dazed; his eyes
sought Nell, then looked aghast at the
oranges she would force upon him. The
impudence of it!
"A dozen!" he exclaimed in awe.
"'Slife, Nelly; what would I do with a
dozen oranges.?"
"Pay for them, in sooth," promptly
replied the vixen. " I never give a lord
credit."
The player-folk gathered closer to
watch the scene; for there was evidently
[ 28 ]
J±^tlll:!hj[^crry Time
expense of a very royal gentleman
A player talk of credit!" replied hi.
lordsh.p, quite ironically, as he t ath
ened up proudly for a wi^ 1 ^
"What would become Zl'u'"'''''"-
mers, if the lords dTdTot fi f th "'"■"■
Pocketsr.hesaid,crusl'i''^'^^-P'^
What would become of the lords if
the players' brains did not try to fin S'
-Jtyskullswithwitsr,uLVi;ltd
"^^ y°u were a man, sweet Nellv I
houd answer: -The lords first hadll
players! '" " '"^^'^"'^^ '^'"^ with
"And being a woman, I do answer "
replied the irrepressible Nell "" w
played the fools'themselvS:';;y,o7d":l
The players tned to smother their feel
^ngs; but the retort was too apt and the
greenroom rang with laughter
iJuckmgham turned fiercelv „„
them; but their faces were insZ*?"
mumtrified. instantly
"Gad, I would sooner face the Dutch
[ 29 ]
Mistress Null
he said. He had decided to succumb for
the present. In his finger-tips glistened a
golden guinea.
Nell eyed the coin dubiously.
" Nay, keep this and your wares too "
added his lordship, in hope of peace, as
he placed it in her hand.
"Do you think me a beggar?" replied
Nell, indignantly. "Take your posses-
sions, every one-every orange." She
tilled his hands and arms to overflowing
with her golden wares.
His lordship winced, but stood subdued.
'What am I to do with them?" he
asked, falteringly.
"Eat them; eat them," promptly and
forcefully retorted the quondam orange-
vender. °
"All.? "asked his lordship.
"All!" replied her ladyship.
"Damme, I cannot hold a dozen " he
exclaimed, aghast.
"A chair! A chair!" cried Nell.
Would your lordship stand at the feast
of gold.?
[ 30 ]
jdMerryjTale of a Merry Time
Before Buckingh^rad \\^toxlfi'^&.
upon the outrage to hi dignity, Nell
forced h,m ,nto a chair, to the great glee
of the by-standers, especially of Manager
Hart, who chuckled to an ^tiox by his
s'de: "She'll pluck his fine featLr^
curse his arrogance."
" Your knees together, my lord ! What
have they never united in prayer?" glee-
Jf/ '^"ghed Nell as she further h^um-
bled h,s lordship by forcing his knees to-
gether to form a lap upon which to pile
more oranges. ^
Buckingham did not relish the scene-
but he was clever enough o humour the
vixen both from fear of l.er tongue and
from hope of favours as well as words from
her rosy lips.
"They'll unite to hold //^^,wench,"he
suggested, with a sickly laugh, as he ob-
served his knees well laden with oranges
I trow not," retorted Nell; "thevcan
scarce hold their own. There!" and she
roguishly capped the pyramid which
burdened his lordship's knees with the
largest in her basket.
r 1, 1
L J = j
Mistress Nell
" 1 '11 barter these backlbTi^^Td^Tr—-
sweet xVell," he pleaded. ""^ '^'^""8='
"What change?" quickly cried the
merry imp of Satan.
"I gave you a golden guinea," an-
swered h.s lordship, woefully
" I gave you a golden dozen, my lord ' "
replied Nell, gleefully. ' 7 ™.
"Oranges, who will have my oranges? "
She was done with '^■ickingh.iin and
had turned about for ot^ : .- prey
Hart could not allow the opportunity to
escape without a shot at his hated lordslfi "
Fleeced he whispered grimly over
h.sJor.ships shoulder, with a Lrry
Buckingham rose angrily
in Js^ h!'^"^ °V-^^ "^""'^'^ ""^ h^-- deal-
wide over the floor of the greenroom.
1 uu .',"''* ''^ P''""^. my lord to
be robbed by so fair a hand," Luinued
Hart, consolingly. « Tis an honour, I as-
sure you; we all envy you "
^^^Buckingham did not relish the conso-
[ 32 ]
1
A Merry Talc of u Merry Time
'"Tis an old saw. Master HarT^nie
replied: '"He laughs best who laughs
As he spoke, Nell's orange-cry rang
out again above the confusion and the
fun. She was still at it. Moll was finding
vengeance and money, indeed, though
she dwelt upon her accumulating posses-
sions through eyelashes dim with tears.
"It's near your cue, Mistress Nell "
cried out the watchful Dick at the stage-
door. °
A^"n'.^ oranges left; see me sell them,
Moll, ^ cried the unheeding vender.
"It's near your cue. Mistress Nell'"
again shouted the call-boy, in anxious
tones.
"Marry, my cue will await my com-
ing, pretty one," laughed Nell.
The boy was not so sure of that " Oh
don't be late, Mistress Nell," he pleaded!
1 H buy the oranges rather than have
you make a stage-wait."
"Dear heart," replied Nell, touched
by the lad's solicitude. "Keep your pen-
nies, Dick, and you and I will have a lark
Mistress Ne//
with them some fine day. Six oranges
left; going -going-" She sprang into
the throne-chair, placed one of the small-
es_t feet in England impudently on one
of Its arms and proceeded to vend her re-
maining wares from on high, to the huge
satisfaction of her admirers.
The situation was growing seriou
Nell was not to be triHcd with. The ac-
tors stood breathless. Hart grew wiid as
he realized the difficulty and the fatt that
she was uncontrollable. King and Parlia-
ment, he well knew, could not move her
from her whimsical purpose, much less
the manager of the King's.
"What are you doing, Nell?" he
pleaded, wildly. "You will ruin the first
night. His Majesty in front, too! Dryden
will never forgive us if 'Granada' goes
wrong through our fault."
" Heyday ! What care Hbr ' Granada '? "
and Nell swung the basket of oranges
high in air and calmly awaited bids
"Not a step on the stage till the basket is
empty."
It was Buckingham's turn now
[ 34 ]
i
A Merry -Talc of a Merry -Time
" Here *s music for our manager,"~he
chuckled. "Our deepest sympathy, friend
Hart."
This was more than Hart could bear.
The manager of the King's House was
forced into profanity. "Damn your .sym-
pathy," exclaimed he; and few would
criticise him for it. He apologized as
quickly, however, and turned to Nell.
"There goes your scene, Nell. I'll buy
your oranges, when you come off," he con-
tinued to plead, in desperation, scarcely
less fearful of offending her than of of-
fending the great Lord Buckingham.
"Now or never," calmly replied the
vender from her chair-top.'
" The devil take the women," mut-
tered Hart, frantically, as he rushed head-
long into his tiring-room.
"Marry, Heaven defend," laughed
Nell; "for he's got the men already."
She sprang lightly from the chair to the
floor.
Hart was back on the instant, well out
of breath but purse in hand.
"Here, here," he exclaimed. "Never
[ IS ]
radiantly. Indeed th.' ^".^^^^ ^^ining
have sr]Lu \ ^ audience would
nave gladly waited, could they have hnf
seen her pretty, winsome way ! « tEc are
Hart protested vainly.
boti aTms" tbo^t'S '° '?°"-' ^^" *''--
"There Moll "u^ ?l'^ triumphantly.
1 36]
A Merry Tale of g Merry Time
He succeeded in catching it despite his
excitement.
xr'nT.?"'' '="^— y°"r cue— Mistress
JNell! came from every throat as one.
Nell tossed back her head indifferently
" Let them wait; let them wait," she said!
dehantly.
The stage-beauty crossed leisur-ly to
the glass and carelessly arranged her dra-
pery and the band of roses encircling her
hair. °
Then the hoyden was f nne. In an in-
stant, Nell was transformed into the prin-
cess, Almahyde. The room had been filled
witn breathless suspense ; but what seemed
to the players an endless period of time
was but a minute. Nell turned to the man-
ager, and with all the suavity of a prin-
cess of tragedy kissed her hand tantaliz-
ingly to him and said: "Now, Jack, I '11
teach you how to a<5l."
She passed out, and, in a moment
rounds of applause from the amphithea-
tre filled the room. She was right; the
audience would wait for her.
A moment later, the greenroom was
[ %7 ]
Mistress Nell
deserted except for Manager Hart and
Lord Buckingham. Hart had thrown the
call-boy almost bodily through the door
that led to thestage, thus venting his aneer
upon the unoffending lad, who had bfen
unfortunate enough to happen in his way
111 betimes. He now stood vainly contem-
plating himself before the glass and await-
ing his cue. Buckingham leaned upon a
chair-top, uncertain as to his course
"Damme! She shall rue this work "
he muttered at length. "A man might
as well make love to a wind-mill I for-
got to tell her how her gown becomes
XK Y^^ ^ ^^'■^'^'^ ^'^'"g to forget."
The refleftion forthwith determined his
course. "Nelly, Nelly, Nelly," he called
as he quickly crossed the room after the
departed Nell, "you are divine to-night
Your gown is simply "
The manager's voice stayed him at the
iord!l"°''" "^^ '°'''^' '^°'"' ^^^^' ""y
Buckingham's hand had gone so far in-
deed, as to push open the door. He stood
entranced as he looked out upon the ob-
L 38 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
je(5t of his adoration upon the stage. " Per-
fedtion!" he exclaimed. "Your eyes "
"My lo- '., my lord, you forget — "
Buckingham turned indignantly at the
voice which dared to interrupt him in the
midst of his rhapsody.
" You forget — your oranges, my lord,"
mildly suggested Hart, as he pointed to
the fruit scattered upon the floor.
Buckingham's face crimsoned. "Plague
on't! They are sour. Master Hart." With
a glance of contempt, he turned on his
heel and left the room.
A triumphant smile played upon the
manager's face. He felt that he had an-
noyed his lordship without his intention
being apparent. "A good exit, on my
honour," he muttered, as he stood con-
templating the door through which
Buckingham had passed; "but, by
Heaven, he shall better it unless he
takes his eyes from Nell. Great men be-
lieve themselves resistless with the fair;
more often, the fair are ..esistless with
great men."
He took a final look at himself in the
[ 39 ]
CHAPTER III
He took them from Canlemmne\ hand to throw to you.
1 HE greenroom seemed like some old
forest rent by a storm. Its furniture, which
was none too regular at best, either in
carving or arrangement, had the irregu-
larity which comes only with a tempest,
humar divine. The table, it is true, still
stood . us fcr oaken legs; but even it
was well awry. The chairs were scattered
hej e and there, some resting upon their
backs. To add to all this, oranges in con-
cision were strewn broadcast upon the
A storm in fad had visited the green-
room. The storm was Nell.
In the midst of the confusion, a jolly
old face peeped cautiously in at the door
which led to the street. At the sound of
Manager Hart's thunderous tones com-
ing from the stage, ho wever, it as promptly
disappeared, only to return when the ap-
"re and a rare old dresrand / ^fT
man. Yet nnt ^r, u ° ^ ''^''e old
was ed ; for he w f T '''^''- «'« ^^^
known a^dielbdred^r^'^'r^"
ale! Acrosci hJc k ■ . '^' — ^'overofgood
for wear, if /d£" an et'r'bS TT
the worse for wear *° ^^
«™ and looked ato„. thTL '''
claimed. "A wise hl^j "' ^^ ^^-
He proceeded forthwith to fill u-
Tl.i3 done! hettar/Se-ato'ir-T-
"ps. His face was one wreath of nnl
smiles. "There .'s h„^ unftuous
^iiere IS but one way to eat an
L 42 ]
hole." tnat s through a
At this moment, Hart's voice was heard
again upon the stage, and the n w-comer
ter Hart\ lore'jonesV' ^^ufht^M
The door opened, but it was not Nell
Her maid pomted toward the sta^e
itT^'-^ ^'""g^ ^^« ^^^ name or^at"
east none knew him by a better Z f
^ngly hobbled across Ih.To^L IT±
wars ,00 had left their markorhim
and^eepedoffinthedire«ionind.aTeI
. ^ad, he exclaimed, irleefullv r-i,„
P'ng his hands, "there hrgoe7on tfZ
stage as a Moorish princess.'^ " ''''
^Jhere was a storm of applause with-
" Bravo, Nelly, bravo!" he continued
She s caught the lads in the pit. They
L 43 J
Mistress Nell
worship Nell out t^h^i^iT^fhTddlbiw
"Oons! Jack Hart struts about like a
served. He broke into an infedtious laugh
Neiit,r;r^^^'^^"^«-^-'o^'
waS°t'?e^','"'"T\'^'^^y^ ^"'•"«=d to-
ward the place which he himself had
once occupied among the music ans He
began to dance up and down with both
feet his knees well bent, boy-fashion, and
to clap his hands wildly. " £ook ye little
Tompkins got my old place with^thefif
die Whack, de-doodle-de-do! Whack
de-doodle, de-doodle-de-do!" he cri'd
orchesfra! '"'"''°'' '^ '^^'^^'- °^'^^
his'^own f ^'^'"^.'^'^ J^"d, confident of
i I will taKe more than cat-
[ 44 J
Tommy, my boy." '
Thus Strings stood blandly sucking his
orange wuh personal satisfition in^hc
centre of the room, when Dick enteed
from the stage The call-boy paused as 'f
he could not believe his eyes. He looked
and looked again.
fC ^'^"'t-}''- " ^^ exclaimed at last, and
^aIZ^^^"^ '"^°^' '^^ ^o-" to greet the
old fiddler. « Why, Strings, I thfught we
rhyo"uT"^^^^^°"^^'"=^-'--^^
Strings placed the orange which he
had been eating and which he knew full
well was none of his own well behind
him: and, assuming an unconcerned and
serious air, he replied: "Odd! A httle the
worse for wear, Dickey, me and the old
hddle, but still smiling with the world "
There was a bit of a twinkle in his eye
as he spoke. ^
Dick, ever mindful of the welfare and
appearance of the theatre, unhooked from
the wall a huge shield, which mayhap
had served some favourite knight of yore
and, using it as a tray, proceeded to gather
tne scattered fruit. fe-'i'icr
S^Wn"^''^ u" °''.^"S^?" he inquired of
Strings who still stood in a refledhve
mood in the centre of the room, as he
•ested in h . labours by him
"?°^: '^o they belong to you?" de-
manded Strings. .r ■ uc
T?''^j"f,'" ^'^'"'"ed Dick, "but-"
. 1 he hddler instantly assumed an air of
injured innocence.
upon the boy almost ferociously at the
bare thought. "Honestyis the best pol!
cy he continued, seriously. "I have
tried both,lad"; and, in ins eagerness to
taking that which does not belong to
you he gestured inadvertently with the
hand which till now had held^the sto en
orange well behind him
Dick's eye fell upon it, and so did
Strings s. There was a moment's awk-
wardness, and then both burst into a peal
of joyous laughter. ^
[ 46 ]
,.,, , , o. -K'le patronage
still than apology. He seated himseV
upon the table and began anew to suck
his orange in philosophic fashion.
"But, mind you, lad; never again offer
that wnich is not your own, for there
you are twice cursed," he discoursed
pompously. "You make him who re-
ceives guilty of your larceny. Oons, my
old wound." He winced from pain. " He
becomes an accomplice in your crime
bo says the King's law. Hush, lad, I am
devouring the evidence of your guilt "
The boy by this ti.-ne had placed the
shield of oranges in the corner of the
room and had returned to listen to
btrings s discourse. "You speak with the
earning of a solicitor," he said, as he
looked respedtfully into the old fiddler's
face.
Strings met the glance with due dig-
nity. "
"Marry, I've often been in the pres-
ence of a judge," he replied, with great
solemnity. His face reflefted the ups and
r 47 1
downs in his w^cT^ThTii^^rT];
tession ^^°^ '''t con-
"Heaven forbid!" exdaim,.^ c;» •
note, my bov -, °^„ 'S^^'^'^y'"- Take
men are bom tr. r-, '""'■opner. bome
™d some h™f "f V™,' ""''"= '"«»
[48 J ^^-
'
as he l.fted the old v.ol clot against his'
cheek and tenderly picked it. Vhe old
hddle IS true to me yet, though there is
but one string left to i.; dear^old ne I "
There was a sob in his voice as he spoke,
i tell you, a hddle's human, Dick' I
aughs at my jokes alone now; it weeps
at my sorrows." He sighed d;eply an^d
the tears gl.stened in his eyes. "Kfid-
it.e'^'^^-'yfnendle/meandthe
htt e ones at home now, my lad."
-And Dick!" the boy suggested
somewhat hurt. He too wL wfeft^g'
Its a shame; that's what it isl" he
plTvth?i"''fr*'y-"'r°-P'^"'^'"n'
«^Oon,T'" ''^^ ^"^^ "^^'l to. Strings."
Oons! exclaimed the fiddler the
humour m his nature bubbling aga n to
he surface. " It 's only now and thTthe
Lord h. time to make a fiddler, Dickey!
As he spoke, the greenroom shook
w.th the rounds of appfause from the " t
and galleries without ^
"Hurrah!" he shouted, following
Dick to the staseld^ kl ■ —
-Ling MoJ:,tZ„7-^, TuLZZl
voice, ,«rfi„L,!;:w.t™:rs
'■'*"' I-' SWe^l well „«„S/
[ 5" J
_JJ;I^rryJ-ak of a Merry Time
Dick was m^ii^r^^^^in^rTT^^^
Vhe greenroom walls looked grim in
fa3rr;a"r^"^'^-''^^''^"-%Had
in JameNdl tT ''"' '''^' ^P^"^-^' ^"^
beautTfblTn^ T "^'^ ^"'"^hing sadly
oeautitul and pathei . n her farT- <iui
had enjoyed but now one ofr'IgranZ
triumphs known to the theatre I^T
t::TTrr ^^^^^^^^
t^ravas, to the lights and to the royalty
arms a bouquet of red roses. Her linl
v^rweieT"'"^"'^-"-^^-"^--
ever, were far away m a dream of the
"From the hand of the King of En?
land! ' she mused softly to hersflf "Th^;
King? How like his face to the youthful
cavalier who weary and worn reined in
his steed a summer's day, now lon^aeo
and took a gourd of wate} from m^lZ]
po^ohfl'd^et^agr-^'^^'"^-^^-^'
[5']
Mistress Nell
She turnecf^ay, as fr^i^Thii^^dT^
a heart-heavy laugh. The manager en-
tered from the stage.
. " See, Jack, my flowers," she said, again
in an ecstasy of happiness. "Are they not
exquisite.? ■'
"He took them from Castlemaine's
hand to throw to you," snarled Hart
jealously. '
. "The sweeter, then! " and Nell broke
into a tantalizing laugh. "Mayhap he
was teaching the player-king to do like-
wise. Jack," she added, roguishly, as she
arranged the flowers in a vase.
"I am in no mood for wit-thrusts,"
replied Hart as he fretfully paced the
[cTcTe" °" ^^'^"^ '^^' ^"^'"^ "^^ ^"
" In sooth your afting froze me," slyly
retorted Nell, kindly but pointedly. She
took the sweetest roses from the bunch
bosom ^""^ arranged them in her
This did not improve Hart's temper.
Strings seized the opportunity to es-
cape from his hiding-place to the stage
[ 52 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
"I say, you completely ruined my
work," said Hart. " The audience were
rightly displeased."
" With you, perhaps," suggested Nell.
" I did not observe the feeling."
Hart could no longer control himself.
"You vilely read those glorious lines :
"See^ how the gazing People crowd the Place;
A' I gaping to be fill' d with my Disgrace.
That Shout, like the hoarse Peals of Vultures
rings.
When, over fighting Fields they beat their
wings."
"And how should I read them, dear
master? " she asked demurely of her vain-
glorious preceptor.
"Like I read them, in sooth," replied
he, well convinced that his reading could
not be bettered.
"Like you read them, in sooth," re-
plied Nell, meekly. She took the floor
and repeated the lines with the precise
aftion and trick of voice which Hart had
used. Every "r" was well trilled; "gap-
ing" was pronounced with an anaconda-
[ SZ ]
Mistress Nell
1 IS monstrous!" exclaimf-rl tr .
buterly, as he realized the t avTst "v '
cannot act and never coulJlSa fool
to engage you " • ^ was a tool
'•".;" she U?etUS^^^^
notttt:..Ti;SHtf^"-^'«^"-
^c:andtu?:^;t:;::rv::".s
me so yourself," she add4" sharl
pojnnng her finger at her adve sarT fn
SpSnf '"""'°"- '""^ --'^ -y
H "J "^''k ' ^°°' ''''^ the rest," replied
get th''^ ''7T^ '^-' ^^ could not
get the -tter of the argument.
[ 54]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
'Come, don't be angry.
„ J, said Nell,
.er manner had changed; for her heart
had made her fearful lest her tongue had
been unkind. " Mayhap Almahyde is the
last part Nell will ever play." She looked
thoughtfully into the bunch of roses. Did
she see a prophecy there?
He approached the table where she
stood. "Your head is turned by the flow-
ers," he said, bitterly. "An honest mo-
tive, no doubt, prompted the royal gift."
Nell turned sharply upon him. Her
lips trembled, but one word only came
to them— "Jack!"
Hart's eyes fell under the rebuke; for
he knew that only anger prompted what
he had said. He would have struck an-
other for the same words.
"Pardon, Nell," he said, softly. "My
heart rebukes my tongue. I love you!"
Nell stepped back to the mirror, con-
templating herself, bedecked as she was
with the flowers. In an instant she forgot
all, and replied playfully to Hart's confes-
sion of love: "Of course, you do. How
could you help it.? So do others,"
[ 55 ]
-nd she tiptoed ac,^'^hern''''^'T^^ =
sconced herself hi JhTnTh I "" """^ """
^ Hart followed fndVneltbe'r"'."^-
adoring. ^" °^'"w her,
"Admit that I can aft— a l.fM. .
-ng candle-light. Her sceJZ ^^"-
whichth KinWS^^^^^
the"Su;?^r,httn t'??,^^ "^-
" I spoke in angrvou ' tt' '"''*'
vellous adressi the vTld nT'' '"''-
and genius crown your^orlc.^""^^' '''
Nell smiled at h,s vehemence." I begin
A Merry Talej fa Merry Time
|o think th^T^^^TwlI^^^li^^^T;^^
Jent, she said.
Hart sprang to her side, filled with
hope. As the stage-lover he ne'er spoke in
tenderer tones. "Sweet Nell, when I found
you m the p,t, a ragged orange-girl, I saw
he sparkle in your eye, the bright intel-
■gence, the magic genius, which artists
love. I claimed you for my art, which
s the art of arts -for it embraces all. I had
he theatre. I gave it you. You captured
the Lane- then London. You captured
my soul as well, and held it slave "
"Did I do all that, dear Jack?" she
asked, wistfully.
^ ''And more ■■ said Hart, rapturously.
You captured my years to come, my
hope, ambition, love-all. All centred
in your heart and eyes, sweet Nell, from
the hour I first beheld you."
Nell's look was far away. "Is love so
beautiful? she murmured softly. Her
eye tell upon her sceptre-rose. "Yea I
begm to think it is. She mused a m'o-
ment until the silence seemed to awaken
her. She looked into Hart's eyes again,
i S7 \
cttort You paint the pifture well dear
model»?'1»,"°u-P"'"' '" ^'fh ^"ch a
"WelU H''\'^"'"^""°^^'^°^-*-^•
troth, I have relented like you, dear Tack
I admit you too can adtiand marvel
lously well " She took his tremblinTw
and descended from the throne. He S
himaSr'""^-'^"-^--^^^^
" Is 't true? " he asked, eagerly, without
observing the hidden mefnin'g in he,
"Tis true, indeed— with proper em-
phasis and proper art and prof er^intont
lig her '^' '■°°'"' "^" f°" ^-
Nell Trn"/K''?^°''j°y'"'^^ breathed.
U.^Ai''-'^ ^,''^^ "P°" 'he table and
coked knowingly and ;eeply into Hart's
"In faith," she said, "I trow and sadly
[ 58 ] ^
asked he, jocosely/
"Darling!" she cried, repeating the
word, wuh a pecuhar look. "To ell two
girls w,th.n the hour you love each to the
death would be in me hypocrisy I admi^
bej^ond my art; but you men cin do sS
thmgs with conscience clear "
"le out, he thought.
. " Nell, I never loved the Spanish danc
•"fr^'J-'-Y^^knowIlovebutyou"
Oh, ho! laughed Nell. "Then whv
d;d^>:ou ten her so.._to break h^\t^
knel'whJtS^r'^""^"^^'^-"—
Ji ^'l"v '"^ '''■"^'' ^^^">"^^ pleaded, fret-
Uid lever say I did.?"
Hart shook his head sadly
" Come, don't pout, Jack. An armistice
r _ _ 1
L J)y j
_^ Mi stress Nell
n the old days when I needed one, and?
love you for that." She placed her hand
turn ^ ""f't --^g-'' shoulders, rTen
turned and began to arrange ane^ the
gift-flowers in the vase.
"I'll win your life's love Nell in
spue of you," L said, determined?! ' "
She turned her honest eyes upon him.
Nay do not try; believe me, do not
try, she said softly.
"Nell, you do not mean—?" His
voice faltered. ^
"You must not love me," she said
firm y; "believe me, you must not." '
i must not love you!" His voice
scarcely breathed the words.
"There, there; we are growing senti
mental, Jack,_and at ouf age "^she "'
pl'cd. She laughed gaily and^Ur ed for"
her tirmg-room.
He followed her.
"Sup with me, Nell," he pleaded.
Nowordofth.s, I promise you."
jack, she answered, cordially
[ 60 ]
j^MenjJTalc of a A^^^^^TW"
" My second bidllTTiljrT;— y;7T7^
thought. "Who sets the betterSt?"
the i;rr/"''"^7.''""'r ''"°'" "^^^ ^P'^".- and
he m t ""'^'^^.^-^^-J gleefully about
eem d r"^ '"'T"' ^"^ ^^^" ""dies
^em(d happy when Nell came near
The ma.d stood ready to assist her to a
gown^and wrap, that she might leave the
Nell turned. Hart still stood waiting
The sp.ru of kindness oer-masteredief:
Your hand, friend, your hand " she
said, taking the manager's hand. "When
next you try to win a woman's love
dont throw away her confidence- 7or
buke LST'^ ^" ^"-^^ " -'^^ 'he re-
buke; and she entered her room.
c H A p r i: R IV
Flowrn and Music f„d naught but Love.
1 HE manager stood a moment look-
ing through the half-closed door at Nell.
There was a strange mingling of contend-
ing forces at work in his nature. To be
sure, he had trifled with the affedions of
the Spanish dancing-girl, a new arrval
from Madrid and one of the latest attrac-
tions of the King's House; but it was his
pnde, when he discovered that Nell's
sharp eyes had found him out, that suf-
fered, not his conscience. Was he not the
fascinating aftor-manager of the House?
Could he prevent the ladies loving him.?
Must he be accused of not loving Nell
simply because his charms had edified the
shapely new-comer.? Nell's rebuke had
depressed him, but there was a smoul-
dering fire within. « 'Slife! " he muttered.
If 1 do not steal my way into Nell's
heart, I'll abandon the rouge-box and till
the soil." [ 62 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry rime
he
sr-
As he approached his tiring-roon
bethought him that it would be w-1
to have an oversight of the the?t.'
turned accordingly and pulled .. ■.
door that led to the stage.
As he did so, a figure fe, ./u-
greenroom, grasping devoted., u v,
lest his fall might injure it. Strin-s
been biding his time, waiting an or-,, .
tunity to see Nell, and had fallen asleep
behind the door.
"How now, dog!" exclaimed the
manager when he saw who the intruder
was.
Strings hastened to his feet and hob-
bled across the room.
" I told you not to set foot here again "
shouted Hart, following him virulently.
Strings bowed meekly. " I thought the
Kings House in need of a player- so I
came back, sir," said he.
Hart was instantly beside himself.
Zounds! he stormed. "I have had
enough impudence to contend with to-
night Begone; or up you go for a va-
grant.
[63 ]
"I called on Mi^tl^^^n^^T— ^Tt;-— •
plained Strings. ^ ' ' '^^"
"Mistress Gwvn dnfc „„.
drunlcirH. " fi ? "°' receive
the fiddler oVt''°^'"""'°P"'
Nell's door was still ajar. She had r^
-oved the roses from he! hair a„d dress"
She caught at once her rame La f
vain?" she called H .""^ "'""« ^n
through the^peting'^reft tlheT^'
andshescannedthefoorn ^'^''^°°'-'
who h?7 7' ^'1' "P°" '^^^ o'd fiddler
from he Ih? sfeTush^'d' "^ "'i^^^ "'"'^
c. lips, sne rushed into the trreen
oo.na„d^.h.e botharn^sabontSt^;"^^^
r-ck. My old comrade, as I live " shr
cned, dancng about him. "I am joved
to see you, Strings!" ^ =1'" joyed
t^I^'Z'lta^^ '"^ '^^ "-'^"ager eyin.
t..em w.th hery glances. She knew^lht
[ 64 ]
____£Merry Tale of a M^ Tme
good to have Strings back?" she asked
sweetly. '
Hart's face grew livid with anger. He
could see the merry devil dancin|in her
eye and on her tongue. He knew the hoy-
den wen. "Gad, I will resign manage-
ment. Heturnedonhisheelfenter Jhis
tmng-room and closed the door, no..e too
gently. He feared to tarry longer, lest he
might say too much.
Nell broke into a merry laugh- and
the hddler chuckled. ^ ^ '
"You desert me these days. Strings,"
he sa.d as she leaned against the table
and fondly eyed the wayfarer of the tat-
tered garments and convivial spirits
lul'; ''°"i 'r.f y°"' lackey-in-waiting.
Mistress Nell," said he, with a wink h,
the diredt.on of the departed manager.
Poor Jack. Never mind him," she
said with a roguish laugh, though with
no touch of mahce in it, for there was
devil without malice in Nell's soui
i^AA^' '''u '^';-'" '°"^'''' '^^ ^V'^s of the
hddler, her face grew thoughtful. She
I 6^ 1
Mistress Ne/l
spoke-hes.tated-and then spok^^^
as .f the thought gave her pain. "Have
you kept your word to me. Strings and
word fell fa.ntly, tremblin^lv, from her
lips— almost maudibly '
Nell's arm was lovingly about him in
an. nstant. "There, therV don't tell me"
often. There v, as a delicacy in her voice
acting The words had hurt her more
than h,m. She changed her manner San
Not ,0 with Strings. The tears were
in his eyes. "Mistress Nell, you are so
good^tome,''hesa.d;«andlLsuch:
^J^So^you are. Strings," and she laughed
wh'l^ ^■''' u'"^^ '"y ''"'^ °"^« at home
who ,t,s th.it keeps the wolf from our
aoor, he continued.
" Not a word of that ! " she exclaimed
[ 66 j
A Merry rale of a Merry Time
eyes grew big and bright as she reflefted
oi; the days she had visited the fiddler's
home and on the happiness her gifts had
brought nis children. For her, giving was
better than receiving. The feeling sprang
from the lulness of her own joy at see-
ing those about her happy, and not from
the teachmgs of priests or prelates. Dame
Nature was her sole preceptor in this.
1 II bring the babes another sugar
plum to-morrow. I haven't a farthing
to-mght. Moll ran away with the earn-
ings, and there is no one left to rob " she
said. '
"Heyday," and she ran lightly to the
vase and caught up the flowers. " Take the
flowers to the bright eyes, to make them
brighter. They would at least add cheer-
fulness to the room where Strings lived
until she could bring something better
As she looked at the roses, she began to
realize how dear they were becoming to
herself, tor they were the King's gift; and
her heart beat quickly and she touched
the great red petals lovingly with her lips
[ 67 ]
Mistress Nell
and 't" t '^'^^'^^^^^^^^^^^^'^r^-,
'"' °S=.™» iMinS "h^ rosM fall. '
not handsome Strinac?" „ """• ^^ "
3'^r»?i?— -"^^^^^^
The fiddler's face, however, was grave-
his eyes were on the floor ^'S"^^^^-
othe^^sur';!:"^ Jr' ""f "'^^ ^^^^' "^''^
HavetHe^,-^ng,-^heTaST'wiro7r
joinder, then broke into a ringing lauS
She turned, only again to observe the
[ 68 J
A Merry Ta lcjf a Merry Time
sad countenance of Strings. "Alack-a-
day ! Why do you not take the nosegay? "
she asked, wonderingly; for she herself
was so very happy that she could not see
why Strings too should not be so.
"It will not feed my little ones, Mis-
tress Nell," he answered, sadly.
Nell's heart was touched in an instant.
"Too true!" she said, sympathetically,
falling on her knee and lovingly gathering
up the roses. "Flowers and Music feed
naught but Love, and often then Love
goes hungry — very hungry." Her voice
was so sweet and tender that it seemed as
though the old viol had cau^^ht the notes.
"Last night. Mistress Nell," said
Strings, "the old fiddle played its sweet-
est melody for them, but they cried as if
their tiny hearts would break. They were
starving, and I had nothing but music
for them."
" Starving! " Nell listened to the word
as though at first she did not realize its
meaning. " What can I send.? " she cried,
looking about in vain and into her tiring-
room.
[ 69 j
Mistress Ne/i
jewel upon her finger. "No no- I cTn
not th,nk of thacfhe though"' ""
Then the word "starving" came back
o her again with all its f^rce. "Starv-
norrors. Starving" seemed written on
every wall and on the ceiling. It pierced
her heart and brain. "Yes/l win "she
exclaimed wildly. "Here String;, oW
Srjh^'n'"""^'"'^^^^''---
Stnngsstoodaghast. "No. Mistress
p^ied^^"""'-^°"™"<'he
trom generously laughed Nell
you must not; you are too kind " hi
continued, firmly. '
.K^f^^^^' '^^°^- ^ '"'-'''" said Nell as
she forced the jewel upon him. "It wil
rdo'nT"^"°"''^^"'=-^' bes.de
1^ do not want my jewels to outshine
. Strings would have followed her and
insisted upon her takmg back the beau-
[ 70 ]
^J^erryJTalc of a Merry rime
''^"' g'^'' b"t Nell was gonTnr;:?!^,^
and her door closed.
"To cut their teeth on!" he repeated
as he placed the jewelled ring wonder-
."gly upon his bow-Hnger and watched it
sparkle and laugh in the light as he pre-
tended to play a tune. " She is always jok-
ing like that; Heaven reward her"'
He stood lost in the realization of sud-
den affluence.
Buckingham entered the room from
the stage-door. His eves were full of ex-
citement. "The audience .re wild over
Ne 1, simply wild," he exclaimed in his
enthusiasm, unconscious of the faft that
he had an auditor, who was equally ob-
livious of his lordship's presence. "Gad "
he continued, rapturously, half aloud,
half to himself, "when they are stum-
bling home through London fog, the
great comedienne will be playing o'er the
love-scenes with Buckingham in a cosv
corner ot an inn. She will not dare deny
my bid to supper, with all her impudence
Unpet,t souperr He broke into a laugh.'
Tis well Old Rowiey was too en-
[ 7' 1
gaged to imijr7w^i;^ri^^:i, v r—
tiioiigiu. " H,\ m\ ^ ^^^^y ^ eyes," he
the wench at^^^^^'T ■^'^^' "^■^'■^ '"'^et
help it." ' '""^ 'e"gth, an ] can
He observed or rafh^r k
for the first time th .t .h '"""" '^="-e
occupant ofthe room '"" ^"''^'^-
forn, Mistress N 1 B;,ki'"r""-"' "'"-
ing." ' ^"'•'^'ngham is wait-
Strings looked up. He seemeH . u
grown a foot m "^ ^"^emed to have
sudden wealth "^„r''"'^''^''°" °^ ^.s
tatter onSackseeSt'^'P"''^"'-
an independent air ' ''aveassumed
-^'&:;-^;tel;^r^-^=
the dress oi Buck^nth r ""^ '^'^^'"e
Buckingham ga^ed '^ K' •
'shment, foll„vveH K '" '" aston-
[ 7J ]
Bucicngham could well observe ft
. "'^ Jordship started. "Thp K-Jn^-
thed.pIomat in h.s nature restrained him.
A fine stone!" he said merely. "How
came you by it?" ^ ^
"Nell gave it to me," Strings answered
Buckmgham nearly revealed himself in
h.s astomshment. <'I^ell!" he mu^S ed
ff h.-^lf" ^^r ""'^'^ -' ^^ wondered
«Damm;^.T^ l^^ out-generalled him
Uamme he observed aloud, inspeftin?
thenng^closely.«Ihavetake;a£?;tf
".f ° ^3ve I," ejaculated Strings as h^
" I ;il give you fifty guineas for it " said
Sfr;„ ^^^^^ 3 good bargain is wont.
Stnngs stood nonplussed. " Fifty guin:
eas! he excla.med, aghast. This was
more money than the fiddler had el
£n|ir"'^-''^-^"^-^^-d,w:;:
Now, replied his lordship, who pro-
ceeded at once to produce the glittering'
coins and toss them temptingly before the
nddler s eyes.
"Oons, Nell surely meant me to sell
"'j cf'i!^'^ ^^ ^*^ ^*g"'y ^<=i=^<='l t'i<= gold
and ted his eyes upon it. "Odsbud, I al-
ways did love yellow." He tossed some of
the coins in the air and caught them with
tnc dexterity of a juggler.
Buckingham grew impatient. He de-
sired a delivery. "Give mc the ring," he
demanded . °
Strings looked once more at the "litter-
ing gold; and visins of the plenty'Which
it insured to his little home, to say nothing
of a flagon or twc- of good brown ale which
could be had by himself and his boon com-
rades without disparagement to the din-
ners of the little ones, came before him If
he had ever possessed moral courage it
was gone upon the insra.it. "Done '"'he
exclaimed. " Oons, f ;,y guineas! " and he
handed the ring to Buckingham.
The fiddler was still absorbed in his
possessions, whispering again and again
[ 74 J
to the round~bkr^'^~" M7ri^e
hnght-eycs will not go to bed hungry
proudly from h,s t.rmg-room, dressed to
leave the theatre.
liuckingharn no-ided significantly.
Not a word of this," he said, indi-
cating the ruig, which he had quickly
transferred to his own finger, turning the
jewel so that .t could not be observed.
Sdeath you still here?" said Hart
sharply, as his eyes fell upon the fiddler'
^tnngs straightened up and puffed
with the pomposity and pride of a landed
proprietor. He shook his newly acquired
possessions until the clinking of the eold
was plainly audible to the mai.iger
"Still here. Master Hart, negotiating.
When you are pressed for coin, call on
me. Master Hart. I run the Exchequer "
he said patronizingly. It was humorous
to see his air ot sweeping condescension
toward the tall and dignified manager of
rhead^''"'^ ^'^o easily overtopped him by
"Gold!" exclaimed Hart, as he ob-
[ 75 ]
MlCHOCOfy RESOIUTION TEST CHAUT
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
fIB Ilia
2.2
_^ y^PPUBd IIVMGE
^— ^ 165J East Main Strset
S'-S Rc-thester. Mem York 1*609 US,
■— ("^'6) 482 - 0300 - Phone
^= (:'I6) 288 - 59B9 - Ca.
Mistress Ne/l
served the glitter of the guineas in thecin-
dle-light. His eyes turned quickly and sus-
piciously upon the lordly Buckingham.
There was nothing, however, in his
lordship's face to indicate that he was
aware even of the existence of the fiddler
or of his gold. He sat by the table, leaning
carelessly upon it, his face filled with an
expression of supreme satisfaftion. He had
the attitude of one who was waiting for
somebody or something and confidently
expedled not to be disappointed.
"Sup with me. Hart," continued
Strings, with the air of a boon com-
rade. "Sup with me— venison, capons,
and — Epsom water."
" Thank you, I am engaged to supper,"
replied Hart, contemptuously, brushing
his cloak where it had been touched by
the fiddler, as if his fingers had contami-
nated it.
The insult clearly observable in the
manager's tone, however, had no efFeft
whateverupon Strings. Hetossed his head
proudlyand said indifferently: "Oh, very
well. Strings will sup with Strings. My
[ 76]
JJ^_^^^^jJa!l^LfJ^''^ry Time
coach, mT^^^^dU^^Ti^Tj^^T^T—
bonnie babes!" ^
. He pushed open the door with a lordly
a.r and passed out; and, for some seconds'
t^^'T^^ '"'"gl"'g of repeated de-
mands for the coach and a strain of music
which sounded like "Away dull care •
prythee a\. -ly from me."
Buckingham had observed the fiddler's
tilt with the manager and the royal exit
of the ragged fellow with much amuse-
ment. A merry wag! Who is that? " he
asked, as Stnngs's voice grew faint in the
entry-way.
Hart was strutting aftor-fashion before
the mirror, arranging his curls to hang
gracefully over his forehead and tilting
now and again the big plumed hat. "A
knave of fortune, it seems," he answered
coolly and still suspiciously
ferlmK'^^' " ^'^'^ ^"^kingham, indif-
" Twins I warrant," replied Hart, in
an irritated tone.
Buckingham chuckled softly
"No wonder he's tattered and gray,"
[ 77 ]
Mistress Ne/l
he declared, humorously philosophizing
upon Hart's reply, though it was evident
that Hart himself was too much chafed
by the presence of his lordship in the
greenroom after the play to know what
he really had said.
An ominous coolness now pervaded
the atmosphere. Buckingham sat by the
table, impatiently tapping the floor with
his boot, his eyes growing dark at the
delay. Hart still plumed himself before
the mirror. His dress was rich; his sword
was well balanced, a Damascus blade; his
cloak hung gracefully; his big black hat
and plumes were jaunty. He had, too,
vigour in his step. With it all, however,
he was a social outcast, and he felt it,
while his companion, whose faults of na-
ture were none the less glaring than his
own, was almost the equal of a king.
There was a tap at Nell's door. It was
the call-boy, who had slipped unobserved
into the room.
"What is it, Dick?" asked Nell,
sweetly, as she opened the door slightly
to inspefl: her visitor.
[78 ]
A Merry Tate of a Merry Time
" A message, — very important," vvhis-
pered Dick, softly, as he passed a note
within.
"Thank you," replied the adress; and
t.ie door closed again.
Dick was about to depart, when the
alert Buckingham, rising hastily from his
seat, called him.
"That was Nell's voice.?" he asked.
"Yes, my lord. She's dressing," an-
swered Dick. "Good night. Master
Hart," he added, as he saw the man-
ager.
Hart, however, was not in a good hu-
mour and turned sharply upon him. Dick
vanished.
" She will be out shortly, my lord," the
manager observed to Buckingham, some-
what coldly. "But it will do you little
good," he though % as he reflected upon
his conversation with Nell.
Buckingham leaned lazily over the
back of a chair and replied confidently,
knowing that his speech would be no
balm to the irate manager: "Nell always
keeps her engagements religiously with
[79 ]
Mistress Nell
me. We are to supl^^^^d^^rT;;—^;^
"Odso!" retorted the other, drawitur
himself up to his full height. "You will
be disappointed, methinks."
"I tro-.v not," Buckingham observed,
with a smile which made Hart wince,
lepyss wife has him mewed up at
home when Nelly plays, and the King
IS tied to other apron-strings." \\\% lord-
ship chuckled as he bethought him how
cleverly he had managed that his Majesty
be under the proper influence. "What
danger else.?" he inquired, cuttingly.
Though the words were mild, the feel-
ings of the two men were at white-heat.
Your lordship's hours are too valu-
able to waste," politely suggested the
manager. "I happen to know Mistress
<^wyn sups with another to-night "
"Another.?" sneered his lordship
;^ Another !" hotly repeated the ador.
We shall see, friend Hart," said
Buck.nghanri, in a tone no less agreeable,
with difficulty restraining his fef-l.ngs
He threw himself impatiently into a
[ 80]
'l^^'J^ '^"/'' "f " Mrrry Time
big arm-chair, whicTriie l.aTTwilnf;
around angrily, so that its hack was to
the manager.
The insult was more than ilart could
bear. Healso seized achair,and vented his
vengeance upon it. Almost hurled from
Its place, it fell back to back with Buck-
ingham's.
"We shall see, my lord," he said as he
likewise angrily took his seat and folded
his arms.
It was like "The Schism" of Vibert
It IS difficult to tell what would have
been the result, had the place been dif-
ferent. Each knew that Nell was just be-
yond her door; each hesitated; and each
with bitterness in his heart, held on to
himself They sat like sphinxes.
Suddenly, Nell's door slightly opened,
bhe was dressed to leave the theatre. In
her hand she held a note.
"A fair message, on my honour ' Worth
reading twice or even thrice," she rogu-
ishly exclaimed unto her maid as she
direfted her to hold a candle nearer
that she might once again spell out its
[ 8r ]
Mislirss i\',-//
wdiils. '"'I'd luii^laiid's idol, the divine
IvIcMiior Cvvyii.' A li,.ly apt lK-j;iiiiiiiij,',
l>y the mass! 'My coach awaits you at
the stat,'e-d()or. VVc will toast you to-
night at Whiteliail.""
Nell's eyes seemed to drink in the
words, and it was her heart whicii said:
" Lony; live his Majesty."
She took the King's roses in her arms;
the Duke's nises, she tossed upon the Hoor.
The manager awoke as from a trance.
"You will not believe me," he said to
Buckingham, confidently. "Here comes
the arbiter of your woes, my lord." He
arose ijuickly.
"It will not be hard, methinks, sir, to
decide between a coronet and a player's
tinsel crown," observed his princely rival,
with a sneer, as he too arose anti assumed
an attitude of waiting.
" Haveacare,mylord. Imayforget — "
Hart's ringers jilayed upon his sword-hilt.
" Your occupation, sir.? " jeered Buck-
ingliam.
".Aye; my former occupation of a sol-
dier"; and flart's sword sprang from its
[ 82 ]
A Merry 'Talc nf <i Mrrry Turn-
si'ahhiird, with a dcxtciity that jtrnviii
that he liad not torguttcn tlic trick (iFwar.
Huckiiighain too woiihl have drawn,
hut a merry voice stayed hini.
" Hovv- now, gentlemen?" sprang; trotii
Nell's rosy lips, as she came hetween
tliem, a [lic'ture ol 'oguish heaiity.
Hart's pose in an instant was tliat of
apology. "Pardon, Nell," he exclaimed,
lifting his hat and bowing in courtly
fashion. "A small d!irerence of opinion;
naught else."
"Between friends," replietl Nell, re-
provingly.
" By the Gods," cried Buckingham, —
and his hat too was in the air and his
knee too was bent l)efore the theatre-
queen, — "the rewards are worth more
than word-combats."
" Pshaw ! " said Nell, as she hugged the
King's roses tighter in her arms. "True
Englishmen fight shoulder to shoulder,
not face to face."
"In this case," replied his lordship,
with the air of a conqueror, "the booty
cannot be amicably distributed."
[ 83 ]
Mistress Ne//
" Oh ho! "cTi^d Ndf- Hra7eg,-:;:^,-
quarrclhng over the spoils. Pooh ' There
IS no g,rl worth fighting for-that is, not
over one ! B uck.nghani ! Jack ! For shame '
»i^u''T-^"' kindles this hot blood?"
The fairest maid in Kngland," said
Hart, with all the earnestness of convic-
tion, and with all the courtesy of the
theatre, which teaches courtesy
"The dearest girl in all this world,"
said Buckingham as quickly; for he too
must bow if he would win
" How stupid !" lisped Neil, with a look
ot baby-innocence. "You must mean me!
Who else could answer the description?
A quarrel over poor me! This is delicious'.
1 Ipve a fight. Out with your swords and
to t like men! To the viftor! Come
name the quarrel." '
"Th^ player-" began his lordship,
hotly. He caught the quick gleam in
xMells eyes and hesitated. "I mean " he
substituted, apologetically, " Mai .er Hart
— labours under the misapprehension that
you sup with him to-night."
"Nell," asserted the manager, defen-
[ ^4]
A Merry -Tulc of a Merry Titre
sively, "it is his lordship who suffers
from the delusion that the first ai^tress
ot England sups with him to-night."
"My arm and coach are yours, ma-
dame," pleaded his lordship, as he gal-
lantly offered an arm.
" Pardon, my lord ; Nell, my arm ! " said
Hart.
" Heyday ! " cried the witch, bewitch-
ingly. ^' Was ever maid so nobly squired?
This is an embarrassment of" riches."
She looked longingly at the two attend-
ing gallants. Tiiere was something in her
voice that might be mockery or that
might be love. Only the devil in her
eyes could tell.
"Gentlemen, you tear my heart-
strings," she continued. "How can I
choose between such loves? To-n-j '-f I
sup at Whitehall ! " and she darted quickly
toward the door.
"Whitehall!" the rivals cried, aghast.
"Aye, Whitehall _w>// ///t- King!"
There was a wild, hilarious laugh, and
she was gone.
Buckingham and Ha.t stood lookine
[85]
Mistress Ne/i
into each other's flicc. They heard the
sound ot coach-wheels rapidly departinir
in the street. **
<^
C 11 A 1* r K \< V
II WHS nruer itfiiMjn In tiecii a King's kiss
J\ YEAR and more had flown.
It was one of those glorious moon-lit
nights in the early fall when there is a
crispness in the air which lends an edge
to life.
St. James's Park was particularly beau-
tiful. The giant oaks with their hundreds
ot years of story written in their rings
lifted high their spreading branches, laden
with leaves, which shimmered in the
light. The historic old park seemed to be
made up of patches of day and night. In
the open, one might read in the mellow
glow of the harvest-moon; in the shade of
one of its oaks, a thief might safely hide.
Facing on the park, there stood a house
of Elizabethan architecture. .Along its
wrinkled, ivy-mantled wall ran a terrace-
like balustrade, where one might walk and
enjoy the night without fear.
r 87 1
Mistress Nell
The house was well defined by the rays
of the moon, v/hich seemed to dance upon
it in a halo of mirth; and from the park,
below the terrace, came the soft notes of
a violin, tenderly picked.
None other than Strings was sitting
astride of a low branch of an oak, look-
ing up at a window, hke some guardian
spirit from the devil-land, singing in his
quaintly unctuous way:
" Four and twenty fiddlers all in c row.
And there was fiddle-fiddle, and twice fiddle-
fiddle."
" How 's that for a serenade to Mistress
Nell?" he asked himself as he secured a
firm footing on the ground and slung his
fiddle over his back. " She don't know it 's
for her, but the old viol and old Strings
ktiow." He came to a stand-still and
winced. "Oons, my old wound again,"
he said, with a sharp cry, followed as
quickly by a laugh. His eyes still wan-
dered along the balustrade, as eagerly as
some young Romeo at the balcony of his
Juliet. " I wish she 'd walk her terrace to-
[ 88 ]
A Merry Tak of a Merry Time
night," he sighed, " whli7^\^^'^^;nrsle
her— the lovely lady!"
His rhapsody was suddenly broken in
upon by the approach of some one down
the path. He glided into the shadow of
an oak and none too quickly.
From the obscurity of the trees, into
the pen, a chair was swiftly borne, by
the side of which ran a pretty page of
tender years, yet well schooled in courtly
wisdom. The lovely occupant leaned for-
ward and motioned to the chairmen, who
obediently rested and assisted her toalight.
"Retire beneath the shadow of the
trees," she whispered. "Have a care; no
noise."
The chairmen withdrew quietly, but
within convenient distance, to await her
bidding.
Strings's heart quite stopped beating.
"The Duchess of Portsmouth at Mistress
Nell's!" he said, almost aloud in his ex-
citenient. "Then the devil must be to
pay ! " and he slipped well behind the oak-
trunk again.
Portsmouth 'seyes snapped withFrench
r 8n 1
Mistress Nell
fire as she glanced up at Nell's terrace.
Then she turned to the page by her side.
"His Majesty came this path before?"
she asked, with quick, French accent.
" Yes, your grace," replied the page.
"And up this trellis?"
"Yes, your grace."
"Again to-night?"
"I cannot tell, your grace," replied
the lad. "I followed as you bade me; but
the King's legs were so long, you see, I
lost him."
Portsmouth smiled. "Softly, pretty
one," she said. " Watch if he comes and
warn me; for we may have passed him."
The lad ran gaily down the path to
perform her bidding.
" State-business! " she muttered, as she
reflected bitterly upon the King's late
excuses to her. '' Mon Dieu, does he think
me a country wench? I was schooled at
Louis's court." Her eyes searched the
house from various points of advantage.
"A light!" she exclaimed, as a candle
burned brightly from a window, like a
spark of gold set in the silver of the night
[ 90]
A Merry Tale of a Merry rime
"Would I had an invisible cloak." She
tiptoed about a corner of the wall —
woman-like to see if she could see, not
Nell, but Charles.
Scarcely had she disappeared when a
second figure started up in the moonlight,
and a gallant figure, too. It was the Duke
of Buckingham. "Not a mouse stirring,"
he reflefted, glancing at the terrace. "Fair
mmx, you will not long refuse Buckine-
ham s overtures. Come, Nelly, thy King
IS already half stolen away by Portsmouth
of France, and Portsmouth of France is
our dear ally in the great cause and shall
be more so.
To his astonishment, as he drew nearer
he observed a lady, richly dressed, gliding
u^!". ^™'^^^ ^"'l 'he terrace. He
rubbed h.s eyes to see that he was not
dreammg. She was there, however, and
a pretty armful, too.
"Nell," he chuckled, as he stole up
behmd her. ^
Portsmouth meanwhile had learned
that the wmdow was too high to allow
her to gam a view within the dwelling.
L yi j
Mistress Ne//
She started— observing, more by intui-
tion than by sight, that she was watched
— and drew her veil closely about her
handsome features.
"Nelly, Nelly," laughed Buckingham,
"I have thee, wench. Come, a kiss! — a
kiss! Nay, love; it was never treason to
steal a King's kisses."
He seized her by the arm and was about
to kiss her when she turned and threw
back her veil.
"Buckingham!" she said, suavely.
"Portsmouth!" he exclaimed, awe-
struck.
He gathered himself together, how-
ever, in an instant, and added, as if noth-
ing in the world had happened: "An
unexpefted pleasure, your grace."
"Yes," said she, with a pretty shrug.
"I did not know I was so honoured, my
lord."
"Or you would not have refused the
little kiss.? " he asked, suggestively.
"You called me 'Nelly,' my lord. I
do not respond to that name."
" Damme, i was never good at names
[ 92 1
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
Louise," said he, with mocl^^^i^d^r7
"especially by moonlight."
"Buz, buz!" she answered, with a
knowing gesture and a knowing look.
Then, pointing toward the terrace she
added: "A pretty nest! A pretty 'bird
within, I warrant. Her name.?"
" Ignorance well feigned," he thought
He replied, however, most graciously :
"NellGwyn." ^
"Oh, ho! The King's favourite, who
has more power, they say, than great
statesmen — liiie my lord."
Her speech was well defined to draw
out his lordship; but he was wary.
" Unless my lord is guided by my lady
as formerly," he replied, diplomatically.'
A look of suspicion crept into Ports-
mouth's face: but it was not visible for
want of contrast; for all things have a per-
verted look by the light of the moon.
She had known Buckingham well at
Dover. Their interests there had been
one in securing privileges from England
for her French King. Both had been well
rewarded too for their pains. There were
L 93 ]
Mistress Nell
no proofs, however,of this; and where his
lordship stood to-day, and which cause
he would espouse, she did not know. His
eyes at Dover had fallen fondly upon her
but men's eyes fall fondly upon many wo-
men and she would not trust too much
until she knew more.
"My chairmen have set me down at
the wrong door-step," she said, most
sweetly "My lord longs for his kiss. Au
revotr!
She bowed and turned to depart
Buckmgham was alert in an instant.
He knew not when the opportunity
might come again to deal so happily
with Louis s emissary and the place and
time of meeting had its advantages.
"Prythee stay. Duchess. I left the
merry hunters, returning from Houns-
ow Heath, all in Portsmouth's interest "
he said. " Is this to be my thanks.? "
She approached him earnestly "Mv
lord must explain. I am stupid in fitting
English fads to English words."
"Have you forgotten Dover?" he
asked, intensely, but subdued in voice
[ 94 ]
AMerry Tale of a Merry rime
^\t^^^^^-'-^he Duchess of oS
— the Grand Monarch?"
"Hush!" exclaimed Portsmouth
clutching h.s arm and looking cau-
tiously about. °
"If my services to you there were
known, he contmued, excitedly, "and to
he great cause-the first step' in mak-
ing England pensioner of France and
Holland the vassal of Louis_my head
wou^^j^ythepenalty.Canyouno'ttri^
"You are on strange ground to-night "
suggested Portsmouth, tossing her head
■mpatiently to indicate the terrace, as she
tned to fathom the real man
wavVn'!^"^^' '^^ ^'"^' '"'■g'^^ P^^« this
way and came to see," hastily explained
his lordsh.p, observing that she was re-
fleamgupontheincongruityofhisfriend-
Swyn°' ' ' ^'' ""'''' '° ^^^^"'^
noi'.'^"'^ '^^u '^'^- " '^^ ^'^^^^ dubiously,
not seemg the connection. ^
"I have a plan to make his visits less
r _ , T
L y5 J
^ M/sftrss Nr// ~
■'■I'c .mn was iKroniing master. l\,
;;;";j;>--l 1--, an., she was .,.,i„„„.,
nZh^^r ''"■ ?"'' '" ^' ^^'='V wl.icl.
;;;;, ''■'•" ''^'^■"■"S' ^-nl intculy listening
"I have," she rephed as quickly an.)
;heglonedi„the{houghtLtsly„\e
Icast^were as tauhful as Louis', court af-
. "They must watch Nell's terrace here
n.gluandciay''healnuMco„.„ande.''
n nd,K.,KH.rShe„uyf-orgetherr!;yal
over. and_well-_we shall have wit-
nesses ,n wau.ng ^Ve owe this kindness
— to Ills JVLijesty.
. ''""■^■"'H.th shrugged her shoulders
.mrat.ently."M..; />;.,,/'- she said."My
servants have watched, my lord, already.
Th. despatches would have been signed
[96]
■m.l Louis's army „n the ,narch against
il'c Dutch but for this vulgar player-girl
whom I have never seen. The Kin.' for-
gets all else." ''
'f'he beautiful Duchess was muued, i.i-
clml, that the Knglish King shoul.ibe so
swayed. She felt that it was a personal dis-
grace—an insidt to her t barms and to ber
culture. She felt that the court knew it
and laughed, and she feared that Louis
soon would know. Nell (;wyn! ilow she
bated her_scarce less than she loved
Louis and her France.
"Be ofg,K)d cheer," suggested Huck-
[ngham, soothingly ; and be balfe.nbraced
her. " My messenger shall await y(;ur si"-
nal, to carry the news to Louis and h.s
army.
"There is no news," replied she, and
turned upon him bitterly. "Charlesevades
me. Promise after promise to sup with
me broken. 1 expected him to-night My
spies warned me he would not come; that
he IS hereabouts again. I followed m'yself
to see. I have the papers with me always
It 1 can but see the King alone, it will
r 07 1
Mistress Nell
nor take long t„ dethrone this up-sta«
<""cn; w.nc sweet words- Kn. land's
I'herc was a confident smile on her l.ps
whtl,TTl"r'"''^-'-''--naip:/r
which had led Lo„is XIV on-rinrr.
-trust a great mission to hin "u J'
cned'^"C\"'-'^'-'">'^ f^'-'^P^^^J'" ^he
t-nea B„t Louis is impatient to strike
^he blow for Empire inhampered by
Bnt.h^ympathy for the Dutch, and th^
"A fortnight ofF," interrupted Buck-
ingham, with a smile
niJht-'^sir/"'''''"^'."'^""'^ ^'^g""- to-
nr^ I fe continued, irritably. She ao
from rh ^°"^'-^'"^s "Pon me to win
from Charles his consent to the w,>h
Jand. This will msure the fall of Luxem-
[ 98 J
A M erry T 'lk of a Merry Time
boiirg — the key to oiir sutccssrYoii~sl?c"
Huckrngham, I m..:,t not fail. Ivn.rland's
(lehasemeiit shall he won."
There was a whistle down the path.
"Some one comes!" she exclaimed.
"My chair!"
The page, who had given the sii'/ial
came running to her. Her chairmen too'
were prompt.
"Join me," she whispered to Bucking-
ham, as he assisted her to her seat within.
"Later, Louise, later," he replied "I
must hack to the neighbouring inn, before
the huntsmen miss me."
Portsmouth waved to the chairmen,
who moved silently away among the'
trees.
Buckingham stood looking after them
laughing. '
"King Charles, a French girl from
Louis's court will give me the keys to
England's heart and her best honours," he
muttered.
He glanced once again quickly at the
windows of the house, and then, with
altered purpose, swaggered away down a
r 00 1
Mistress Nr//
side p;u.h^^^v^vvcl^,,lc^.7oi ^[jn;,-;
f'-'UKl'ts, well pleased wid, l„s chance
well plcMseci with I.Mnself. I lis |,rai„ wove
j'-ui wove moonbeam webs of intri.ue as
Ik- passed through the light and sltuiow
he night wherein he would lend a
iH-p.ng hand to France and secure gold
and power for his pains. I le had no qualms
J'f conscience; for must not his estates be
Kept, hisd.gnitymaintamed? His purpose
wascear^I,c.„uKibnngPortL!uth
and the k,ng Closer together: and what
fof'FnJ;'^'',^'r""'''''^'^''"-^"'^''here-
Z; ^'"^'^"''•/"^ ^''^ ""t he himself a
pai t of England, and a great part?
1 hen too he must and would have Nell.
C H A 1' r E R VI
Safily on tiptor;
Utr, Nill doth lie.
/vS often happens in life, when one
suitor ueparts, another suitor knocks;
and so it happened on this glorious night.
The belated suitor was none other than
Charles, the Stuart Kini^. He seemed in
the moonlight the pidture of royalty, of
romance, of dignity, of carelessness, of in-
difference — the royal vagabond of wit,
of humour and of love. A well-thumbed
"Hudibras" bulged from his pocket. He
was alone, save for some pretty spaniels
that played about him. He heeded them
not. His thoughts were of Nell.
" Methought I heard voices tuned to
love," he mused, as he glinced about.
" Wiiat knave has spied out the secret
of her bower.? Ho, R,)samond, my Rosa-
mond! Why came I here again to-night.?
What is there in this girl, this Nellf And
cottage where we resffn H K^^ '^^
really to love_T q'f '^^ ,"^"^ ^ ^^ved
enteL„^enro/'thT"\fS^ ^^ '''
keart-siri„»stornhv,k' '~^ ""« "y
His refleaSSs ™S""l'Pl«yer? '
Jand. "Odds m..rr\ ^ ^^ '" ^ fairv-
as well th?i JhT/'f ' "r °"" ^- -e
and frolics jj^\t Tv'' '^^^'^"^^^
evening hyNdl\°.7 "^^' ''"^^^er
enn-ancedbythehunS^Lt"^"^^"'^
King:iK„s;^~^^
in an angle of the ^v.li ^ '"'' ^^^e trelljs,
-"ggrfwricheT,s'"e1o7'^^^
"'ght, but it struck ! H;? i^-°"' "= f'^'^
Hewasthink,n7o/aprof"^
"Ceasp fk ^ .. f^^"^ °' eyes.
^«se those discordant janVs," be
L 102 J
A Merry rale of a M erry rime
exclaimed impatiently to himself; "cease
1 say! No song except for Nell! Nell'
Pour forth your sweetest melody for
The hunters stopped as by intuition
before the terrace. A goodly company
they were, indeed; there were James and
Rochester and others of the court re-
turning from the day's hunt. There was
Buckingham too, who had reioined
them as they left the inn. The music
died away.
"Whose voice was that.? " asked James
as he caught the sound of the King's
impatient exclamation from the corner
of the wall.
"Some dreamer of the night," laughed
Buckingham. "Yon love-sick fellowfme-
thinks, he continued, pointing to a fig-
ure, well aloof beneath the trees, who
was watching the scene most jealously
It was none other than Hart, who rarely
failed to have an eye on Nell's terrace and
who instantly stole away in the darkness,
ihis IS the home of Eleanor Gwyn
we are passing," said Rochester, supcrflu-
[ 103 ]
Mistress Ne/I
ously; forinrknTvTfi.irwdiih^riT^.;^
■Nelly s terrace.
Duke of York, qu.te forgetting his frigid
seU as he bethought h.-m of Nell, and t
coming quite lovcr-l.ke, as he, sighing
N.li .' ^""f ^'" '" '"^^l^^ peace w,th
Nelly. Sing, hunters, sing!"
The command was quickly obeyed and
the voices well attuned; for none were
there but worshipped Nelly.
Hail to the moonbeams'
Ci-ystal spray,
Nestling in Heaven
All the day,
F-Hing by night-time.
Silvery showers.
Twining -with love-rhyme
Nell's fair bowers.
Sing, hunters, sing.
Gently carolling.
Here lies our hart —
Sleeping, sleeping, sleeping.
Hail to the King's oaks.
Sentries blest,
[ 104 ]
^ MiTry Talc of a Merry Time
Spreading their branches,
Ciuarding her rest,
'telling the ireezes.
Hastening by :
"Softly on I 'toe;
Here Nell doth lie."
Sing, hunters, sing.
Gently carolling.
Here lies our hart — •
Sleeping, sleeping, sleeping.
The King heard the serenade to the
end, then stepped gaily from his hiding-
place. °
"Brother James under Nelly's win-
dow!" he said, with a merry laugh.
"Tne King!" exclaimed James, in
startled accents, as he realized the pres-
ence of his Majesty and the awkward po-
sition in which he and his followers were
placed.
"The King!" repeated the courtiers.
Hats were off and knees were bent re-
spedtfully.
"Brother," saluted Charles, as he em-
braced the Duke of York good-naturedly
[ '05 ]
Mistress Nc/l
Buckingham withdrew a few steps. He
was the most disturbed at t]ie [ireseiice of
the King at Nelly's bower. "As I feared,"
lie thought. "Devil take his Majesty's
meandering heart."
"Odstish," laughed Charles, "we
must guard our Nelly, or James and his
saintly followers will rob her bower by
moonlight."
The Duke of York assumed a devout
and dignified mien. "Sire," he attempted
to explain, but was interrupted quickly
by his Majesty.
"No apologies, pious brother. God
never damned a man for a little irregu-
lar pleasure."
There was a tittering among the court-
iers as the King's words fell upon their
ears.
James continued to apologize. "In
faith, we were simply passing — " he said.
Again he was interrupted by his Maj-
esty, who was in the best of humour and
much pleased at the discomfiture of his
over-religious brother.
"Lorenzo too was simply passing,"
[ io6 ]
^ Merry J'u/c of a Merry Time
lie observed, "burthe'fair "[cssicaTnd
some odd ducats stuck to liis girdle- and
the Jew will still be tcarin- his liair'louL^
after we are dust. Ah, Huckingham, they
It ,7".^"" ''"" ''^'^"^ =' *^'^f«-" for '•"«"ish
Nelly. Have . care!"
The King strode across to Buckingham
as he spoke; and while there was humour
m his tone, there was injunth-Qu also.
Buckmgham was too great a courtier
not to see and feel it. He bowed respedt-
tully, replying to his Majesty, "Sire I
would not presume to follow the King's
eyes, however much I admire their taste "
;"Tis well," replied his Majesty,
pomtedly, "lest they lead thee abroad
on a sleeveless mission."
Others had travelled upon such mis-
sions; Buckingham knew it well.
"But what does your Majesty here to-
night ,f we dare ask > " questioned James,
who hadjust bethought him how to turn
the tables upon the King.
Charles looked at his brother quizzi-
cally "Humph! ' he exclaimed, in his
peculiar way. " Feeding my ducks in yon-
[ 107 ]
Mistress Nell
der pond." His staff swept indefinitely
toward the park.
"Hunting with us were nohler husi-
ness. Sire," suggested fames, decisively.
"Not so," replied the King, quite seri-
ously. " My way — I learn to legislate for
ducks."
"'Twerc wiser," preached York, "to
study your subjects' needs."
The King's eyes twinkled. " I go among
them," he said, "and learn their needs,
while you are praying, brother."
At this sally, Rochester became con-
vulsed, though he hid it well; for Roch-
ester was not as pious as brother James.
York, feeling that the sympathy was
against him, grew more earnest still. "I
wish your Majesty would have more
care," he pleaded. "'Tis a crime against
yourself, a crime against the state, a crime
against the cavaliers who fought and died
tor you, to walk these paths alone in such
uncertain times. Perchance, 'tis courting
lurking murder!"
" No kind of danger, James," answered
the King, with equal seriousness, laying
[ '08 ]
AMcrryralejf- a ~M^^^^i„,,
a hand kindly.,,, his brother's sh.,uKlcr-
take awn?'"'''" ;"; '"'""' '■" ''"«'=»"" ^""'d
take away my I,fe t„ make you KinL' "
assembled party; for all dared lauL-h
even ..t the expense of the Duke of York
when thejest was of the King's maki,':
Indeed, not to laugh at a king's jest has
been ,n every age, in or out of siatu
he greatest crime. Fortunately, K.ng
Charles swit warranted its observation
James himself grew mellow under the
induence of the gaiety, and almost aff-ec-
tionatelyrephed, "God grant it be ever
."wf'"'-u"'^''^'^"'"'"^'lfhe thought
We heard but now an ambassador from
Moroccos court is lately landed He
brings your Majesty two lions and thirty
ostriches. ■'
"Odsfish but he is kind," replied the
King, refledhng on the gift. "J know of
nothing more proper to send by way of
return than a flock of geese "
His brow arched quizzically, as he
glanced over the circle of inert courtiers
ranged about him. "Methinks lean count
[ 109 ]
MIstivss Nf//
them out at \Vhitcli;tll," he thought.
"He seeks ail audience to iiiirlu. WJH
y<ni grant it. Sire?" hesought fames.
"'She.irt!" replied the King. "Most
cheerfully, I '11 lead you from Nelly's ter-
race, hrother. I ley ! rune up your throats.
Oil to the palace."
t'
C H A F' I- I.; K VII
Ctme ilawn '
(^omt up I
T,
FIK miisit (]ic(l away atiiong the old
"■<ks in the park. Ik-fore its final notes
were lost on the air, however, hasty steps
and a chatter of women's voices lame
from the house. The door leading to the
tcrnacc was thrown ,,uickly open, and
Nell appeared. Her eyes had the bewil-
dered look of one who has been suddenly
awakened from a sleep gilded with a de-
lightful dream.
She had, indeed, been dreaming —
dreaming of the King and of his coming.
As she lay upon her couch, where she had
thrown herself after the evening meal,
she had seemed to hear his serenade.
Then the music ceased and she started
up and rubbed her eyes, h was only to see
the moonlight falling through the lat-
ticed windows on to the Hoor of her dainty
[ M. ]
Mistress Nc/l
chamber. She was alone and she bethought
herself sadly that dreams go by contraries.
Once again, however, the hunters' sung
had arisen on her startled ear — and had
died away in sweet cadences in the dis-
tance. It was not a dream!
As she rushed out upon the terrace, she
called Moll reprovingly; and, in an' in-
stant, Moll was at her side. The faithful
girl had already seen the hunters and had
started a search for Nell; but the revellers
had gone before she could find her.
"What is it, dear Nell.?" asked her
companion, well out of breath.
" Why did you not call me, cruel girl .? "
answered ell, impatiently. "To misssee-
ing so many handsome cavaliers! Where
is my kerchief.?"
Nell leaned over the balustrade and
waved wildly to the departing hunters.
A pretty pidture she was too, in her white
flowing gown, silvered by the moonlight.
" See, see," she exclaimed to Moll, with
wild enthusiasm, "some one waves back.
It may be he, sweet mouse. Heigh-ho!
Why don't you wave, P/Ioll.?"
[ 112 ]
_ ./ Merry -Talc of a Merry rime
Before Moll could answer, a richlb^k-I
horn rang out across the park.
"The hunters' horn! "cried Ndl,Klee-
fully. "()|,, I wish I were a man -except
when one is with me"; and she threw
both arms about Moll, for the want of one
better to embrace. She was in her varyin.r
mood, which was one 'twixt the laughter
of the lip and the tear in the eye.
"I have lost my brother!" ejaculated
some one; but she heard him not.
This laconic speech came from none
other than the King, who in a bantering
mood had returned.
_ "I went one side a tree and pious James
t other; and here I am by Nelly's ter-
race once again," he muttered. "Oh ho'
wench!" His eyes had caught sight of
Nell upon the terrace.
He stepped back quickly into the
shadow and watched her playfully.
Nell looked longingly out into the
night, and sighed heavily. She was at her
w-t's end. The evening was waning, and
the Kmg, as she thought, had not come.
" Why do you sigh.? ' asked Moll, con-
solingly, r 117 1
Mistress Nell
"I was only looking down the path
dear heart," replied Nell, sadly.
" He will come," hopefully suggested
Moll, whose little heart sympathized
deeply with her benefat^ress.
" Nay, sweet," said Nell, and she shook
her curls while the moonbeams darned
among them, " he is as false as yonder
moon — as changeable of face."
She withdrew her eyes from the path
and they fell upon the King. His Majesty's
curiosity had quite over-mastered him,
and he had inadvertently stepped well into
the light. The novelty of hearing himself
derided by such pretty lips was a delicious
experience, indeed.
" The King ! " she cried, in joyous sur-
prise.
Moll's diplomatic effort toescapeatthe
sight of his Majesty was not half quick
enough for Nell, who forthwith forced
her companion into the house, and closed
the door sharply behind her, much to the
delight of the humour-loving King.
Nell then turned to the balustrade and,
somewhat confused, looked down at his
[ "4 ]
^ Mf ry Tali- of a Merry Time
Majesty, who iioWlt^idTciowrc^Iy
gazing up at her, an amused expression
on his face.
"Pardon,yourMajesty,"sheexplaincd,
falteringly, " I did not see you."
"You overlooked me merely," slyly
suggested Charl<.^ swinging his stick in
the direction of the departed hunters.
"I'taith, I thought it was you waved
answer, Sire," quickly replied Nell, whose
cuuiusion wa» gone and who was now m.:,-
tress ofthe situation and of herself.
"No, Nell; I hunt alone for my hart."
"You hunt the right park. Sire."
"Yea, a good preserve, truly," ohserved
the King. " 1 find my game, as I expedted,
ri rtmg, waving kerchiefs, making eyes
and throwing kisses to the latest passer-
by.
"I was encoui aging the soldiers, my
liege. That is every woman's duty to her
country."
"And her countryw«," said he, smil-
ing. "You are very loyal, Nell. Come
down!" It was irritating, indeed, to be
kept so at arm's length,
r lie 1
Mistress Nell
She gazed down at him with impish
sweetness— dowii at the King of Eng-
" C,>nie up! " she said, leaning over the
balustrade.
"Nay; come down if you love me "
pleaded the King.
"Nay; come up if you love me," said
JNell, enticingly.
"Egad! I am too old to climb " ex-
claimed the Merry Monarch.
"Egad! I am too young yet for the
downward path, your Majesty," retorted
The King shrugged his shoulders in-
difterently.
"You will fall if we give you time "
he said. ' '
" To the King's level ? " she asked, slyly
then answered herself: "Mayhap"
Thus they stood like knights after the
hrst tilt. Charles looked up at x^ell, and
Nell looked down at Charles. There was
a moment's silence. Nell broke it.
"I am surprised you happen this way,
bire. ■'
[ ii6 ]
_A^Merry rale of a Merry
1 itnr
With such eyes to lure me?" asked
the King, and he asked earnestly too.
"Tush," answered Nell, coyly "your
tongue will lead you to perdition. Sire "
"No fear ! " replied he, dryly. " I knelt
in church with brother James but yes-
terday." ^
"In sooth, quite true!" said Nell ap-
provingly, as she leaned back against the
door and raised her eyes innocently to-
ward the moon. "I sat in the next pew
bire, afraid to move for fear I might awake
your Majesty."
The King chuckled softly to himself
Nell picked one of the flowers that grew
upon the balustrade.
"Ah, you come a long-forgotten path
to-night, ' she said abruptly.
The King was alert in an instant. He
|elt that he had placed himself in a false
ight. He loved the witch above despite
himself. ^
"I saw thee twa evenings ago, lass "
he hastily asserted, in good Scotch ac-
cents, somewhat impatientlv.
"And is not that a long' time, Sire "
r 117 1
Mistress Ne/I
did Portsmouth
questioned Nell, "or
make it fly?"
"Portsmouth!" exclaimed Charles
rie turned his face away. "Can it he my
conscience pricksme?" he thought. "You
know more of her than I, .sweet Nell,"
he thtii asserted, with open manner.
" Marry, I know her not at all and never
saw her," said Nell. "J shall feel better
when I do," she thought.
" It were well for England's peace you
have not met," laughed Charles.
"Faith and troth," said Nell, "I am
happy to know our King has lost his
heart."
"Odso! And why.?" asked Charles;
and he gazed at Nell in his curious uncer-
tain way, as he thought it was never pos-
sible to tell quite what she meant or what
she next would think or say or do.
" We feared he had not one to lose "
she slyly suggested. "It gives us hope."
"To have it in another's hand as you
allege.?" asked Charles.
"Marry, truly!" answered Nell, de-
cisively. "The Duchess may find it more
[ "8 1
A M erry Tale of a Merry Time
than she can hold and toss it over."
"How now, wench!" exclaimed the
King, with assumption of wounded dig-
nity. " My heart a ball for women to bat
about!"
" Sire, two women often play at rackets
even with a king's heart," softlv sug-
gested Nell. ' ^
"Odsfish," cried the King, with hands
and eyes raised in mock supplication.
"Heaven help me then."
Again the hunters' horn rang clearly
on the night.
" The horn ! The horn ! " said Nell, with
forced indifference. " f hey call you. Sire."
There was a triumphantly bewitching
look in her eyes, however, as she realized
the discomfiture of the King. He was
annoyed, indeed. His manner plainly
betokened his desire to stay and his irri-
tation at the interruption.
"'Tis so!" he said at last, resignedly.
"The King is lost."
The horn sounded clearer. The hunt-
ers were returning.
" Again — nearer I " exclaimed Charles,
r « 1
Mistress Ne/I
fretfully. PI,s mind reverted to his pious
brother; and he laughed as he continued:
Poor brother James and his ostriches'"
He could almost touch Nell's finirer-
tips. o
"Farewell, sweet," he said; "I must
belp them hnd his Majesty or they will
swarm here like bees. Yet I must see my
Nell again to-„,ght. You have bewitched
me, wench. Sup with me within the hour
tie plcl5" '"' ^"" '""• ^^^" y- ^"'l
There was mischief in Nell's voice
as she leaned upon the balustrade. Sh-^
dropped a flower; he caught it.
" Sire, I can always find a rendezvous "
she answered. '
"YouVe the biggest rogue in Eng-
land, laughed Charles. ^
^' Of a subjeSi, perhaps, Sire," replied
■Nell, pointedly. ^
fCl^^^ i! ''?''°"' ''y ^^"^^1'" rejoined
added: but treason of the tongue and not
theheart.Ad.eu! Let that seal thy lips
until we meet." ■' ^ '
[ 120 ]
lips
jdMerry Talc of a Merry Time
upon the balcony. ^
" Alack-a-day," sighed Nell, sadly, as
he caught the k,ss. "Some one may bLk
the seal, my hege; who knows?"
^^^,*^°^""w? "questioned Charles, jeal-
Nell hugged herself as she saw his fit-
1 mood; for beneath mock jealousy she
thoughtshesawthegermoftruejeabusy
She laughed w.stfully as she explained:
^^Itwe^^^^^^^^^^^^
oth:S'"'^'^^"^'^'^^'-d tossed an-
wolds^ "SllS. "'°^' ^'^^"^^ ^'-
"Now we '11 despatch the affairs ofEng-
land brother; then we'll sup with pretfy
Ndly. Poor brother JamesI^Heaven^lS
him and his ostriches."
He turned and strode quickly throuf^h
the trees and down the path; but, as he
went, ever and anon he called: " Ye Blue
iioarinn, within the hour!"
Each time from the balcony in Nell's
L
J
Mistress Ne//
sweet voice came back — "Ye Blue Boar
Inn, within the hour! I will not fail you,
Sire!"
Then she too disappeared. There was
again a slamming of doors and much con-
fusion within the house. There were calls
and sounds of running feet.
The door below the terrace opened sud-
denly, and Nell appeared breathless upon
the lawn — at her heels the constant Moll.
Nell ran some steps down the path, peer-
ing vainly through the woods after the
departing King. Her bosom rose and fell
in agitation.
"Oh, Moll, Moll, Moll!" she ex-
claimed, fearfully. "He has been at
Portsmouth's since high noon. I could see
it in his eyes." Her own eyes snapped as she
thought of the hated French rival, whom
she had not yet seen, but whose relation
to the royal household, as she thought,
gave her the King's ear almost at will.
She walked nervously back and forth,
then turned quickly upon hercompanion,
asking her, who knew nothing, a hun-
dred questions, all in one little breath.
[ 122 ]
— -. .,v^,. 1UUK.S sner what k
her charm her fascination, the magic of
her art? Is she short, tali, fat, lean, joyous
or sombre? I must know." ''Joy°"s
"Oh, Nell what will you do?" cried
Moll m fearful accents as she watched
her beaufful mistress standing Ision
swayed before her like a queen^ n the
moonl.ght the little toe o? her cUppe
nervously beating the sward as she gen
eral-hkemarshalledherwitsforthebanle
i>ee her, see her, -from ton to toe'"
Nel at length exclaimed. "Oh there
will be sport, sweet mouse. Franc; agaL
against England-the stake, a S"
She glanced in the diredtion of "the
Strinls'h hKr"'^ joyously as she saw
strings hobbling toward her
"Heaven ever gave me a man in wait-
ng, she sa:d, gleefully. "Poor fellow ie
hmps from youthful,'war-met wounds
Comrade, are you stni strong enough^
heSutfr:;iifd''.^°"''^
"You know^the Duchess of Ports-
i ~'^3 J
Mistress Ne/l
mouth, and where she lives?" artfully
inquired Nell.
"Portsmouth!" he repeated, excit-
edly. "She was here but now, peeping
at your windows."
Nell stood aghast. Her face grew pale,
and her lips trembled.
" Here, here! " she exclaimed, incredu-
lously. "The imported hussy!"
She turned hotly upon Strings, as she
had upon poor Moll, with an array of
questions which almost paralyzed the old
fiddler's wits. "How looks she.? What
colour eyes.? Does her lip arch .? How many
inches span her waist?"
Strings looked cautiously about, then
whispered in Nell's ear. He might as well
have talked to all London ; for Nell, in her
excitement, repeated his words at the top
of her voice.
"You overheard? Great Heavens!
Drug the King and win the rights of Eng-
land while he is in his cups? Bouillon
the army — Louis — the Dutch! A con-
spiracy!"
" Oh, dear; oh, dear," came from Moll's
[ 124 ]
__^l_Mi rry Tale of a Merrv Time
trembling lips.
Nell's wits were like lig'-taing play-
ing with the clouds. Her plans were
rormed at once.
" Fly, fly, comrade," she commanded
Strings. "Overtake her chair. Tell the
Duchess that her beloved Charles—she
will understand — entreats her to sup at
Ye Blue Boar Inn, within the hour. Nay
she will be glad enough to come. Say he
awaits her alone. Run, run, good Strings
and you shall have a hospital to nurse
these wounds, as big as Noah's ark; and
the King shall build it for the message."
Strings hastened down th path, fired
by Nell's inspiration, with almost the
eagerness of a boy.
"Run, run!" cried Nell, in ecstasy, as
she looked after him and dwelt gleeftilly
upon the outcome of her plans.
He disappeared through the trees.
"Heigh-ho!" she said, with a light-
hearted step. "Now, Moll, we'll get our
nrst sight of the enemy."
Shedarted into the house, dragging poor
Moll after her. &,& &i-
r I2< 1
CHAPTER VIII
"JntJ the man that is drunk is as great as a king."
An old English inn! What spot on
earth is more hospitable, even though its
floor be bare and its tables wooden? There
IS a homely atmosphere abou- i', with its
cobwebbed rafters, its ding_> windows,
Its big fireplace, where the rough logs
crackle, and its musty ale. It has over been
a home for the belated travelle. , v. here the
viands, steaming hot, have filled his soul
with joy. Oh, the Southdown mutton and
the roasts of beef !
If England has given us naught else,
she should be beloved for her wealth of
inns, with their jolly landlords and their
pert bar-maids and their lawns for the
game of bowls. May our children's chil-
dren find them still unchanged.
In a quaint corner of London, there
stood such an inn, in the days of which
we speak; and it lives in our story. When
[ 126 ]
-^ Merr y^ rale of a Mer^j^Ti^e
it was built, noTnie knew^~r^ne cared
Tradition said that it had been a rendez-
vous for convivial spirits for ages that had
gone A sign hung from the door, on
which was a boar's head; and under it, in
Old hnghsh lettering, might have been
deciphered, if the reader had the wit to
read, "Ye Blue Boar Inn."
It was the evening of a certain day
known to us all, in the reign of good
King Charles. Three yesty spirits sat
convivially enjoying the warmth of the
hre upon the huge hearth. A keg was
braced in the centre of the room. One
of the merry crew — none other, indeed
than Swallow, a constable to the King-
sat astride the cask, Don Quixote-like
In place of the dauntless lance, he was
armed with a sturdy mug of good old ale
He sang gaily to a tune of his own, turn-
ing ever and anon for approbation to Buz-
zard, another spirit of like guild, who sat
in a semi-maudlin condition by the table
and also to the moon-faced landlord of
the inn, who encouraged the joviality
oi his guests— not forgetting to count
[ '27 ]
Mistress Nc//
the cups which they dc^iidj^h^d^ '
Swallow sail!'-
o
"//ere -s a health unto his Majesty, with a fa
Conversion to his enemies with a fa, la fa
And he that will not pledge Ins health ' '
J wish him neither wit nor wealth '
Nor yet a rope to hang himself^ '
l^ithafa, la, fa,
H^ilh a fa, la,far
The song ended in a triumphant wave
ot glory The singer turned toward the
fellow. Buzzard, and demanded indi.-
nantly: °
"Why don't ye sing, knave, to the tune
ot the spigot?
"My gullet's dry. Master Constable,"
stupidly explained his companion, as he
too buried his face in the ale.
"Odsbud, thou knowest not the art
thou clod," retorted the constable, wisely'
Way; I can sing as well as any man "
answered Buzzard, indignantly, "an I
know vvhen to go up and when to come
down He pointed stupidly, contrary to
the phrase, first to the floor and then to the
"'■'"g- [ .28 ]
^ Merry Tale of a Merry Time
The landlord chuckled merrily, imi-
tating him. " When t<. g,. up and when t<.
come down! " he re^.eated with the same
idiotic drawl and contiadii^tory gesture.
" Go to, simple," replied Swallow, with
tremendous condescension of manner.
"Thy mother gave thee a gullet but no
ear. Pass the schnapps."
He arose and staggered to the table.
"Good Master Constable, how sing-
est thou.?" sheepishly inquired Buzzard,
as he filled Swallow's tankard for the
twentieth time.
"Marry, by mr.in force, thou jack-
pudding; how else.? " demanded Swallow
pompously. He reseated himself with
much effort astride the cask. "Oh, bury
me here," he continued, looking into the
foaming mug, and then buried his face
deep in the ale.
His companions were well pleased with
the toast; for each repeated it after him,
each in his turn emphasizing the "me"
and the "here" — "Oh, bury me /lere'"
" Oh, bury me here! "—Buzzard in a voice
many tones deeper than that of Swalhw
[ 129 1
Mistress Nell
and the landlord in a voice many t^
deeper than that of Buzzard. Indeed, the
guttural tones of the landlord bespoke the
grave-yard.
The three faces were lost in the foam-
nd ^'' ^"*/ °^''F smacked in unison
and the world might have wagged as i
would for these three jolly topert but for
kiTchTn" ' ''°'"' """'"^ '^""'^^^ ^^"^ '^^
"Jenkins, love!"
"Body o' me!" exclaimed the land-
lord, almost dropping his empty tankard.
, 'VT^' ?'"'"g' ""y ^^^''- " and he de-
parted hastily.
The constable poked Buzzard in the
ribs; Buzzard poked the constable in the
ribs.
"Jenkins, love! " theyexclaimed in one
breath as the landlord returned, much to
his discomfiture; and their eyes twinkled
and wrmkled as they poked fun at the
taverner.
"Body o' me! Thou sly dog I" said
the c ns b,e. ,3 he contiLed'to tw'
ftini. W Iiencc came the saucy wench in
[ 130 ]
jf_M^^21^ra!f_^'' ^«'7 Time
the .khdiioIi^di^rXlJ^^ J^^
The landlord's face grew serious with
offended dignity as he attempted to ex-
plain. ^
'"Tis my wife, Master Constable," h-
said.
" Marry, the new one.? "inquired Swal-
low.
"'Tis not the old one. Master Swal-
low, replied the old hypocrite, wiping
away a forced tear. "Poor soul, she?
gone, 1 know not where."
"I" faith, I trow she's still cooking,
landlord, consolingly replied the con-
stable, with tearful mien, pointing slyly
downward for the benefit of Buzzard and
steadying himself with difficulty on the
"Bless Matilde," said the landlord as
he wiped his eyes again, "I had a hard
time to fill her place."
"Yea truly," chuckled Swallow in
tiuzzard s ear, between draughts, "three
long months from grave to altar."
"A good soul, a good soul. Master
r ^
- - _ 1
__ Mistress Nell
the appearance of deep affliction.
And a better cook, landlord " said
Swallow, sadly. "Odsbud, she knew a
gooseberry tart. Patch your old w^e's
soul to your new wife's face, and v^u'l
be a^happy„.an, landlord. Here's a'5?op
,C l^^H^ l^' ^^'^" Constable," replied
well t"o r 'J"'' 'f'""'^- "^ ^-k"d
well to the filhng of the flagon in his
hand aga,n w.ped a tear from his eve
^"''Tt:ir:Li^f"^^--^^p^edg;of
Swallow with equal reverence, and
tThis Z' ^'-tT'^^ P'^'^^d his fl'agSn
.. ^. P ^"'^ ^^^ Pledge of
'The new one!"
Buzzard, who had not been heard from
for some time, roused sufficiently to reaf
s;:::trr"'^"^^-^^--^^^-
"The next one!"
l.nHl '^A'^^c^ expression pervaded the
landlords face as he realized the mean
>ng of Buzzard's words. He glanced woe-'
[ 132 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
fully toward the kitchen-door, lest the
new wife might have overheard.
"Peac , Buzzard!" Swallow hastened
to command, reprovingly. "Would ye
raise a man's dead wife.? Learn discretion
from thy elders, an thou hop'st to be a
married man."
" Marry, I do not hope," declared Buz-
zard, striking the table with his clenched
hand. He had no time for matrimony
while the cups were overflowing.
There was a quick, imperative knock
at the door. The constable. Buzzard and
the landlord, all started up in confusion
and fear.
"Thieves," stammered Swallow, faint-
ly, from behind the cask, from which he
had dismounted at the first sign of dan-
ger. "They are making off with thy tit-
bit-of-a-wife, landlord."
"Be there thieves in the neighbour-
hood, Master Constable?" whispered the
landlord, in consternation.
"Why should his Majesty's constable
be here else? " said Swallow, reaching for
a pike, which trembled in his hand as if
[ 133 ]
Mistress Nell
o'er-run with ^hem J'T"'>' ^^""^'^
thy "-wife's bluTWTsth """"; ''^^
He steadied himse^Tth .7"'',''^'"'"-"
tookadeepdraSoT? ^^P'^eand
courage as weJ?^ ''" '° ^^^% his
hyhi;be",Va';.ZXTS»e'^^^™
o^ his trembling body """'"'^
-cSSrspir/''"^^^^-- their
i^^nshadcoX^f^l^^-therre-
-;rhtsr''^^--"^^'^"°w!
asked ^'''^^'"^>«^ye^tthouso?"he
iow;tl;?i4';;^.-f.-tinuedswai-
Rowley within a ten r °" '"^'^ ^^^
huswi4facrundeV:S';L"k'^"^"
Constable Sw.Ilow on the H '^ ""'^
thy treasure " ^ '^°°'' ^^ guard
f '34 ]
A M erry Tale of a Merry Time
come to be the nickname of the King him-
self. Charles assumed it good-naturedly
Assuredly, neither might be expected as
a visitor to Ye Blue Boar.
There came a more spirited knock at
the door. The constable sought a niche
in the f replace, whence he endeavoured
to exclude Buzzard, who was loath to be
excluded.
"Pass the Dutch-courage, good land-
lord, entreated Swallow, in a hoarse whis-
i"'he Lndlord started boljly toward the
door, but his courage failed him "Go
thou. Master Constable," he exclain. ].
"Go thou thyself," wisely commanded
bwallow, with the appearance of much
bravery, though one eye twitched ner-
vously in the diredtion of the kitchen-
door in the rear, as a possible means of
exit. "There's no need of his Majesty's
constable till the battery be complete
There must bean aftion and intent, saith
the law."
"Old Rowley ! " muttered the landlord
Mistrrss N,'//
i-"-^;;r',;r,r;:i::^,:r.'j.«'"'.'
"■■■hin reach „r,,„ch ™ei,,,t "'"""!
desire for furtSnl"^"'""^^^^
[ '36 ]
i/
A Merry Ta/c „f „ Merry rime
Swallnwagain seized liis nikcand st„,
gcred towar.1 tl.c entry-way o i n, rcss £
companuH, with l.is bravery "'"'^'""^
t;c,pat.„n of such happiness as he ll 1 i
"JnirMe. Thou igi,„ramiimu,l OI,l
5»ife/„r„K:-,o\i^.;xr
the wart on thy nose, knave " ' ''^
au/zard, with an injured look at the
mention of the wart "itw.lic
Mnfh^,. ; ' ^'" S"on away.
r I -i-T 1
Mistress Nell
Swallow put his hands on his knees and
laughed deeply. Uecontemplatedthenose
and person of his companion with acurious
air and grew mc ''ow with patronage.
"Thy fool's pate is not so dull," he said,
iialt aloud as he lighted a long pipe and
putted violently. "Thy wit would crack
a quarter-staff-. 'Sbud, would'st be mv
posse ? " ^
This was, indeed, a concession on the
part of the constable, who was over-
weighted with the dignity of the law
which he upheld.
"Would'st be at my command," he
continued, "to execute the King's Statu
quos on rogues? "
"Marry, Constable Buzzard'" ex-
claimed the toper, gleefully. "Nay, and
1 would!
"Marry, 'Constable' Buzzard!" re-
plied Swallow, with tremendous indig-
nation at the assumption of the fellow.
" Nay, and thou would'st not, ass! By mv
patron saint — " ^
As the constable spoke. Buzzard's eye
with a leer, lighted on the cask in the
[ '38 ]
ij^'-jy^'rak£aMerry Time
corner. He bethought hin- th.t it ha;7-,
3'37'*''^^^P'K"^;'i'=tiptocdunstcadily
dittiuilty to insert a straw in the snnll
<>pen.ng,„ had thus already added f
term ly to hus maudlin condition, bcfo e
SwalW d.sc„vered, with consteVnation
wh ch^f' ^ ''^?-^-^y advantage
cured ^^^ Wo'nted posse had se-
The cunning constable held carefully
on to h.s tongue, however. He quietlj
to the cask, unobserved by the unsuspect-
ing Buzzard, whose eyes were tightly
c osed .n the realization of a dream of S
highest earthly bliss.
In an instant, the straw was clipped
mid-way and the constable was enjoy ng
half'T,"''u^'^^"^'^^'^'-°"ghthelowef
half; wh.le Buzzard slowly awakened to
sh' ? ?'u ^'' '^'■^^'" "f f^''- had van-
> hed and that he was sucking a bit of
straw which yielded naught.
"Here, knave," commanded Swal-
r
r TO 1
y j
Mistress Nell
low between breaths, pushing the other
roughly aside, « thou hast had enoui^h for
^posse. Fill my mug, thou ignoranshibus."
Ouzzard staggered toward the table
to perform the bidding. "The flairon's
r/7' K ''["; Constable," he replied,
and forthwith loudly called out, "Land-
lord! Landlord!"
The constable dropped his straw and
raised himself with difficulty to his full
S ""'^ ''^"'^ ^™'^ ""^'''"S °" ^^^
"Silence fool of a posse^ he com-
manded, when he had poised himself;
look ye, I have other eggs on the spit.
To thy knee, sirrah; to thy knee, knave' "
Buzzard with d,3iculty and with many
groans unsuspedUngly obeyed the com-
mand. Swallow lifted the cask which
not long since he had been riding and
which had not as yet been tapped upon
the shoulder of his kneeling companion.
1 Here was another groan.
'"Tis too heavy, good Master Con-
stable cried Buzzard, in sore distress.
Ihou clodhopper/" yelled Swallow,
[ 140 ]
unsympathetically. «'An thn„ .
m.ster the Kings law. To the kitchen
ZlttoTl T' '".e,^hy eyes Shu'; hou
knave oU posse." The constable made a
d.ve for h.s pike and lantern.and enforced
wuhTabrr/th^ 'r'r"' ^'^^ --s'
witn jabs of the pike from behind at hi<:
powerless friend, who could scarce keep
h.s legs under the weight of the cask ^
kitrh ^^^"^ '°"ered through the
kitchen-door and made his exit Ihl
constable, finding his orders S hVJll y
obeyed, steadied himself with the p"S
o secure a good start; and then S
long staggering strides, he himself made
';s\T/rttontr-'"^-^^"'-^^'^
«
CHAPTER IX
Thrie chkhens !
came Kinrrh^ "''^ u'^^'^'^'j'' ^"^ ■"
have kn ^ x^^'l^'^ ^"' ^^o would
have known him? The royal monarch
had assumed the mien and gaT of a
ragged cavaHer. ^ ^
His eyes swept the inn quickly and
approvingly. He turned upon the land
lord, who followed him 'with' dui^^^
"Cook the chickens to a turn- and
S an^",' '^^^^^^ *"^^°^ -d 'sauce'
ho , and plenty of wine," he said. "Look
to t; ehe vmtage I named, Master Land-
lord. I know the bouquet and sparkle
'"« wu "PP'^ °'^'- 'he palate." ' ^''
the2wr'K^^°'''"j'^'^'^''-'''-^ked
tne land ord, aghast at the order.
Insole.-it!" replied Charles. "I com
mand it, sirrah." "^"
"Pardon, sir," humbly suggested the
[ H2 ]
A Merry Ta le of a Merry Time
landlord; "guine^Ii^i^dl^^T^^;;;^^;^^
mand here."
"Odso!" muttered the King, remem-
bering his disguise. " My temper will re-
veal me. Neverfe.r,landlord,"he boasted
loud y. "You shall be paid, amply paid.
I will pledge myself you shall be pLid."
I /'''>' \'\" ^alteringly repeated the
landlord rubbing his hands together
graciously; " but the order is a costly one
and you " ■'
"Do not look flourishing.?" said
Lharles, as he laughingly finished the
sentence, glancing somewhat dubiously
himself at his own dress. "Never iudjie
a man by his rags. Plague on't, though;
I would not become my own creditor
upon inspedion. Take courage, good
Master Landlord; England's debt is in
my pocket."
"How many to supper, sir.? " asked the
landlord, feartul lest he might ofFend
"Two! Two! Only two!" decisively
exclaimed Charles. " .\ man is an extrav-
agant tool who dines more. The thii is
expensive and in the way. Eh, landlord? "
[ >« 1
Mistress Nell
The King winked gailyTlTthTlZ-r
lord, whogrinned in res^onle and dropped
his^eyes more rcspedlfully. ^^
;;jwo, sir," acquiesced the landlord.
Aye, mine host, thou art favoured be
Sv ^h'"!]'''?^"^''^^ Charles know."
jngly, as he dwelt upon the joys of a fealr
incognuo alone wi[h Nell '^Ibelated
fand1"!,"°"^^ -P at thy hostelry "The
- Sl^tu^^^Vb^^^'''^ ^'^°"'-^^-
dosthear,h;:::^S,trs:;t'
b rehgiously to me." Charles swagge ed
oTtVeVot^'^^^^°'^^-'^^-4'Tn1
The moon-face of the inn-keeper erew
slowly senous. He could not reconc iS
shabby, road-bespattered garments of he
-nge cavalier with hisVc3;lm!
onrbytn:'thTcandr""r'''^^''"g
i- ^ . ^ candles in the room till
ll\fT^r''fr'^ '" expeaatTo'n o/
Turbo ;n?°""'^^'''^-''^Sg^'-' °" '"y life !
rurbot and capons and the best vintage-
TheKmg could not have better than this'
[ '44 ]
___AJderry Tale of a~M^^^^rPrim^
nL K r' ''"' Constable Swallow shall
toast h,s feet .n the kitchen, with a mug
ot musty ale to make him linger "
f, J ^"--"efs.of the mouth in themoon-
tace ascended in a chuckle.
"His ragged lordship 'li settle the bill
very rehg,ously," he thought, "or sleep
off^his sw, 'en Roundhead behind the
He passed into t.e kitchen and gave
he order for the repast. As he returned,
there was a tap at the door; and he hast-
ened to the window.
"We^lT ,";"'/ P«'''c°^t!" he cried.
Well, he s told the truth for once. She 's
veiled. Ashamed of her face or ashamed
I ?^ °P^"/'^ ^^^ ^''°' ^"^ "shercd in a
lady dressed in white; across her face and
eyes was thrown a scarf of lace
"Not here?" questioned the new-
comer, glancing eagerly about the room
and peeping into every nook and corner
without the asking, to the astonishment
or the mn-keepcr.
[ HS ]
BlueBoarlnnr '"'""' ^^'^'^ Ye
grJoS,;.''^-" '^P''^' '^^ landlord.
lord,T:;'idf;/°'^'^^^^^"-'^^'Jtheland-
"The goddess!" retorted Nell for ,t
sT; I 1!T y°" '° ^^^'^ the Duchess? '•
She laughed merrily at the thought
Ihere was a second knock- and th^
landlor again hastened to the'wTndow
excit^d^:^^c;'';:"-^.7dNe,l,
^lWhathas>h;r^J.Tsh;
. " ^"'^y o'me ! " exclaimed the landlor,!
" 'TSTaJ^ ";"^','^^^ "-^ - '"-at'
1 IS a lady of quality "
;;Bad quality," ejaculated Nell.
. j"'f has come in a chair of silver "
cned the landlord '
"My chair shall be of beaten gold
[ 146 ]
j£Merry Ta/e ofa Merry Time
Mercy me, the great lady's coming
n cont,„,,d he landlord, beside hinv
selt in his excitement.
"She shall be welcome, most welcome
landlord," observed Nell'promptly
. ^^r °>^-' What shall I say?'^sked
the landlord in trembling acce'nts."'''
Faithandtroth,"repliedNell,comine
tc his rescue, " I will do the parkz-vou"?
ing with her ladyship. Haste thee, thou
gnnning fat man." She glided quickly
^hVouTdTt^'^'r^'^'^p'-^'-^-
She could not oe observed so readily.
with an?h"'h '' u P°«^'"°"th entered,
with all the haughty grandeur of a queen
She glanced about contemptuously, and
herhpeould be seen tocur^ven thr;ugh
the verl which partially hid her face. ^
I his bourgeois place," she said "to
supwiththeKinglltcannotbelG^./"
What a voice," rerfefted Nell, in her
hid.ng-place,"inwhichtosigh,'Ilove
"Barbarous place!" exclaimed Ports-
[ H7 ]
Mistress Ne//
mouth. "His Majesty mu^tb^^^^^J^^This
Wits.
She smiled complacently, however as
she reflected that the King !nightcons;n
even within these walls and that his sign-
manual if so secured, would be as bind-
ing as if given in a p?l; ce.
"Garp;:.'" again she called, irritably.
JNell was meanwhile inspefting her ri-
val from top to toe. Nothing escaped her
quick eye "I'll wager her complexion
needs a veil, she muttered, with vixenish
Fran " ^°^" '^ ^" '"^"'* '° her native
"Garpn; answer me," commanded
I'ortsmouth, fretfully.
The landlord had danced about her
grace in such anxiety to please chat he
had displeased. He had not learned the
courtiers art of being ever present, yet
never in the way. ^
"Yes, your ladyship," he stupidly re-
peated again and again. "What would
your ladyship?"
Oid a prince leave commands for
supper? she asked, impatiently
[ 148 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
"No, your ladyship," he replied, ob-
sequiously. '-A ragged rogue ordered a
banquet and then ran away, your lady-
"How, sirrah?" she questioned, an-
grily, though the poor landlord had
rneant no discourtesy.
"If he knew his guests, he would
ne er return," softly laughed Nell.
''Parhleu;' continued Portsmouth, in
her F rench, impatient way, now quite in-
censed by the stupidity of the landlord,
a cavaher would meet me at Ye Blue
Boar Inn; so said the messenger."
She suddenly caught sight of Nell
whose biting curiosity had led her from'
her hiding-place. "This is not the ren-
dezvous," she reflected quickly "We
were to sup alone."
The landlord still bowed and still ut-
tered the meaningless phrase: " Yes, your
ladyship."
The Duchess was at the end of her pa-
tience. "Af5« Dieu," she exclaimed, "do
you know nothing, sirrah.?"
The moon-face beamed. The head
[ 149 ]
Mistress Nell
were rubbed together graciously.
Good lack, I know not; a supper for
LtT^Treplr-'H^^^^^^^'^"""^-
' ^ rcpiiea. Here are two oetti-
coats, your ladyship. Whenlknowwhch
pemcoat js which petticoat, your 1^;.
ihip I will serve the dinner." ^
The tavern-keeper sidled toward the
kuchen-door. As he went out, he mat!
tered, judiciously low: "I wouldn't give
a hapenny for the choice." ^
"Mu^stfnr'" '"'PP''* Portsmouth.
Musty place, musty furniture, musty
^"rp^, musty everything!" ^
She stood aloof in the centre of the
room as if tearful lest she might be con
taminated by her surroundings.
Nell approached her respedfully
You may like it better after supper
madame," she suggested, mildly. "A good
spread,sparklingwineandmostcongfnial
company have cast a halo o'er moreSe
begrimed rafters than these "
"Who are you, madame.?" inquired
the Duchess, haughtily. ^
[ '50 J
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
"A fellow-passenger on the earth,"
gently replied Nell, "and a lover of good
company, and — some wine."
" Yes? " said the Duchess, in a way that
only a woman can ask and answer a ques-
tion with a "yes" and with a look such
as only a woman can give another woman
when she asks and answers that little ques-
tion with a "yes."
There was a moment's pause.
The Duchess continued: "Perhaps you
have seen the cavalier I await."
"Marry,notI,"repliedNell,promptly;
and she bethought her that she had kept
a pretty sharp lookout for him, too.
" Is^ this a proper place for a lady to
visit?" pompously inquired the Duchess.
"You raise the first doubt," said Nell
quickly.
"Madame!" exclaimed Portsmouth,
interrupting her, with fiery indignation.
" I say, you are the first to question the
propriety of the place," explained Nell,
apologetically, though she delighted in-
wardly at the intended shot which she
had given her grace.
[ i5> ]
Mistress Nell
the' nS' ''y .=;n^"i'U.ncnt."^„ntinued
;"' '^^''«S "but it seems I was mis
led. G>c„;,„iy chair'"
uor but Nell s words stopped her.
Be patient. D.u:hess! l/c is too gal-
I'lnt to desert you. °
"She knows mc!" thought Ports
you^uailu^;:^-;,.:;;:..!"-^"-"^
NeIl":uaveV"^ '"'^' ""' '°""'" "^''^'
Du'cL';'"'""/?'"' ^""'" ^"•"•"'inded the
Duehe.; and her eyes flashed through
Jl} '?."''= "«' b^f"--*^ the beauty of Ver-
s=>'Iles, continued Nell, sweetly "r'
qu;:e^dVorfsZ.tr"'' "^^^ •■"-
"Ifearnot,"sai.^ Nell, meekly and
shecourtes,edlow."lambutanhum-
'''l,P'^>^'--^aIIed Nell Gwyn."
^^The Duchess raised herself to her full
L J J
"^ Mi-nyTakj/j, Merry Time
"Nell Gwy„!" shci;i;;^;i7;;rdThl
fa'rly tore ofFhcr veil.
eracef!^^! ' •''^'"" '^"r'«^''y'"« '<- and
gracefully removing her veil
"This is a trap," exclaimed the Diich-
css,^as she realised the situation.
then"""'",'''''' ''^^ '"■^'" 'hat set it
then sweetly suggested Nell.
Vour own, minx," snapped Ports-
mouth. " I'll not look at the hussy '° he
herself upon the bench, back to Nell
Your grace would be more kind if
you knew my joy at seeing you."
^J And why? "asked the Buchess,ironi-
am^.ab.l.ty,' tenderly responded Nell.
m„.h • '"u P°'-'«'"«"th; but how
much agam there was in her little " yes "
accented as it was with a French shrug
ued Nell, •< especially when I know her
"A successful rival.?" triumphantly
I '53 J
Mistress Ne//
asked the Duchess! '
"A rival!" exclaimed Nell, in well-
feigned astonishment, still toying with
the Duchess's temper. "Is the poor ac-
tress so honoured in a duchess's thought?
Your grace i^ generous."
If all the angels had united, they could
not have made her speech more sweet or
ncr manner more enticing.
"I presumed you might conceive it
so, replied Portsmouth, with mocking
condescending mien.
Nell approached her timidly and spoke
sottly, lovingly, subserviently.
" \\'^A ^° ^^^ g''^af Duchess of Ports-
mouth! she said. "Perish the thought'
It IS with trepidation I look upon your
glorious face, madame; a figure that would
tempt St. Anthony; a foot so small it
makes us swear the gods have lent in-
visible wings to waft you to your con-
quest. Nay, do not turn your rosy lip in
scorn; I am in earnest, so in earnest, that
were I but a man, I would bow me down
your constant slave- unless perchance
you should grow fat."
[ '54 J
Th/ n"l'" ^"^ Portsmouth's.
. . "^. duchess sprang to her f,-nt .„ i
old?" ^"'"^''"'1^ shall ne'er grow
"Your stars are falser t'.an yourself "
tartly snapped the Duchess. ^ ^'
"bur m^l'P'" 'l''^ ^^"' ''till gleeful-
out mark you this tr.ifK. r u °"^""''
bhe was interrupted^ by his Majesty,
i. '5S J
Mistress Ne/l
who, unsuspeaing. swaggered into the
room in buoyant spirits.
"The King!" exclaimed Nell, as she
slyly glanced over her shoulder.
The King looked at one woman and
then at the other in c'ismay and horror
" bcylla and Chary bdis ! " he muttered
nervously, glancing about for means of es-
cape. "All my patron-saints proted me' "
Nell was by his side in an inst^-nt
"Good even' to your Majesty," she
roguishly exclaimed. "How can I ever
thank you. Sire, for inviting the Duch-
ess to sup with me! I have been eager to
meet her ladyship." ^
"Ods-pitikins," he thought, "a loop-
hole for me. ^
" Well,_you see—" he said, "a little
surprjse Nelly,_a little surprise-for
me. 1 he last two words were not audible
to h.s hearers. He looked at the beau-
tiful rivals an instant, then ventured " I
E"'° ^' '" '""' '° '""■°'^"" y°"'
"Oh, your Majesty," asserted Nell
consolingly, "we are already quite well
[ 156 ]
^^_MerryJ\tlcjfa Merry Time
through
acquainted. I knew her .'r
her veil "
he.
'.•M-
\n ner-
"No (iouht on 't," ob.sr,
knowingly.
"Yes, Sire," said the i:-, hc-.s,
t'ly, casting a frigid .(um.. ,• *
warrant we understa, . >-a,
fcetly."
"Better and better," said C>, l-s sv-'i
a sickly laugh. ' "
.U^A ^o1"'y '-""^ '■"'^'^^ a"'! 'Shoals
ahead and his wits could find no chan-
nel of escape. He turned in dire distress
upon Nell, who stood aloof, bhe looked
up into his face with the innocence of a
babe in every feature.
"Minx, this is your work!'" he whis-
pered.
"Yes Sire!" she answered, mock-re-
prov.ngly, bending quite to the floor as
she courtesied low.
S\ ^^'' ^''?/ ^^gg^^ge-' " he exclaimed
good-naturedly despite himself
As he turned away, praying Heaven
to see him out of the difficulfy, he ob-
served the landlord, who had just entered
Mistress Nell
with bread and cups, muttering some du-
bious invocations to himself. He clutched
at this piece of human stupidity like a
drowning man clutching at a straw: "Ah,
landlord, bring in what we live for; and
haste ye, sirrah. The wine! The wine!"
"It is ready, sir," obsequiously replied
the landlord, who had just sense enough
in his dull cranium to refleft also, by
way of complement, "So is Constable
Swallow."
"Good news, good news!" cried
Charles; and he tossed his plumed hat
upon the sideboard, preparatory to the
feast. "D'ye hear, my fair and loving
friends.? Come, it is impolite to keep the
capons waiting. My arms; my arms!"
The King stepped gallantly between
the ladies, making a bold play for peace.
The Duchess took one arm formally.
Nell seized the remaining arm and al-
most hugged his Majesty, nestling her
head affeaionately against his shoulder.
Charles observed the decorum of due dig-
nity. He was impartial to a fault; for he
realized that there only lay his salvation.
[ 158 ]
Merry Tale of a Merry Time
The phalanx approached the feast in
sol»mn march. The King tossed his head
proudly and observed: "Who would not
p ay the thorn with two such buds to
blush on either side?"
There was a halt. The Duchess looked
coldly at the table, then coldly at the
K-ing, then more coldly at Nell. The
Kmg looked at each inquiringly.
"I thought your Majesty o- dered sup-
per for three," she said. " It is .et for two."
"Odsfish, for two!" cried Charles
glancing, anxiously, for the first time at
the collation.
Nell had taken her place at the feast
regardless of formality. She was looking
out for herself, irrespeftive of King or
Duchess. She believed that a dinner, like
the grave, renders all equal.
"Egad!" she exclaimed, as she dwelt
upon the force of the Duchess's observa-
tion. "Our host is teaching us the virtues
of economy."
The unsuspedting landlord re-entered
at this moment, wine in hand, which he
proceeded to place upon the table
[ '59 J
another plate, dog ' " ^ ' ^^^'''
ana asked complacently ^ ^'
^.^'' Wh.ch one of us did you exped,
-ughed Ne'i'' ''' ^°" "P^^' S-e?"
"w'e5?^'wdf ^"'^'" ^'■"^"'^'^ Charles;
-ue;i:::';;^:v;— ^-he3s,the
•" at figures. You see, Charles a7d7are
[ i6o ]
JJderry Tale of a Merry rime
one, and you make two. Duchess "
"I spoke to the King," haughtily re-
Tt Nell ''' "°' '^''^"'"S to glance
The King placed his hands upon his
forehead in bewilderment.
"This is a question for the Prime 31in-
ister and sages of the realm in council "
• "There are brr two chairs, Sire," con-
tinued Portsmouth, coldly.
"Two chairs!" exclaimed the Merry
Monarch, aghast, as he saw the breach
Hopelessly widening. "I am lost."
" That is serious, Si re," said Nel'l, sadly •
and then her eye twinkled as she sug-
gested, " but perhaps we might make out
with one, for the Duchess's sake. I am oo
little.
She turned her head and laut^hed gaily
while she watched the Duchess's face out
01 the corner of her eye.
"'Sheart," sighed the King, "I have
construed grave controversies of state in
my time, but ne'er drew the line yet be-
twixt black eyes and blue, brunette and
Wonde, when both were present. Another
[ '6i ]
Mistress Nell
tfx .^^"*^'°';'J' Come, ^liTl^^i;^.
eat, drink and forget."
The King threw himself carelessly into
ne might hnd peace.
r«'^\^'" ^'=,'5"'^'*«d Nell, who was al-
" eat^'n- r ^'^' 'f^^P^^ive of ceremony,
stood tr'" '"''' l^" ^"'^'^^^«> ^ho still
stood indignant in the centre of the room.
ful hft?h 'rrP'^'^'^^^'^^'-'^^^th-
shrug, ,n imitation of the Duchess:
Oh very well ! I have a solution. Let 's
play sphinx. Sire."
Charles looked up hopefully
«HowT-tr''"P""'"'^="^'^-«^
" Why," explained Nell, with the phil-
osophical air of a learned dodor, "some
years before you and I though muTh
about the ways and means of this wicked
world, your Majesty, the Sphinx spent
her leisure asking people riddles; and if
they could not answer, she ate them alive
[ >62 J
J^ Merry Tale of a Merry Tune
Give me some of that turbot. Don't stand
on ceremony, Sire ; tor the Duchess is wait-
ing.
The King hastened to refill Nell's plate.
"Thank you," laughed the vixen;
"that wrill do for now. Let the Duchess
propound a riddle from the depths of her
subtle brain; and if I do not fathom it
upon the instant. Sire, 'tis the Duchess's
— not Nell's— evening with the King."
" Odsfish, a great stake ! " cried Charles.
He arose with a serio-comic air, much
pleased at the turn things were taking.
"Don't be too confident, madame,"
ironically suggested the Duchess; "you
are cleverer in making riddles than in
solving them."
As she spoke, the room was suddenly
filled with savoury odour. The moon-
faced landlord had agaii. appeared, flour-
ishing a platter containing two finely
roasted chickens. His face glow.-d with
pride and ale.
"The court's famished," exclaimed
Charles, as he greeted the inn-keeper-
"proceed!" '
[ '63 ]
Two capons! I have it," trium-
phantly thought Portsmouth, as she re-
He6ted upon a riddle she had once heard
in far-off France. It could not be known
>n England. Nothing so clever could be
known in England. She looked con-
temptuously at Nell, and then at the two
chickens, as she propounded it.
"Let your wits find then three capons
on this plate." ^
"Three chickens!" cried Charles, in
wonderment, closely scrutinizing the two
fowl upon the plate and then looking up
inquiringly at the Duchess. "There are
but two."
Nell only gurgled.
"Another glass, landlord, and I "II see
four, she said. "Here's to y.., two
and to me too." She drank gaily to her'
toast. ^
"That is not the answer, madame "
coldly retorted the Duchess.
"Are we come to blows over two inno-
cent chickens.? " asked Charles, somewhat
concerned still for the outcome. "Bring
on your witnesses."
[ '64]
A Merry T ale of a Merry Time
"This is one chicken, your Majesty "
declared the Duchess. "Another's two;
and two and one make three."
With much formahtv and something
of the air of a conjurer, she counted the
first chicken and the second chicken and
then recounted the first chicken, in such
a way as to make it appear that there were
three birds in all.
The King, who was ill at figures, like
all true spendthrifts, sat confused by her
speech. Nell laughed again. The land-
lord, who was in and out, stopped long
enough to enter upon his bill, in ram-
bhng charaders, "3 chickens." This was
all his dull ear had comprehended. He
then piously proceeded on his way.
"Gadso!" exclaimed the King, woe-
fully. "It is too much for me."
"Pooh, pooh, 'tis too simple for you.
Sire," laughed Nell. " I solved it when a
child. Here is my bird; and here is your
bird; and our dearest Duchess shall sup
on her third bird!"
Nell quickly spitted one chicken upon
a huge fork and so removed it to her own
[ '65 ]
Mistress Nc//
plate. The second chid^^iiT^hTlik— ^
all the politeness which she only could
summon she bowed low and offered the
empty platter to the Duchess
.rU^'Tl'^ ''r^^ '' '° the board an-
gnlywuh her gloved hand and steadied
herselfagamst the table.
JI^TP" '''"■ ^'''^'^' «"d forthwith
pretended to grow faint.
Charles was at her elbow in an instant
supporting her. '"stant,
. "^'■— ^"■^' I — " she continued, in
ner efforts to speak.
" What is it? " cried Charles, seriously
endeavouring to assist her. " You a-e oale
ivouise. i^"'^*
"I am faint," replied she, with much
^!^'^"^y-"^'-don my longer aud'nce,
S»re; I am not well. Gra,, my chair
Assist mc to the door." ^
hi J^^ ^'' '^"'^u°''^ '""''^ ^ h^^ty exit, for
h.m toward the street, in h.s desire to
help the great lady. Charles supported
her to the threshold. Hpurtra
"Call a leech, Sire," cried Nell after
[ 166 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
them, with mock sympathy. " Her grace
has choked on a chicken-bone."
"Be still, wench," commanded the
King. " Do not leave us, Louise; it breaks
the sport.
"Nay," pleaded Nell also, "do not
go because of this little merry-making
Duchess. I desire we may become better
friends."
Her voice revived the Duchess.
'' Sans doute, we shall, madame," Ports-
mouth replied, coldly. "^ mon ball Pas
adieu, mats au revoir."
The great Duchess courtesied low
kissed the King's hand, arose to her full
height and, with an eye-shot at Nell, took
her departure.
4-
CHAPTER X
/trrett him yaurstif!
1 Uh King stood at the door, thought-
fully reriedhng on the temper of the^de-
part.ng Duchess. She wasamaidof honour
and more than that, an emissary from his
brother Loms of France. Gossip said he
oved her, but it was not true, though he
Iked her company exceeding well when
the mood suited. He regretted only the
cvenmg s incident, with the harsher feel-
ing It was sure to engender
■,n^f ''°^^^^ '^^ f^r^p\^ct, mutter-
ng hrcnch phrases in humorous imita-
tion of her grace. Observing the King's
preoccupation, she tested a ..ro/^//, mer-
rily at his h'.-ij.
This br< ,ght his Majesty to himself
again He tiirned, and laughed as he saw
lier; tor his brain and heart de/ightcd in
^"^^'^fl'^y-m^king. He loved her.
What means this vile French?" she
[ i68 ]
A M erry rale of a Merry Time
asked, with delicious suggestion JFTh^
shrug, accent and manner of her van-
quished rival.
"The Duchess means," explained the
King, "that she gives a royal ball — "
"And inv.tcs mej-" broke in Nell
qmckly placing her elbows upon a cask
and lookmg over it impishly at Charles.
And mvites you notr said the Kin?
and so outwits you."
"By her porters' wits and not her own "
retorted Nell. '
She threw herself into a chair and be-
came oblivious for the moment of her
surroundings.
ball? she thought. "V\ ell, wdl, I'll be
there! I 11 teach her much. Oh I'll be
pretty, too, aye, very pretty. No Vear yet
of rivalry or harm for Ivngland."
Charles watched her amusedly ear-
nestly, lovingly. The vixen had fallen
unconscously into imitating agam the
Duchess s foreign ways, as an accompa-
niment even for her thoughts. ^
''Sans doute, we shall, )nadame" Nell
[ 169 ]
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Mistress Nell
muttered audibly, with much gesticu-
lating and a mocking accent. "^ mon
bal! Pas adieu, mais au revoir."
The King came closer.
" Are you ill," he asked, " that you do
mutter so and wildly ad:.?"
"I was only thinking that, if I were a
man," she said, turning toward him play-
fully, "I would love your Duchess to de-
votion. Her wit is so original, her repartee
so sturdy. Your Majesty's taste in horses
— and some women — is excellent."
She crossed the room gaily and threw
herself laughing upon the bench. The
King followed her.
"Heaven help the being, naughty
Nell," he said, "who offends thy merry
tongue; but I love thee for it." He sat
down beside her in earnest adoration, then
caught her lovingly in his arms.
" Love me.? " sighed Nell, scarce mind-
ful of the embrace. " Ah, Sire, I am but
a plaything for the King at best, a caprice,
a fancy — naught else."
" Nay, sweet," said Charles, "you have
not read this heart."
[ 170 ]
A Merry Tule 'tf^M^^^^^y^rime
Ndl, w.th much meaning in her voice.
It IS this one to-day, that one to-morrow
witn King Charles. Ah, Sire, your lov^
tor the poor player-girl is summed up
in three little words: 'I amuse you'"'
^^" urT, "'"'•" ^^claimed Charles,
thoughtfully. "Hark ye, Nell! States
may marry us; they cannot make us love.
Ve Gods, the humblest peasant in mv
realm is monarch of a heart of his own
choice. Would I were such a kingi"
^^'n^^^' u"'"'"' ^°""*^y ^''^ asked
Nell, sadly but wistfully, "teaches your
fancy to follow the plough, my truant
master.? ° j
.< " You forget: I too," continued Charles,
have been an outcast, like Orange Nell
seeking a crust and bed."
He arose and turned away sadly to sup-
press his emotion. He was not the King
of England now: he was a man who had
suttered; he was a man among men
"Forgive me, Sire," said Nell, tenderly
as a woman only can speak, " if I recall un-
happy times."
[ 171 ]
Mistress Nell
"Unhappy!" echoed Charles, while
Fancy toyed with RecolledHon. " Nell, in
those dark, days, I learned to read the hu-
man heart. God taught me then the dis-
tinftion 'twixt friend and enemv. When
a misled rabble had dethroned my father,
girl, and murdered him before our palace
gate, and bequeathed the glorious arts and
progressive sciences to religious bigots
and fanatics, to trample under foot and
burn — when, if a little bird sang over-
joyously, they cut out his tongue for dar-
ing to be merry — in some lonely home
by some stranger's hearth, a banished
prince, called Charles Stuart, oft found
an asylum of plenty and repose; and in
your eyes, my Nell, I read the self-same,
loyal, English heart."
There was all the sadness of great music
in his speech. Nell fell upon her knee,
and kissed his hand, reverently.
"My King!" she said; and her voice
trembled with passionate love.
He raised her tenderly and kissed her
upon the lips.
"My queen," he said; and his voice
[ 172 ]
A Merry rale of a Merry Time
too^ trembled with passionate love.
" And Milton says that Paradise is lost "
whispered Nell. Her head rested on the
Kings shoulder. She looked up — the
pifture of perfed happiness -into his
eyes.
"Not while Nell loves Charles," he
said.
" And Charles remembers Nell " her
voice answered, softly.
Meanwhile, the rotund landlord had
entered unobserved; and a contrast he
made, indeed, to the endearing words of
the lovers as at this instant he uncere-
moniously burst forth in guttural accents
with:
"The bill! The bill for supper, sir!"
Nell looked at the King and the King
°°if^'V^'"' ''^"" '^"^'^ J°°l^ed at the
landlord. The lovers' sense of humour was
boundless. 1 hat was their first tie- the
second, their hearts.
"The bill ! " repeated Nell, smothering
the bfn'""^^'' ^^ ^'•■^ J"^^ ^P^^king of
"How opportune ! "exclaimed Charles,
Mistress Nell
taking the cue. " We t'eared you would
forget it, irrah."
"See tJiat it is right," ejaculated Nell.
The King glanced at the bill indiffer-
ently, but still could not fail to see " 3
chickens" in unschooled hand. His eyes
twinkled and he glanced at the landlord,
but the latter avoided his look with a pre-
tence of innocence.
" Gad," said Charles, with a swagger,
"what are a few extra shillings to Parlia-
ment.? Here, my man." He placed a hand
in a pock-^t, but found it empty. "No;
it is in the other pocket." He placed
his hand in another, only 10 find it also
empty. Then he went through the re-
maining pockets, one by one, turning
them each out for inspeftion — his face
assuming an air of mirthful hopelessness
as he proceeded. He had changed his
garb for a merry lark, but had neglefted
to change his purse. "Devil on't, I
have — forgotten — Odsfish, where is my
treasurer?" he exclaimed at last.
"Your treasurer!" shrieked the land-
lord, who had watched Charles's search,
[ 174]
^ Merry Taie of a Merry Time
with twitching eyes. " Want your treas-
urer, do ye? Constable Swallow 'II find
him for ye. Constable Swallow! I knew
you were a rascal, by your face."
Charles laughed.
This exasperated the landlord still fur-
ther. He began to flutter about the room
aimlessly, bill in hand. He presented it to
Charles and he presented it to Nell, who
would have none of it; while at intervals
he called loudly for the constable.
" Peace, my man," entreated Nell; " be
still for mercy's sake."
"Good lack, my lady," pleaded the
landlord, in despair, "good lack, but you
would not see a poor man robbed by a vag-
abond, would ye? Constable Swallow!"
The situation was growing serious in-
deed. The King was mirthful still, but
Nell was fearful.
" Nell, have you no money to stop this
heathen's mouth?" he finally ejaculated,
as he caught up his bonnet and tossed it
jauntily upon his head.
" Not a farthing," replied she, sharply.
" I was invited to sup, not pay the bill "
[ ^7S ]
Mistress Nell
"If the King knew this rascal," yelled
the landlord at the top of his voice, point-
ing to Charles, "he would be behind the
bars long ago."
This was too much for his Majesty,
who broke into the merriest of laughs. '
" Verily, I believe you," he admitted.
Then he fell to laughing again, almost
rolling off the bench in his glee.
"Master Constable," wildly repeated
the landlord, at the kitchen-door. "Let
my new wife alone; they are making off
with the house."
Nell was filled with consternation.
" He '11 raise the neighbourhood. Sire,"
she whispered to Charles. " Have you no
money to stop this heathen's mouth.?"
" Not even holes in my pockets," calmly
replied the Merry Monar-ch.
"Odsfish, what company am I got
into!" sighed Nell. She ran to the land-
lord and seized his arm in her endeavour
to qu'et him.
The landlord, however, was beside
himself He stood at the kitchen-door
gesticulating ferociously and still shout-
[ '76 ]
. ^^ M^'-'-y Tale of a M^y rime
ing at the top of hiT^cc^T^^O^i^ii^bk
Swa ow Help, help; thieves; Constable
bwallow!
Swallow staggered into the room with
all his dignity aboard. Tankard in hand
he made .i dive for the table, and catch-
ing it hrmly, surveyed the scene
Nell turned to her lover for protection.
Murde,, hic!" ejaculated the con-
stable "Thieves! What's the row?-
Hic!
.K "i^T' ^Y'^ blackguard," commanded
the landlord, nervously, "this perfiler of
honest men."
" Arrest ! —You drunken idiot ! " indig-
nantly exclaimed Charles; and his sword
cut the air before the constable's eyes
Nell seized his arm. Her woman's in-
tuition showed her the bettei course
"You will raise a nest of them," she
whispered. "You need your wits. Sire-
not your sword."
"Nay; come on, I say," cried Charles,
fearlessly. "We'll see what his Majesty's
constables are made of."
" You rogue— x°mf./"excIaimedSwal-
[ ^77 ]
Mistress Nell
low, starting boldly for the King, then
making a brilliant retreat, calling loudly
for help, as the rapier tickled him in the
ribs.
"You ruffian — Posse!" he continued
to call, alternately, first to one and then to
the other; for his fear paralyzed all but
his tongue. "You outlaw — Posse commi-
ti-titnus — hie!''
Buzzard also now entered from his
warm nest in the kitchen, so intoxicated
that he vented his enthusiasm in song,
which in this case seemed apt:
"Of man that is drunk is as great as a king."
"Another champion of the King's
law!" ejaculated Charles, not without a
shadow of contempt in his voice, once
more assuming an attitude of defence.
"Oh, Charles!" pleaded Nell, again
catching his arm.
"Posse, arrest that vagabond," com-
manded the constable, from a point of
safety behind the table.
"Aye, aye, sir," replied the obedient
Buzzard. "On what charge — hie?"
[ 178 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry 7,,
"He's a law-breaker ana aTobberi "
yelled the watchfu! landlord.
"He called the law a drunken idiot.
Hic — hic!" woefully v/ailed Swallow.
"Odsbud, that's treason! Arrest him
posse ~\):\c\"
" Knave, I arrest -- hic ! " asserted Buz-
zard.
Tht posse started boldly enough for his
game, but was suddenly brou^-ht to a stand-
still m his reeling course by the sharp
pomt of the rapier playing about his legs.
He made several indignant efForts to over-
come the obstacle. The point of the blade
was none too gentle with him, even as he
beat a retreat; and his enthusiasm waned
"Arrest him yourself— hic!" he ex-
claimed.
Swallow's face grew red with ragt. To
have his orders disobeyed fiie^ him with
much more indignation of soul than the
escape of the ruffian, who was simply
defrauding the landlord of a dinner. He
turned hotly upon the insubordinate *»««-
crying:
"I'll arrest you, you Buzzard — hic!"
Mistress Ne/l
"I'll arrest you, you Swallow — hie!"
with equal dignity retorted Buzzard.
"I'm his Majesty's constable — hie!"
hissed Swallow, from lips charged with
air, bellows-like.
" I 'm his Majesty's/5w— hie! " hissed
Buzzard in reply.
The two drunken representatives of
the law seized each other angrily. The
landlord, in despair, endeavoured hope-
lessly to separate them.
"A wrangle of the generals," laughed
Charles. "Now is our time." He looked
about quickly for an exit.
"Body o' me! The vagabonds '11 es-
cape," shouted the landlord.
"Fly, fly!" said Nell. "This way,
Charles."
She ran hastily toward the steps lead-
ing to the entry-way; the King assisted
her.
"Stop, thief! Stop, thief!" screamed
the landlord. "The bill! The bill!"
"Send it to ihe Duchess!" replied
Nell, gaily, as she and the Merry Mon-
arch darted into the night.
[ i8o ]
A M crryjralejfa Merry Time
The landlord turned in despair, to find
the drunken champions oF the Kind's
law m a struggling heap upon the floor.
He raised his toot and took out vengean-e
where vengeance could be found
=«^
CHAPTER XI
In the field, men ; at court, women I
It was the evening of Portsmouth's
long-nwaited ia/ masque. Music filled
her palace with rhythmic sound. In the
gardens, its mellowing strains died away
among the shrubs and over-hanging
boughs. In every nook and corner wan-
dered at will the nobility — the richest
the greatest — in the land.
None entertain like the French ; and the
Duchess had, indeed, exhausted French
art in turning the grand old place into a
land of ravishing enchantment, with its
many lights, its flowers, its works of art.
Her abode was truly an enlivening scene,
with its variety of maskers, bright domi-
noes and vizards.
The King was there and took a merry
part in all the sport, although, beneath
his swaggering abandon, there lurked a
vein of sadness. He laughed heartily, he
[ '82 ]
A Mer ry Tale of a Merry Time
danced gaily, he jested with one and all;
but his manner was assumed. The shrewd-
est woman's eye could not have seen it;
though she might have felt it. Brother
James too enjoyed the dance, despite his:
piety; and Buckingham, Rochester and a
score of courtiers beloved by the King en-
tered mirthfully into the scene, applaud-
ing the Duchess's entertainment heartily.
As the evening wore apace, the merry
maskers grew merrier and merrier. In a
drawing-room adjoining the great ball-
room, a robber-band, none other than sev-
eral gallants, whose identity was concealed
by silken vizards, created huge amuse-
ment by endeavouring to steal a kiss from
Lady Hamilton. She feigned shyness,
then haughtiness, then anger; then she
ran. They were after her and about her in
an instant. There were cries of "A kiss ' "
"A kiss!" "This way!" "Make a circle
or she'll escape us!"
A dozen kisses so were stolen by the
eager gallants be^Dre my lady broke away,
stamping her foot in indignation, as she
exclaimed:
[ 183 ]
Mistress Nell
"Nay, I am very angry, very "
"That there were no more, wench!"
laughed Buckingham. "Marry, 'tis a
merry night when Portsmouth reigns.
Long live the Duchess in the King's
heart!" ^
" So you may capture its fairer favour-
ite, friend Buckingham.?" suggested the
King, softly; and there was no hidden
meaning in his speech, for the King sus-
pected that Buckingham's heart as well
was not at Portsmouth's and Bucking-
ham knew that the King suspefted it.
Buckingham was the prince of court-
iers; he bowed low and, saying much
without saying anything, replied respect-
fully:
" So I may console her. Sire, that she
is out-beautied by France to-night."
"Out-beautied! Not bidden, thou
mean'st," exclaimed the King, his
thoughts roving toward Nelly's terrace.
Ah, how he longed to be there! "The
room is close," he fretted. "Come, gal-
lants, to the promenade!"
Hcv.as dressed in white and gold; and
[ 184]
___^Jdt^rryJjik^a Merry rime
a princely pHi^^TheTooK^n^^^;^
courtiers separated for him to pass out be-
tween tiiem.
All follovyed save Buckingham, whom
rortsmouth s eye detained.
f„rn''^r^™''l'"'" ^J"y""s laugh as she
turnedfromthetapestry-curtains,through
which she could see his Majesty -the
"" wu^'' '"i'-thful scene without.
What say you now, my lord.?" she
asked triumphantly, of Buckingham "I
am half avenged already, and the articles
ha f signed The King is here despite his
Madame Gwyn, and in a playful mood
that may be tuned to love."
Buckingham's ardour did not kindle as
she hoped.
"Merriment is oft but Sadness's mask,
"wl he replied, thoughtfully.
What meanest thou.? " she asked, in
her nervous, Gallic way, and as quickly
her mind anticipating, answered: "This
trifle of the gossips that Charles advances
the players whim to found a hospital at
Chelsea,for broken-down old soldiers? C?
n est r ten!"
[ ^«S ]
Mistress Ne//
She broke into a mocking laugh.
"Aye!" replied Buckingham, quietly
but significantly. "The orders are issued
tor its building and the people are cheer-
ing Nell throughout the realm."
"■'Ma for.'" came from the Duchess's
contemptuous lips. "And what say the
rabble of Portsmouth?"
"That she is Louis's pensioner sent
here from France— a spy!" he answered,
quickly and forcefully too. "The hawkers
cry it in the streets."
"Fools! Fools!" she mused. Then,
making sure that no arras had ears, she
continued: "Before the night is done,
thou shall hear that Luxemoourg has
fallen to the French — Mark! — Luxem-
bourg! Feed the rabble on that, my lord.
Heaven preserve King Louis! "
The Duke started incredulously. When
had Portsmouth seen the King.? and by
what arts had she won the royal consent.?
A score cf questions trembLd on his lips
— and yet were checked before the utter-
ance. Not an intimation before of her suc-
cess had reached his ear, though he had
[ i86 ]
±J^^^:Vrralejfa Merry Tm,
advised with the Duch^^Hi^i^^IT^
s.nct the.r accidental meeting below
Nell s terrace. Indeed, in his heart h^
had never believed that she wo, d be
able so to dupe the Kint. TK j
from fK„ „ * L , ^ S- ^"^ shadow
om the axe which fell upon Charles 1
the temper of the English people and
of well-known treaties 1h^ . •
ofCharlfsTI ■ r '.^!' 'he acquiescence
or cnarles II. m Louis's projeft would be
but madness. Luxembourg was the kev
s rateget.cally to the Netherlands nd the
states beyond. Its fall meant the tut
mentation of the Empire of Louis ^^-"
personal ignominy of Charles' ''''
cautL^ur'Si'S^T'^^^'f^''^^-'^
sent — " ^ Charles did not con-
"Nay," replied the Duchess, in her
sweetest way, "but I knew he would
and s,3 I sent the message in advance''
ise"c2rrr""K''^'^'>'^"-'"--
^e cned Buckingham, in tones of ad-
miration mixed with fear.
" ^ ''"^^ '"y P°^er, my lord," she said
[ '87]
Mistress Nell
confidently; and her eyes glistened witli
womanly pride as she added: "The con-
sent will come."
Buckingham's eyes — usually so frank
— fell; and, for some seconds, he stood
seemingly lost in abstraction over the
revelations made by the Ducliess. He was,
however, playing a deeper game than he
appeared to play. Apparently in thought-
lessness, he began to toy with a ring which
hung upon a ribbon about his neck and
which till then had been cautiously con-
cealed.
"Nay, what have you there?" ques-
tioned Portsmouth.
Buckingham's face assumed an expres-
sion of surprise. He pretended not to com-
prehend the import of her words.
She pointed to the ring.
He glanced at it as though he re-
gretted it had been seen, then added care-
lessly, apparently to appease but really to
whet the Duchess's curiosity:
"Merely a ring the King gave Nell."
There was more than curiosity now in
Portsmouth's eyes.
[ i88 J
A Merry r,ik- of a M,.,.,.y t^-
'nil-
"I borrowed it to show it you," con-
tinue. Buckingham, indifferently, then
asked, with tantalizingcahiiness:" Is your
mission quite complete?"
With di^Hculty, the Duchess mastered
herself. Without replying, she walke<i
s owly toward the table, in troubled
thought. The mask of crime revealed it-
self m her beautiful features, as she said
half to herself:
"I have a potion I brought from
France.
She was of the Latin race and poison
was a heritage.
Buckingham caught the words not
meant for him, and realized too well
their sinister meaning. Poison Nell' His
eyes swept the room fearfully and he
shuddered. He hastened to Portsmouth's
side, and in cold whispers importuned
her:
" For Heaven's mercy, woman, as you
love yourself and me — poison is an un-
he^thy diet to administer in England."
The Duchess turned upon him impa-
tiently. The black lines faded slowly from
[ 189 ]
Mistress Nell
her face; but they still were there, be-
neath the beauty-lines.
"My servants have watched her house
without avail," she sneered. "Your plan
is useless; my plan will work."
"Stay!" pleaded Buckingham, still
fearful. "We can ourselves entice some
adventurous spirit up Nell's terrace, then
trap him. So our end is reached."
"Aye," replied the Duchess, in milder
mood, realizing that she had been over-
hasty at least in speech, "the minx pre-
sumes to love the King, and so is hon-
est! But of her later. The treaties! He
shall sign to-night — to-night, I say."
With a triumphant air, she pointed
to the quills and sand upon a table in
readiness for his signing.
Buckingham smiled approvingly; and
in his smile lurked flattery so adroit that
it pleased the Duchess despite herself
" T>ord Hyde, St. Albans and the rest,"
said he, "are here to aid the cause."
"Bah!" answered Portsmouth, with
a shrug. "In the field, men; at court,
women! This girl has outwitted you all.
[ 190 ]
A Merry Tale of a Mary Time
I must accomplish my mission alone.
Charles must be Louis's pensioner in
full; England the slave of PVance' My
fortune — Lt' Grand Ro/'s regard — hane
upon it." °
Buckingham cautioned her with a
startled gesture.
"Nay," smiled Portsmouth, compla-
cently, "I may speak frankly, my lord;
for your head is on the same block still
with mine."
"And my heart, Louise," he said,in ad-
miration. "Back to the King! Do noth-
ing rash. We will banish thy rival, dear
hostess."
He did not add, save in thought, that
Nell's banishment, if left to him, would
be to his own country estate.
There was almost a touch of afFeftion
in the Duchess's voice as she prepared to
join the King.
"Leave all to me, my lord," she said,
then courtesied low.
"Yea, all but Nell!" refleded his lord-
ship, as he watched her depart. "With
this ring, I'll keep thee wedded to jeal-
[ 191 ]
! I
!l I
i
Mistress Ne/l
ous interest, and so enrich my purse and
power. Thou art a great woman, fair
France; I half love thee myself. But
thou knowest only a moiety of my pur-
pose. The other half is Nell!"
He stood absorbed in hisown thoughts.
The draperies at the further door-way,
on which was worked in Gobelin tapes-
try a forest with its grand, imposing oaks,
were pushed nervously aside. Jack Hart
entered, mask in hand, and scanned the
room with skeptic eye.
"A happy meeting," mused Bucking-
ham, reflefting upon Hart's one-time
ardour for Mistress Nell and upon the
possibility that that ardour, if dlredled by
himself, might yet compromise Nell in
the King's eyes and lead to the realiza-
tion of his own fond dreams of greater
wealth and power and, still more sweet,
to the possession of his choice among all
the beauties of the realm.
"It is a sad hour," thought Hart,
glancing at the merry dancers through
the arch, " when all the world, like play-
ers, wear masks."
[ 192 ]
^ M erry Tale of a Merry Time
Buckingham assumed an air ot bon-
homie.
"Whither away. Master Hartf" he
called after the player, who started per-
ceptibly at his voice. "Let not thy fancy
play truant to this gay assemblage, to
mope in St. James's F:'-k."
"My lord!" exclaimed Hart, hotly.
The tire, however, was gone in an in-
stant; and he added, evidently under
syong constraint: "Pardon; but we pre-
fer to change the subjedt."
"The drift's the same," chuckled the
shrewd Huckingham; "we may turn it
to advantage." He approached the player
in a friendly manner. " Be not angry," he
exclaimed soothingly; "for there's a rift
even in the clouds of'love. Brighter, man;
for King Charles was seeking your wits
but now."
"He'd have me play court-fool for
him?" asked the melancholy mime, who
bad in his nature somewhat of the'cyni-
cism of Jaqucs, without his grand imag-
inings of soul. "There are many off the
stage, my lord, in better pradtice."
r 19^ 1
111
Mistress Nell
"True, most true," acquiesced Buck-
ingham; "I could point them out."
He would have continued in this vein
but beyond the door, whence Hart had
just appeared, leading by a stair-way of
cupids to the entrance to the palace, arose
the sound of many voices in noisy alter-
cation.
"Hark ye, hark!" he exclaimed, in an
alarmed tone. "What is't.? Confusion in
the great hall-way below. We'll see to't."
He had assumed a certain supervision
of the palace for the night. With the
player as a body-guard, he accordingly
made a hasty exit.
CHAP T i: R XII
Bniu /till
'iiir It m\ niim'.
1 HE room was not long vacant. The
hostess herself returned. She was radiant.
>* s she crossed the threshold, she
glanced hack proudly at the revellers,
who, led by his Majesty, were turning
night into day with their merry-making.
She had the right, indeed, to he proud;
for the evening, though scarce half spent,
bespoke a complete triumph for her en-
tertainment. This was the more gratify-
ing too, in that she knew that there were
many at court v.ho did not wish the " im-
ported " Duchess, as they called her, or lier
funiiion well, though they always smiled
sweetly at each meeting and at each part-
ing and deigned new to feast beyond the
hmit of gentility upon hjr rich wines and
collations.
The bai masque, however, as we have
seen, was with the Duchess but a means
r T«- 1
L 'yj j
Mistress Ne//
■ji i
to an end. She took from the hand of^a
pretty page the treaties, lately re-drawn
by Bouillon, and glanced hastily over the
parchments to see that her instruftions
trom Louis were covered by their words
A smile played on her arching lips as she
read and re-read and realized how near
sne was to viftory.
",'Tis Portsmouth's night to-ni^htl"
she mused. "My great mission to Eng-
land IS nearly ended. Dear France, I feel
that I was born for thy advancement "
She seated herself by the table, where
the materials for writing had been placed
and .urther dwelt upon the outcome of
the royal agreements, their contingencies
and triumphs. She could write Charles
Rex almost as well as the King, she
thought, as her eye caught tne places left
tor hlC Clrm.^*- ^
for his signature
Bouillon never fails me," she mut-
tered. "Drawn by King Charles's con-
sent, except perchance some trifling ar-
ticles which I have had interlined for
Louis s sake. We need not speak of them
It would be troublesome to Charles A
[ 196 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
little name and seal will make these pa-
pers history."
Herrefleftions were interrupted by the
return of Buckingham, who was laugh-
ing so that he could scarcely speak.
"What is 't?" she asked, petulantly.
"The guard have stayed but now a
gallant, Irish youth," replied he, as best
he could for laughter, "who swore that
he had letters to your highness. Oh, he
swore, indeed; then pleaded; then threat-
ened that he would fight them all with
single hand. Of course, he won th^ ladies'
hearts, as they entered the great hall, by
his boyish swagger; but not the guards.
Your orders were imperative— that none
unbidden to the ball could enter."
" 'Tis well," cried Portsmouth. " None
none! Letters to me! Did he say from'
whom.?"
"He said," continued Buckingham,
still laughing, "that he was under orders
of his master to place them only in the
Duchess's hands. Oh, he is a very lordly
youth."
The Duke throughout made a sad
r 107 1
|!)i
Mistress Nell
attempt at amusing imitations of the
brogue of the strange, youthful, Irish
visitor who, with so much importunity,
sought a hearing.
Portsmouth reflefted a moment and
then said: " I wi.l see him, Buckingham
but briefly." *
Buckingham, not a little surprised,
bowed and departed graciously to con-
vey the bidding.
The Duchess lost herself again in
thought. "His message may have im-
port," she reflea^ed. " Louis sends strange
messengers ofttimes."
In the midst of her reverie, the tapestry
at the door was again pushed back, cau-
tiou 'y this time, then eagerly. There en-
tered the prettiest spark that ever graced
a kingdom or trod a measure.
It was Nell, accoutred as a youth; and
a bold play truly she was making. Her
face revealed that she herself was none
too sure of the outcome.
"By my troth," she thought, as she
glanced uncomfortably about the great
room, "I feel as though I were all
[ 198 ]
A Merry Tal e of a Merry Time
breeches." She shivered. " It is such a ht-
tle way through these braveries to me."
Her eyes turned involuntarily to the
corner where Portsmouth sat, now dream-
ing of far-off France.
"The Duch ss!" her lips breathed, al-
most aloud, in her excitement. " So you 'd
play hostess to his Majesty," she thought,
" give a royal ball and leave poor Nelly
home, would you.?"
The Duchess was conscious only of a
presence.
''Garpn!" she called, without look-
ing up.
Nell jumped a foot.
"That shook me to the boots," she
ejaculated, softly.
"Garpn!" again called the impatient
Duchess.
" Madame," answered Nell, fearfully,
the words seeming to stick in her fair
throat, as she hastily removed her hat and
bethought her that she must have a care
or she would lose her head as well, by
forgetting that she was an Irishman with
a brogue.
[ 199 ]
Mistress Ncl!
"Will) are you?" asked Portsmouth,
haughtily, as, rising, with surprised eves,
she became aware of the presence of a
stranger.
Indeed, it is not strange that she was
surprised. The youth who stood before
her was dressed from top to toe in gray
the silver-gray which lends a colour to the
cheek and piquancy to the form. The dress
was of the latest cut. The hat had the
longest plume. Thecloak hung gracefully
save where the glistening sword broke its
falling lines. The boots were neat, well
rounded and well cut, encasing a jaunty
leg. The dress was edged with silver.
Ah, the strange youth was a love, in-
deed, with his bright, sparkling eyes, his
lips radiant with smiles, his curls falling
to his shoulders.
" Well," stammered Nell, in awkward
hesitation but in the richest brogue, as the
Duchess repeated her inquiry, " I 'm just
I, madame."
The Duchess smiled despite herself
" You Ve just you," she said. "That's
very clear."
[ 200 ]
full!'
ilii
A Me rry^ rale of a Merry Time
iNell, still fearful of her ground.
"A modest masker, possibly," sug-
gested Portsmouth, observing the youth s
embarrassment and wishing to assist him
"Yea, very modest," replied Nell, her
sp chstil' a imbling," almost ashamed."
I'ortsmouth's eyes looked sharply at
her. ^ ^
"She suspefts me," thought Nell, and
her heart leaped into her throat. " 1 am
lost — boots and all."
" Your name.? " demanded the Duchess
again, impatiently.
For the life of her Nell could not think
of It.
" You see," she replied evasively, " I 'm
in London for the first time in my present
self, madame, and "
"Your name and mission, sir.?" The
tone was imperative.
Nell's wits returned to her.
"Beau Adair is my name," she stam-
mered, "and your service my mission."
It was out, though it had like to have
choked her, and Nell was more herself
Mistress Nell
!i:
again. The worst sh ■ had feared was that
the Duchess might discover her identity
and so turn the tables and make her the
laughing-stock at court. She grew, in-
deed, quite hopeful as she observed a
kindly smile play upon the Duchess's lips
and caught the observation : " Beau Adair!
A pretty name, and quite a pretty fellow."
A smile of self-satisfadtion and a low
bow were Nell's reply.
"Vain coxcomb!" cried Portsmouth,
reprovingly, though she was highly
amused and even pleased with the strange
youth's conceit.
"Nay; if I admire not myself," wist-
fully suggested Nell, in reply, with pre-
tence of much modesty, " who will praise
poor me in this great palace?"
"You are new at court?" asked Ports-
mouth, doubtingly.
"Quite new," asserted Nell, gaining
confidence with each speech. "My Lon-
don tailor made a man of me only to-day."
"A man of you only to-day!" cried
the Duchess, in wonderment.
" He assured me, madame," Nell hast-
r .,_-
A Merry Tale of g Merry Time
ened to expkhi, " thatThnkhbiTi^^s
the man. He did not lik^ my former fash-
ion. It hid too much that was good, he
said. I am the bearer of this letter to the
great Duchess of Portsmouth; that you
are lihe, I know by your royalty."
She bowed with ajaunty, boyish bow
sweeping the floor with her plumed hat,'
as she offered the letter.
"Oh, you are the gentleman," saia
lortsmouth, recalling her request to
Buckmgham, which for the instant had
quite escaped her. She took the letter and
broke the seal eagerly.
"She does not suspeft," thought Nell;
and she crossed quickly to the cur-
tained arch, leading to the music and the
dancing, in the hope that she might see
the King.
Portsmouth, who was absorbed in the
letter, did not observe her.
" From Rochet ! Dear Rochet ! " mused
the Duchess, as she read aloud the lines:
"'The bearer of this letter is a young
gallant, very modest and very little versed
in the sins of court.'"
[ 203 ]
Mistress Nell
"Very little," muttered Nell, with a
mischievous wink, still intent upon the
whereabouts and doings or the King.
"'He is of excellent birth,'" continued
the Duchess, reading, "'brave, young and
to be trusted — to he trusted. I commend
him to your kindness, protection and ser-
vice, during his stay in town.'"
She reflected a moment intently upon
the letter, then looked up quickly. JSIell
returned, somewhat confused, to her side.
"This is a very strong letter, sir," said
Portsmouth, with an inquiring look.
"Yes, very strong," promptly acqui-
esced Nell; and she chuckled as she
recalled that she had written it herself,
taking near a fortnight in the composi-
tion. Her fingers ached at the memory.
"Where did you leave Rochet.?" in-
quired the Duchess, almost incredulously.
"Leave Rochet.?" thought Nell,
aghast. " I knew she would rsk me some-
thing like that."
There was a moment's awkwardness —
Nell was on dilHcult ground. She feared
lest she might make a misstep which
r ,,
L -"^
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
would reveal her identity. The Dudie^
grew impatient. Finally, Nell mustered
courage and made a bold play for it, as
ever true to her brogue.
" Where did I leave Rochet? " she said,
as if she had but then realized the Duch-
ess's meaning, then boldly answered: " In
Cork."
" In Cork ! " cried Portsmouth, in blank
surprise. " I thought his mission took him
to Dublin." She eyed the youth closely
and wondered if he really knew the mis-
sion.
"Nay; Cork!" firmly repeated Nell;
for sh. dared not retrad, lest she awaken
suspicion. "I am quite sure it was Cork
I left him in."
" Quite sure.? " exclaimed the Duchess,
her astonishment increasing with each
confused reply.
" Well, you see. Duchess," said Nell,
"we had an adventure. It was dark; and
we were more solicitous to know whither
the way than whence."
The Duchess brokt into a merry laugh.
The youth had captured her, with his
L -05 ]
Mistress Nell
wistful, Irish eyes, his brogue and his
roguish ways.
" We give a ball to-night," she said,
gaily. "You shall stay and see the King."
"The King!" cried Nell, kigning
I'right. "I should tremble so to see the
King."
" You need not fear," laughed the host-
ess. "He will not know you."
"I trust not, truly," sighed Nell, with
much meaning, as she scanned her scanty
masculine attire.
"Take my mask," said the Duchess,
graciously. " As hostess, I cannot wear it."
Nell seized it eagerly. She would be
safe with this little band of black across
her ves. Even the King would not know
her.
"I shall feel more comfortable behind
this," she said, naively.
" Did you ever mask.? " inquired Ports-
mouth, gaily.
"Nay, I am too honest to deceive,"
answered Nell; and her eyes grew so
round and so big, who would not be-
lieve her?
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
"Hut you arc at court now," laughed
the Duchess, patronizingly. "Masking is
the first sin at court."
"Ti)en I'll begin with the first sin,"
said Nell, slyly, raising the Duchess's fin-
gers to her lips, "and run the gamut."
They passed together into the great
ball-room, Nell exercising all her arts of"
fascination — and they were many. The
music ceased as they entered. The dancers,
and more especially the ladies, eyed curi-
ously the jaunty figure of the new-comer.
There were merry whisperings among
them.
" Who can he be? " asked one, eagerly.
"What a pretty fellow!" exclaimed a
second, in admiration. "I've been eying
him," said a third, cotnplacently.
The men too caught the infection.
"Who can he be.?" inquired Rochester.
" Marry, I '11 find out," said Lady Ham-
ilton, with an air of confidence, having
recovered by this time from the kisses
which had been thrust upon her and be-
ing now ready for a new flirtation.
She approached Adair, artfully, and
L '• 7 J
Mistress Ncl/
?
inquired: "Who art thou, my butterfly?
Tell me now, e'er I die." 1 ler attitude was
a credit to the extremes of euphuism.
There was general laughter at her pre-
sumptuous and effete pose and phrase.
The ladies had gathered about the new
hero, like bees about new clover. The
gallants stood, or sat as wall-flowers in a
row, deserted. The King too h.id been
abandoned for the lion of the hour and
sat disconsolate.
"Peace, jealous ones!" cried Lady
Hamilton, reprovingly, then continued,
with a winning way: "I know thou art
Apollo himself, good sir."
Nell smiled complacently, though she
felt her mask, to assure herself that it was
firm.
"Apollo, truly," she said, jauntily, "if
thou art his lyre, sweet lady."
Lady Hamilton turned to the Duchess.
"Oh, your grace," she asked, lan-
guishingly, "tell us in a breath, tell us,
who is this dainty beau of the ball?"
" How am I to know my guests," an-
swered Portsmouth, feigning innocence,
r 208 1
^ Merry Tale of a Merry Time
"with their vizors ilnwn? Nay, sweet sir
unmask and please tlic ladies, 1' faith, whd
art thou?"
The hostess was delighted. The popu-
larity of the new-comer was lending a
unique novelty to her entertainment. She
was well pleased tliat she had detained
Monsieur Adair. She thought she saw a
jealous look in the King's usually care-
lessly indifferent gaze when she encour-
aged the affectionate glances of the Irish
youth.
"!' fait!i," laughed Nell, in rcpK, "I
know not. Duchess."
"D'ye hear.?" said Portsmouth. "He
knows not himself."
"But I have a suspicion. Duchess,"
sighed Nc!!
" Hark ye," laughed Portsmouth, with
a very pretty pout, "he has a suspicion,
ladies."
"Nay, you will tell?" protested Nell,
as the ladies gathered closer about her
in eager expectation.
1 here was a unison of voices to the
contrary.
Mistress Nell
" Trust us, fair sir," said one. " Oh, we
are good at keeping secrets."
"Then, 'twixt you and me, I am — "
^egan Nell; and she hesitated, teasingly.
The group about grew more eager,
more wild with curiosity.
" Yes, yes — " they exclaimed together.
"I am," said Nell, "the Pied Piper
of Hamlin Town."
"The rat-catcher," cried Portsmouth.
"Oh, oh, oh!"
There was a lifting of skirts, revealing
many high-born insteps, and a scramble
for chairs, as the ladies reflefted upon
the long lines of rats in the train of the
mesmeric Pied Piper.
"Flee, flee!" screamed Lady Hamil-
ton, playfully. " He may pipe us into the
mountains after the children."
"You fill me with laughter, ladies,"
said Portsmouth to her guests. " The man
does not live who can entrap me."
"The woman does," thought Nell, as,
mock-heroically, she placed near her lips
a reed-pipe which she had snatched from
a musician in the midst of the fun; and,
[ 2IO ]
A Merry Tale of a 4e-yy
whistling a merry tune .vh'cd rhe pipe
took no part in, she circled about the
room, making quite a wizard's exit.
The ladies, heart and soul in the fun,
fell into lineand followed, as ifspell-bound
by the magic of the Piper.
Charles, James, Rochester and the gal-
lants, who remained, each of whom had
been in turn deserted by his fair lady,
unmasked and looked at one another in
wonderment. Of one accord, they burst
into a peai of laughter.
"Sublime audacity," exclaimed
Charles. "Who is this curled darling—
this ball-room Adonis.? Ods-pitikins, we
are in the sear and yellow leaf"
"Truly, Sire," said James, dryly, "I
myself prefer a gathering of men only."
"Brother James," forthwith impor-
tuned the King, waggishly, "will you fa-
vour me with your lily-white hand for the
next dance? I am driven to extremity."
"Pardon, Sire," replied James, quite
humorously for him, " I am engaged to
a handsomer man."
"Odsfish," laughed Charles, "King
[ ^11 ]
Mistress Nell
Charles of KTigland a wall-riower. Come,
Rochester, my cpita[)li."
The King threw liimself into a chair, in
an attitude of hopeless resignation, quite
delicious.
Rochester perked up with the conceit
and humour of the situation. With the
utmost dignity, and with the quizzical,
pinched brow of the labouring muse, halt-
ing at each line, he said:
"Here lies our sovereign lord, the Kin?.
IVhose word no man relies on ;
IVho never said a foolish thing.
And never did a wise one ! "
The post-mortem verse was sufficiently
subtle and clever to revive the King's
drooping spirits; and he joined heartily
in the applause.
"The matter," he said, approvingly,
"is easily accounted for — my discourse is
my own, my actions are my Ministry's."
There was a frou-frou of petticoats.
The hostess entered gaily.
"The King! The courtiers! Un-
masked!" she exclaimed, in coy reproof.
[ 212 ]
^ Merry Tale of a Merry Time
"Fy, fy, yoi-r Majesty! For shame! Gal-
lants! Are you children that I must pair
you off?"
"We arc seeking consolation," sug-
gested Charles, dryly; "for modest souls
have small chance to-night, Louise."
He nodded significantly in the direc-
tion of the great ball-room, where the
chatter of women's voices betokened the
unrivalled popularity of Nell.
"When did you turn modest. Sire?"
slyly inquired Portsmouth, with a look
of love.
" When I was out-stripped in audacitv
by yon Hibernian youtli," replied the
King, seriously. "Who is tiiis peacock
you are introducing?"
A peal of laughtei f'-om without punift-
uated the King's speech. It was the re-
ward of a wit-thrust from Nell.
"The Piper the maids would now un-
mask? " queried Portsmouth, rapturously.
"Marry, 'tis the fascinating Beau Adair
of Cork, entertaining the ladies. Oh, he
is a love. Sire; he does not sulk in corners
See! See!"
[ 213 ]
Mistress Nell
She pointed toward the archway,
through which Nell was plainly visible.
She was strutting jauntily back, and forth
upon the promenade. It is unnecessary to
say that she was escorted by the assembled
fair ones.
As Nell caught the eye of the hostess
in the distance, she gaily tossed a kiss to
her.
" 'Sdeath, that I were a woman to hope
for one of his languishing smiles," ob-
served Buckingham.
"Even the old hens run at his call,"
sneered the pious James, in discontent;
for he too had been deserted by his lady-
love and even before the others.
The King looked at his brother with
an air of bantering seriousness, to the de-
light of all assembled.
" Brother James is jealous of the old
ones only," he observed. "You know his
favourites are given him by his priests for
penance."
A merry ripple ran through the group.
The hostess took advantage of the
King's speech to make a point.
[ 214 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
"And you are jealous of the young
ones only," she said, slyly, quickly adding
as a bid for jealousy: "Pooh, pooh! Le
Beau had letters to me. Sire. Nay, we do
not love him very much. We have not
as yet had time."
"Alas, alas," sighed Charles, with
drooping countenance, "that it should
come to this."
"My liege, I protest — " cried Ports-
mouth, hastily, fearful lest she might have
gone too far. "To-night is the first I ever
saw the youth. I adore you. Sire."
"Not a word!" commanded Charles,
with mock-heroic mien. He waved hi^
hand imperatively to his followers.
"Friends," he continued, "we will mix
masks and dominoes and to't again to
drown our sorrow."
"In the Thames.?" inquired James,
facetiously for him.
"Tush! In the punch-bowl, pious
brother! " protested the Merry Monarch,
with great dignity. "You know, a very
little water will drown even a king."
The gallants mixed masks and domi-
r 2iq 1
Mistress Nell
noes in obedience to the royal wish. The
King, sighing deeply, cast a hopeless
glance at Portsmouth, not without its
tinge of humour. He then sauntered
slowly toward the windows of the great
ball-room, followed subserviently by all
the courtiers, save Buckingham, who was
lost in converse with player Hart.
"Hark ye," suddenly broke off Buck-
ingham, observing the approach of Adair
and his adorers, "here come again the
merry maskers. By Bacchus, the li ttle ban-
tam still reigns supreme. The King and
liis gallants in tears. Let us join the mourn-
ers. Master Hart."
As the Duke and the player, the former
assuming a fraternal air for an end of hia
own, joined the royal group, Nell re-en-
tered gaily, every inch the man. She was
still surrounded by the ladies, who, flut-
tering, flattering and chattering, hung
upon her every word. With one hand she
toyed with her mask, which she had good-
naturedly dropped as none were about
who knew her. She clapped it, however,
quickly to her eyes at sight of the King.
[ 216]
A Merry rale of a Merry rime
he said, with spirit, as she held court in
the centre oftheroom.-I assure you I
am not used to such attention -from the
iaaies.
"Our hospitality is beggarly to your
deserts," sjghed Portsmouth, who^had
joined the bevy, but loud enough lor the
i^ing to hear. ^
,n"^°".'^^T'f, °'^''P°wer me. Duchess,"
answered Nell, modestly, addmg for the
sansfaftion of her own sense of humour-
No wonder we men are fools, if you
women talk like this." ^
While she was speaking. Lady Ham-
ilton whispered facetiously in Ports-
mouth s ear. '
"Beau Adair married .'"exclaimed the
Uuchess, m response. "It cannot be He
looks too gay for a married man."
'No confidences, my pretty ones"
observed Nell, reprovingly ^ '
The hostess hesitated ; then she out with
It in a merry strain.
"Lady Hamilton asks after the wife
you left at home."
[ 217 ]
I I — _^-
Mistress Nell
"My wife!" cried Nell, in astonish-
ment; for this phase of her masquerading
had not presented itself to her before.
"Great Heavens, I have no wife — I as-
sure you, ladies!"
"So?" observed Portsmouth, her curi-
osity awakened. "Modest — for a bache-
lor."
"A bachelor!" exclaimed Nell, now
fully en rapport with the spirit of the situ-
ation. "Well, — not exadly a bachelor
either, — ladies."
"Alack-a-day," sighed Lady Hamil-
ton, with a knowing glance at her com-
panions, "neither a bachelor nor a mar-
ried man ! "
"Well, you see — " explained Nell,
adroitly, "that might seem a trifle
queer, but — I'm in mourning — deeply
in mourning, ladies."
She drew a kerchief from her dress
and feigned bitter tears.
"A widower!" tittered Lady Hamil-
ton, heartlessly. "Our united congratu-
lations, sir."
The other ladies one by one sobbed
[ 218 1
ji^^^^^ryjTalcjf^aJdcrry rime
tenderly, however, lest thcv miVht re
move the nch colour fron-th^eircCk.
Mesdames sa,d Nell, reprovingly,
^^the memory .sacred. ^.X^J, ^e, very
ingbut':"i;.'^""'^°""^g^'"'°--P-
" The memory is always sacred — with
men observed Portsmouth, for the b^e-
°{her guests, not exceptin;. the Irish
youth. "Nay, tell us the name^of the fS
one who left you so young. My hea
goes out to you, dear Beau." ^
"Kind hostess," replied Nell assum
ing her tenderest tones, .,e n'ameTf
my departed self is- Nell ' "
Hart caught the word'. The player
and on the honeyed words of the Duke
of Buckingham, who was preparing the
way that he might use hin*. ^
thj;tmer'' '""""^'- "^'^° -^P^ke
The hostess too was startled
"Nell!" she e.vdaimed, with contend-
r _ - -I
L ''9 ;
Mistress Nell
ing emotions. "Strange! Another cava-
lier who graces mon hal masque to-night
has lost a loved one who' e name is Nell.
Ah, but she was unworthy of his noble
love."
She spoke pointedly at the masked
King, who started perceptibly.
"Yes," he thought; for his conscience
smote him, "unworthy — he of her."
" Unworthy, truly, if '■•■■ dances =o soon
and his own Nell dead,' added Nell, rc-
fledtivcly, but so that all might hear,
more especially Charles.
"Pe-chance Nell too thinks so,
thought he, as he restlessly walked away,
sighing: " 1 wish 1 were with her on the
terrace." , xt n
"'Sdeath, Duchess," contmued Nell
abruptly, in assumed horror at the sud-
den thought, "the lady's spirit may visit
the ball, to the confusion of us all. Such
things have been."
"The Nell I mean," said Portsmouth,
with a confident smile, "will not ven-
ture here, e'en in spirit."
Nell assumed a baby-innocence of face.
[ 220 j
___AJderry Talc of a Merry Time
" ^'^he has not beiiTbJdd^^iJTrcsuri^''
she queried.
" The vixen would not stop for asking "
declared Portsmouth, almost fiercely.
"Come without asking?" cried Nell
as if she could not believe that there could
be such people upon the earth. " How ill-
bred! 1 hine ear, loved one. My Nell re-
visits the world again at midnight. The
rendezvous— St. James's Park."
Hart brushed dose enough to the
group, ,n his biting curiosity, to catch
her half-whisper to Portsmouth. He at
once sought a window and fresh air, chaf-
ing with surprise and indignation at what
he had overheard.
"St. James's at midnight," he mut-
tered. " 'T is my Nell's abode."
The Duchess herself stood stunned at
what appeared to her a possible revelation
of great import.
"St James's!" she thought. "Can he
mean Madame Gwyn.? No, no!"
The look of suspicion which for an in-
stant had clouded her face changed to one
ot merriment, under Adair'smagicglance.
[ 221 j
Mistress Nell
" And you would desert me for such a
flcshless sprite?" she asked.
"Not so," said Nell, with a winning
look; "but, when my better-half returns
to life, I surely cannot refuse an interview
especially an she come from atar."
Nell's eyes arose with an expression of
sadness, while her finger pointed down-
ward in the direction of what she deemed
theprobableabodeof her departed "Nell."
Her lips twitched in merriment, however,
despite her efforts to the contrary ; and the
hostess fell a-laughing.
" Ladies," she cried, as she appealed to
one and all, "is not le Beau a delight-
so different from ordinary men?"
" I am not an ordinary man, I assure
you," Nell hastened to declare.
This assertion was acquiesced in by a
buzz of pretty compliments from the en-
tire bevy of ladies. "Positively charm-
ing!" exclaimed one. "A perfect love!"
said another.
Nell listened resignedly.
"'Sheart," she said, at length, with an
air of ennui, "I cannot help it. 'Tis all
r nno 1
i
^^rryTale^a Merry Time
part of being a man, Tmrknow'.''
"Would that all men were like you
Ic Beau! sighed the hostess, not forget-
ting to glance at the King, who again sat
disconsolate, in the midst of his attendant
courtiers, drawn up, as in line of battle
agamst the wall.
"Heaven help us if they were!"slylv
suggested Nell. ^ ^
Rochester, who h.ad been watchinir
the scene in his mischievous, artistic way
drew from Portsmouth's compliment to
Adair another meaning. He was a mix-
ture twixt a man of arts and letters and
batan s own- a man after the King's own
heart. Turning to the Kin-, with no de-
sire to appease the mischief done, he said
bantermgly: '
"Egad, there's a rap at vou, Sire
trance would make you jealous."
The Duke of Buckingham too, though
he appeared asleep, had seen it all.
"And succeeds, methinks," he re-
i ' glancing approvingly in the di-
n "r .:,^'= I"sh youth. "A good
ally, 1 faith. °
"'J j
Mistress Nell
Nell, indeed, was using all her arts of
fascination to ingratiate herself with the
Duchess, and making progress, too.
" Your eyes are glorious, fair hostess,"
she said, in her most gallant love-tones,
"did I not see my rival in them."
She could not, however, look at Ports-
mouth for laughter, as she thought: "I
believe lying goes with the breeches; I
never was so proficient before."
The compliment aroused the King's
sluggish nature.
"I can endure no more, gallants," cried
he, with some pretence of anger, rising
abruptly, followed, of course, in each
move and grimace by his courtier-apes,
in their desire to please. "Are we to be
out-done in ourown realm by this usurper
with a brogue? Ha! The fiddlers! Ma-
dame, I claim the honour of this fair hand
for the dance."
At the sound of the music, he had
stepped gallantly forward, taking the
hostess's hand.
"My thanks, gallant masker," replied
the Duchess, pretending not to know
[ 224 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
him for flattery's sake, "but I am — "
Tohersurprise,shehadnoopportunity
to complete the sentence.
"Engaged ! Engaged ! " interposed
Nell, commg unceremoniously between
them, with swaggering assumption and
an eye-shot at the King through the por-
tal of her mask. " Forsooth, some other
time, strange sir."
The hostess stood horrified.
" Pardon, Sir Masker," she hastened to
explam; "but the dance was pledged — "
"No apologies, Duch-iss," replied the
Kmg, as he turned away, carelessly, with
the reflection: "All's one to me at this
assemblage."
He crossed the room, turning an instant
to look, with ahumorous,quizzicalglance
at Portsmouth. Nell mistook the glance
for a jealous one and, perking up quickly,
caught the royal eye with a challenging
eye, tapping her sword-hilt meaningly.
Had the masks been oiF, the situation
would have differed. As it was, the King
smiled indifferently. The episode did not
aftedt him further than to touch his sense
[ 225 ]
Mistress Nell
i
li 'i
of humour. Nell turned triumphantly to
her partner.
"Odsbud," she exclaimed, with a de-
licious, youthful swagger, " we may have
to measure swords in your behalf, dear
hostess. I trow the fellow loves you."
"Have a care," whispered the Duch-
ess, nervously. " It is the King."
"What care I for a king?" saucily
replied Nell, with a finger-snap. She
had taken good care, however, to speak
very low. "My arm, my arm. Duchess ! "
she continued, with a gallant step.
"Places, places; or the music will out-
strip us."
" Strut on, my pretty bantam," thought
Buckingham, whose eyes lost little that
might be turned to his own advantage;
"I like you well."
There was no mending things at this
stage by an apology. The Duchess, there-
fore, tactfully turned the aifair into one
of mirth, in which she was quickly joined
by her guests. With a merry laugh, she
took the Irish gallant's proffered arm,
and together they led the dance. The
[ 226 ]
_^^£ Merry Tale of a Merry Time
King picked a lady indifferently from
among the maskers.
It was a g .ceful old English measure.
-Nells roguish wits, as well as her feet
kept pace with the music. She assured
her partner that she had never loved a
woman m all her life before and followed
this with a hundred merry jests and sallies
keyed to the merry fiddles, so full of blar-
ney that all were set a-laughing. Anon,
the gallants drew their swords and crossed
them m the air, while the ladies tiptoed
in and out. Nell's blade touched the
King s blade. When all was ended the
swords saluted with a knightly flourish
then tapped the floor.
There was an exultant laugh from one
and all, and the dance was done.
Nell hastened to her partner's side She
caught the Duchess's hand and kissed it.
" You dance divinely, your grace," she
said. " A goddess on tiptoe."
"Oh, Beau Adair!" replied the Duch-
ess, courtesying low; and her eyes showed
that she was not wholly displeased at the
warmth of his youthful adoration.
r 227 1
Mistress Nell
"Oh, Duchess!" said Nell, fondly, ac-
knowledging the salute.
The Duchess hastened to join his Maj-
esty and together they threaded their way
through many groups.
Nell tossed her head.
" How I love her! " she muttered, veil-
ing the sarcasm under her breath.
She crossed the great room, her head
eredt. Her confidence was quite restored.
This had been the most difficult bit of
adling she had ever done; and how well
it had been done!
The other dancers in twos and threes
passed from the room in search of quiet
corners, in which to whisper nothings.
Nell's eyes fell upon Strings, who had
had a slight turn for the better in the
world and who now, in a dress of some-
what substantial green, was one of the
fiddlers at the Duchess's ball.
" How now, iirrah ! " she said, sharply,
as she planted herself firmly before him
to his complete surprise. " I knew you
were here."
She placed one of her feet in a devil-
[ 228 ]
A Merry Tale of a M erry Time
may -care fashion upon a convenient chair
in manly contempt of its upholstery and
peeped amusedly through her mask at
her old friend. He looked at her in blank
amazement.
"Gads-bobh^" he exclaimed, in con-
fusion, "the Irish gentleman knows me!"
"There's nothing like your old fiddle.
Strings," continued Nell, still playing
with delight upon his consternation. "It
fills me with forty dancing devils. If you
were to play at my wake, I would pick
up my roud, and dance my way into
Parad' .
"Your lordship has danced to my fid-
dling before.? " he gasped, in utter amaze-
ment.
"Danced!" gleefully cried Nell. "I
have followed your bow through a thou-
sand jigs. To the devil with these court-
steps I'mfor ajigjigjigjigjig. Oh,
1 mtor ajig! Tune up, tune up, comrade;
and we'll have a touch of the old days
at the King's House."
"The King's House ! Jigs ! " exclaimed
the fiddler, now beside himself,
r 22n 1
Mistress NeH
"Jigs!" chuckled Nell. "Jigs are my
line of business."
Oranges, will you have my oranges?
Sweet as love-lips, dearest mine.
Picked by Spanish maids divine, —
The room had now quite cleared; and,
protefted by a friendly alcove, Nell punft-
uated the old song with a few happily
turned jig-steps. Strings looked at her a
moment in bewilderment: then his face
grew warm with smiles; the mystery was
explained.
"Mistress Nell, as I live," he cried,
joyously, "turned boy!"
" The devil fly away with you, you old
idiot! Boy, indeed!" replied Nell, indig-
nantly. "I'm a full-grown widower!"
She had removed her mask and was
dancing about Strings gleefully.
There was the sound of returning
voices.
"Oons, you will be discovered," ex-
claimed Strings, cautiously.
"Marry, I forgot," whispered Nell,
glancing over her shoulder. "You may
[ ^30 3
A Merry Tale of g M erry Time
have to help me out o' this scrape, Strings
before the night is done."
"You can count on me, Mistress Nell,
with life," he replied, earnestly.
"I believe you ! " said Nell, in "her sym-
pathetic, hearty w^ay. Her mind reverted
to the old days when Strings and she were
at the King's. "Oh, for just one jig with
no petticoats to hinder."
Nell, despite herself, had fallen into an
old-time jig, with much gusto, for her
heart was for a frolic always, when Strings
seized her arm in consternation, point-
ing through the archway.
"The King!" she exclaimed.
She clapped her mask to her eyes and
near tumbled through the nearest arras out
of the room in her eagerness to escape
dragging her ever-faithful comrade with
her.
^^^
«»5
CHAPTE R XIII
For the glory of E land?
1 HE King entered the room with his
historic stride. His brow wasclouded; but
It was all humorous pretence, for trifles
were not wont to weigh heavily upon his
Majesty. With him came Portsmouth.
"Can you forgive me, Sire.?" she
asked. " I had promised the dance to Beau
Adair. I did not know you, Sire; you
masked so cleverly."
"'Sdeath, fair flatterer!" replied the
King. "I hive lived too long to worry
o'er the freaks of women."
"The youth knew not to whom he
spoke," still pleaded Portsmouth. "His
introduction here bespeaks his pardon.
Sire."
The King looked sardonic, but his
laugh had a human ring.
"He is too pretty to kill," he de-
clared, dramatically. " We '11 forgive him
r 2^2 1
A Merry Tale ofTNui^^^^^Ti^
iously! "°"^ "'^'^ Portsmouth, anx-
"It is late," he replied
"Not while the King is here" she
s.ghed. "Night comes only when he de!
psrts.
"Your words are sweet," said Charles
thoughtfully observing her. '
She sighed again.
"My thoughts stumble in your
K ufv"'?-:'^'-^g'-«i'^^v-not
iinglish blood withm my veins "
"And why?"
,C7^ ^'"^ '^""''^ '■■"'* ^"'^ Jove me
then. He does not now. I am French and
powerless to do him good."
There was a touch of honest sadness
m her speech which awakened the Kinjr's
sympathy. ^
« V ■ -^t^'" ^"^ s^''^ Jiastily, to comfort her;
tis thy fancy Thy entertainment hath
""'^x^f "'H-'°^°"'^ ^"d Louise."
Think not of Louis and Louise," she
said, sadly and reproachfully, "but of thy
dear self and England's glory. For shame!
i. - j j
Mistress Nell
Ah, Sire, my childhood-dreams were of
sunny France, where I was born; at Ver-
sailles — at Fontainebleau among the
monarch trees — my early womanhood
sighed for love. France gave me all but
that. It lame not till I saw the English
King!"
The siren of the Nile never looked
more bewitchingly beautiful than this
siren of France as she half reclined upon
the couch, playing upon the King's heart
with a bit of memory. His great nature
realized her sorrow and encompassed it.
"And am I not good to thee, child?"
he asked. He took her hand and responded
to her eyes, though not with the tender-
ness of love — the teiiderness for which
she sought.
"You are good to none," she replied,
bitterly ; " for you are not good to Charles."
" You speak enigmas," he said, curious.
"Have you forgotten your promise.? "
she asked, naively.
"Nay; the passport, pretty one?" he
answered, amused at the woman's wiles.
" All this subterfuge of words for that !
[ 234 ]
He smiled kindly as he took the r,ass
port from h.s girdle, handed it to her and
turned to take his leave ^'°^^'^^^
said '^L^';;'.tT^'°"-''^-^'^y'S'<' she
sam, h..„ly; for her mission was not vef
ZTZ '"' ^^^ -gh^ was now 7e
gone. Passports are trifles. Will you no
W^the Dutch to Louis and hisTmyl
She placed her arms about his neck
and looked enticingly into his eyes. "'
am, he replied, kindly, "mvDeonle
demand that I intervene ^^nds^ta^X
brother Louis's aggressive hand;" ^ ^
cov t'^ people king.? "she asked, with
coy nsinuation. "Do they know be^rfor
and^ ^e ' ^tT'^ ""ly' ^'- ^' ^^ y°- good
and theirs, I beseech, no more royal svm
Pathy for Holland. I speak to aTod^eT
tanglementsforKingcLlesandtomake'
his reign the greater. I bve you Sire "
gwtfrgt^,^-
His Majesty was influenced by her
r - _
i. 'J5 j
Mistress Nell
beauty and her arts, — what man would
not be? — but more by the sense of what
she said.
" For the glory of England?" he asked
himself "True, my people are wrong.
'Tis better we remain aloof No wars!"
He took the seat by the table, which
the Duchess offered him, and scanned
casually the parchment which she handed
to him.
Nell peered between the curtains.
Strings was close behind her.
" Bouillon's signature for France,"
mused the King. "Tis well! No more
sympathy for the Dutch, Louise, until
Holland sends a beauty to our court to
outshine France's ambassador."
He locked at Portsmouth, smiled and
signed the instrument, which had been
prepared, as he thought, in accordance
with his wishes and direttions. He then
carelessly tossed the sand over the signa-
ture to blot il.
The fair Duchess's eyes levealed all the
things which all the adjeftives of all the
lands ever meant.
[ 236 ]
Sire "I'r V^^y~^^'"^ "^""b^
He sat complacently looking into her
arts oflove. He was fascinated with her
t.strue;butitwaswithherbeauty flat-
tery and sophistry, not her heart ^
1 beheve thou dost Jove England and
^^ Portstnouth leaned fondly over his
"One more request," she said, with
modest m.en «a very little one, Sire "
^1 he King laughed buoyantly.
Nay, an I stay here," he said, "thy
thvi?tir •r"y'^'"g'^"'"-'wf^«tii
V^j ^ W'sh, sweet sovereign?"
o-,„° '"°'".^/ar''aments in England
^ire, she said, softly. ^ '
. "What, woman!" he exclaimed ris
■ng, half-aghast, half-humorour't he
srt:'°^^^'°°^^^-°p^"--f
[ 237 J
Mistress Nell
"To cross the sway of thy great royal
state-craft," she continued, quickly fol-
lowing up the advantage which her
woman's wit taught her she had gained.
"The people's sufferings from taxation
spring from Parliament only. Sire."
" 'T is true," agreed Charles, decisively.
Portsmouth half embraced him.
"For the people's good, Sire," she
urged, "for my sweetest kiss."
" You are mad," said Charles, yet three-
fourths convinced; "my people "
" Will be richer for my kiss," the Duch-
ess interrupted, wooingly, "and their
King, by divine right and heritage, will
rule untrammelled by country clowns,
court knaves and foolish lords, who now
make up a silly Parliament. With such
a King, England will be better with no
Parliament to hinder. Think,Sire, think!"
"I have thought of this before," said
Charles, who had often found Parliament
troublesome and, therefore, useless. "The
taxes will be less and contention saved."
"Why hesitate then?" she asked.
"This hour's as good for a good deed as
any." [ 238 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Time
inquiringly, as he took the second parch-
ment from her hands. "Heaven direft my
judgment for my people's good. I ,ign."
The treaties which Louis XIV of
France had sent the artful beauty to pro-
cure lay signed upon her desk.
Nell almost pulled fhe portieres from
their hangings in her . citement.
«TU .'^'^^ t'lose papers," she bought.
1 here s no good brewing."
Portsmouth threw her arms about the
King and kissed him passionately
"Now, indeed, has England a great
Kmg she said, adding to herself: "And
that King Louis's slave!"
Charles smiled and took his leave As
he passed through the portal, he wiped
his hps, good-humouredly muttering-
Portsniouth's kisses and Nell's do not
mix well.
Portsmouth listened for a moment to
his departing footsteps, then dropped
into the chair by the table and hastily
tolded and addressed the papers.
Her mission was ended!
[ 239 ]
CHAPTER XIV
s«
He loves mi! He loves me!
N]
I ELL, half draped in the arras, had
seen the kiss in reality bestowed by Ports-
mouth but as she thought bestowed by the
King. As his Majesty departed through
the door at the opposite end of the room,
the colour came and went in her cheeks.
She could scarce breathe.
Portsmouth sat unconscious of all but
her own grand achiev^ement. She had ac-
complished what shrewd statesmen had
failed to bring about; and this would be
appreciated, she well knew, by Louis.
'"Sdeath!" muttered Nell to herself,
hotly, as, with quite a knightly bearing,
she approached the Duchess. " He kisses
her before my very eyes! He kisses hei !
I'll kill the minx!" She half unsheathed
her blade. "Pshaw! No! No! I am too
gallant to kill the sex. I '11 do the very
manly adt and simply break her heart.
[ 240 ]
A Merry rIk^ f7M^^^pf~
Aye, that is true bravery in bTi^d^^^
"er manner changed
;;Your grace!" she said suavely.
Yes, answered Portsmouth, her eves
still gleammg triumphantly ^
vours?"'""' ^°" ^'^ ^^"''' °^ y^"-- f^-
"Yes."
. 'Such a gift from lips less fair " con-
tinued Nell, all in wooing vein, ' 'wou"d
make a beggar royal."
The ho-:ss was tc xhed with the
phrasing of the compliment. She smiled.
ftir? " "k "^""'^ ''" P^""^^'^ '° think me
fair.? she coyly asked, with the air of
one convmced that it could not well be
otherwise.
von "t''''?M",/°" ^"'^^ g^"^"' thinks
y°"V ^']^^ Nell, with an angry toss of
King. Charles's kiss upon her lips? " she
thought. «'T.s mine, and I will favek"
In the twinkling of an eye, she threw
both arms wildly about the neck of the
asonished hostess and kissed her force!
fully upon the lips. Then, with a ringing
[ 241 1
Mistress Nell
laugh, tinged with triumph, she stepped
back, assuming a defiant air.
The Duchess paled with anger. She rose
quickly and, turning on the pretty youth,
exclaimed: "Sir, what do you mean?"
"Tilly-vally!" replied the naughty
Nell, in her most winning wav. "A frown
upon that alabaster brow, a pout upon
those rosy lips; and all for nothing!"
"■Parbleu!" exclaimed the indignant
Duchess. " Your impudence is outrageous,
sir! We will dispense with your company.
Good night!"
"Ods-pitikins!" swaggered Nell,
feigning umbrage. "Angry because I
kissed you! You have no right, madame,
to be angry."
"No right.?" asked Portsmouth, her
feelings tempered by surprise.
" No right," repeated Nell, lirmly. " It
is I who should be outraged r... your anger."
"Explain, sir," said the Duchess,
haughtily.
Nell stepped toward the lady, and, as-
suming ' -r most tender tone, with wist-
ful, loviuj; eyes, declared;
[ 242 ]
__J^_Merryjralejf a Merry Time
" f^ecause your graZ7^^7h^:;;7i^;7^_
precation of what my temptation was to
KISS you.
J^^^ ,^l^^T'' .^°""fenance glowed
with dehght, despite herself.
"Tfaith, was there a temptation?" she
asked, quite mollified.
mI^? ,r^''^^^''".'"S passion," cried
Well following up her advantage.
And you were disappointed, sir?"
asked Portsmouth suggestively, her vanity
tailing captive to the sweet cajolery
"I only got yon courtier's kiss," sau-
cily pouted Nell, " so lately bestowed on
« Do you know whose kiss that was?"
inquired the Duchess.
"It seemed familiar," answered Nell
dryly. '
"The King's," said Portsmouth
proudly. '
"The King's!" cried Nell, opening
wide her eyes. "Take back your ki.s. I
would not have it."
;; Indeed!" said Portsmouth, smiling.
1 is too volatile," charged Nell, de-
r 2A-? 1
Mistress Nell
cisi vely. " 'T is here, 't is there, 't is every-
where bestowed. Each rosy tavern-wench
with a pretty ankle commands it halt. A
kiss is the gift of God, the emblem of
true love. Take back the King's kiss; I
do not wish it."
" He does not love the King," thought
Portsmouth, ever on the lookout for ad-
vantage. "A possible ally!"
She turned upon the youth, with hu-
morous, mocking lip, and said reprov-
ingly: "A kiss is a kiss the world over,
fair sir; and the King's kisses are sacred
to Portsmouth's lips."
"Zounds," replied Nell, with a wicked
wink, " not two hours since, he bestowed
a kiss on Eleanor Gwyn "
"Nell Gwyn!" cried the Duchess, in-
terrupting; and she started violently.
"With oaths, mountains high," con-
tinued Nell, with pleasurable harshness,
"that his lips were only for her."
The Duchess stood speechless, quiver-
ing from top to toe.
Nell herself swaggered carelessly across
the room, muttering mischievously, as
[ 244 ]
A Merry Ta/e of a Merry rime
'"^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
of her eye: "Methinks that speech went
home. ^
"He kissed her in your presence?"
gasped Portsmouth, anxiously following
" I was not far off, dear Duchess," was
the quizzical reply.
" You saw the kiss? "
"No," answered Nell, dryly, and she
could scarce contain her merriment. "I_
I— felt the shock."
Before she had finished the sentence,
the King appeared in the doorway His
troubled spirit had led him to return, to
peak further with the Duchess regarding
the purport of the treaties. He had the
good of his people at heart, and he was
not a little anxious in mind lest he had
been over-hasty in signing such weighty
articles without a more careful reading
He stopped short as he beheld, to his sur-
prise, the Irish spark Adair in earnest
converse with his hostess.
"I hate Nell Gwyn. ' he overheard the
Uuchcss say.
[ 245 ]
Mistress Ne//
"Is't possible?" interrogated Nell
with wondering eyes. '
The King caught this utterance as well
"In a passion over Nelly? " reflefted he
'I d sooner face Cromwell's soldiers at
Boscobel! All hail the oak!"
His Majesty's eye saw with a welcome
the spreading branches of the monarch of
the forest, outlined on the tapestry and
with a sigh of relief, he glided quickly
behmd it and, joining a group of maskers,
passed into an anteroom, quite out of
ear-shot.
" Most strange ! " continued Nell, won-
deringly. "Nell told me but yesterday
that Portsmouth was charming company
— but a small eater." ^
" 'T is false," cried the Duchess, and her
brow clouded at the unpleasant memory
of the meeting at Ye Blue Boar. " I nev r
met the swearing orange-wench."
"Ods-pitikins!" acquiesced Nell, woe-
fully. "Nell's oaths are bad enough for
men." °
"Masculine creature! "spitefully ejacu-
lated the Duchess.
[ 246 ]
A Merry Tale of a M^i^i^y~rhne '
•J xr,'!^'. 'J"''*' masculine—of late"
said Nell, demurely, giving a significant
tug at her boot-top. ^
"A vulgar player," continued the in-
dignant Duchess, "loves every lover who
wears gold lace and tosses coins "
"Nay; 'tis false! " denied Nell, sharply
The Duchess looked up, surprised ^
Nell was all obeisance in an instant.
Pardon, dear hostess, a thousand par-
dons, she prayed; « but I have some rea-
son to know you misjudge Mistress Nell.
Sb^ot"-^"^''^"''^'^^^--
"You seem solicitous for her good
name, dear Beau? " suggested Portsmouth
suspiciously. '
" I amsolicitous for the name of all good
women, promptly explained Nell, who
was rarely caught a-napping, "or I would
The Duchess seemed satisfied with the
explanarion.
in ^l^T^^ ^^1"' "^^"^ ^" "^"^ c:,y^\x^r^ see
in that hornd creature? " archly asked the
[ 247 ]
Mispress Nell
Duchess, contemptuous of this liking of
the ".ronger sex.
" Alack-a-day, we men, you know,"
replied Nell, boastfully, "well — the best
of us make mistakes in women."
"Are you mistaken ? " questioned Ports-
mouth, coyly.
" What? " laughed Nell,in high amuse-
ment. " I love Nelly ? Nay, Duchess," and
her voice grew tender, " I adore but one !"
"And she?" asked the hostess, encour-
aging the youth's apparently awakening
passion.
"How can you ask?" said Nell, with
a deep sigh, looking adoringly into
Portsmouth's eyes and almost embrac-
ing her.
"Do you not fear?" inquired Ports-
mouth, well pleased.
"Fear what?" questioned Nell.
"My wrath," said Portsmouth.
"Nay, more, thy love!" sighed Nell,
meaningly, assuming a true lover's de-
jefted visage.
"My love!" cried Portsmouth, curi-
ously.
[ 248 ]
. "Try •• said the Duchess, almost re.f
■ng her head upon Nell's shouE
1 am aoing my best, said Nel'l her
eyes dancmg thn/ugh fistful lash es a
she embraced in earnest the n„^k '
g-rf.l«g. ,,,-y J,; Duchess s
fV^tsrs^Xo^^rx-
forlorn and hopeless love ^
. "Nay," laughed Portsmouth consol
'ngly, "they would sink a ship" '"
One would not," still pleaded Veil
determmed at all odds to hav'e the packet'
One! The Duchess's eves fell ,m
consc,ously upon the papers^wh ch she"
had bewitched from the King and wh kh
lay so near her heart. She starfedfirsrwith
r -. .„ 1
i. -+>' j
Mistress Nell
fear; and tlien her countenance assumed a
thoughtful cast.
There was no time now for delay. The
papers must be sent immediately. The
King might return and rctradil. Many a
battle, she knew, had been lost after it had
een won.
That night, at the Rainbow Tavern,
well out of reach of the town, of court
spies and gossips, Louis would have a
trusted one in waiting. His commission
was to receive news from various points
and transmit it secretly to France. It was
a ride of but a few hours to him.
She had purposed to send the packet
by her messenger in waiting; but he had
rendered her suspicious by his speech and
a(5tion in the late afternoon, and she ques-
tioned whether she Vi^ould be wise in trust-
ing him. Nor was she willing to risk her
triumph in the hands of Buckingham's
courier. It was too dear to her.
Indeed, she was clever enough to know
that state-secrets are often safer in the cus-
tody of a disinterested stranger than in the
hands of a friend, especially if the stranger
[ 250 ]
— . ' ^ — ^'*t r f y
be truly a s7;^c7^7n^7^-
. ^ Y ; ^" '""f^ed the ideal of
youth. ,„„oce„, honest and /n ;
"Why not?" she thought c , M,
f he reflected again npon &«■
to be trusted."" Of Irf.h!^ '
for the kin, , descent, no 'ov
tu^ned^:;rNetn1t^^
agitation^in her vote '''"°'"''^'^"'
"Can I trust you?"
"TK- f , ^^* convinced.
I 251 ]
Mistress Nell
Road, by sunrise, where one is waitii^g.
You '11 find his description on the packet."
Nell sheathed her sword.
" I know the place and road," she said,
earnestly, as she took the papers from the
Duchess's hand and placed them carefully
in her doublet.
A rustle of the curtains indicated that
some one had returned and was listening
by the arras.
"Hush!" cautioned Portsmouth. "Be
true, and you will win my love."
Nell did not reply, save to the glance
that accompanied the words. Snatching
her hat from a chair on which she had
tossed it, she started eagerly in the direc-
tion of the great stairs that led to the hall-
way below, where, an hour since, she had
been at first refused admission to the pal-
ace. Could she but pass again the guards,
all would be well; and surely there was
now no cause for her detention. Yet her
heart beat tumultuously — faster even
than when she presented herself with
Rochet's letter written by herself.
As she was hastening by the arras,
[ 252 ]
JJderry tale ofTM^rr-y rime
her quick e7irwrve;77^;;;;^;^i;;dih;
Kngsi ,^^^ behind if; and she
halted m her course. She was alert wkh
a thousand maddening thoughts crowd-
1 he King returned — an eaves-
dropper!" she refleded. "lealous of
Portsmouth; his eyes follow h^er Where
are his vows to Nell? ni defame Nelfs
name drag her fair honour in the ^
so, Charles, we '11 test your manliness and
PortsmoX"' ^'^ ^^""^ '^^-^'y -
"Madame," she exclaimed, in crisp
nervous tones, loud enough for the King^s'
I stood here, praising, honouring Eleanor
Gwyn_an apple rotten to the core' "
unden°o:e""^"^J^^"'^'^'^^'^-'-.'nan
His carelessness vanished upon the m
stant Where he had waited forTsinl'
e nl lis?"""^'' '^^ ^'^^^•"^ ^' -«'an
earnest listener.
Nell paused not.
[ ^5i ]
Mistress Nell
i
" I had a friend who told me he loved
Nell. I loved that friend. God knows I
loved him."
"Yes, yes!" urged Portsmouth, with
eagerness.
"A man of noble name and princely
ien," continued Nell, so standing that
the words went, like arrows, straight to the
King's ear and heart, "a man of honour,
who would have died fighting for Nell's
honour — "
"Misled youth," muttered Ports-
mouth.
Nell seemed not to hear the words.
" Who, had he heard a murmur of dis-
approval, a shadow cast upon her name,
woul( have sealed in death the presump-
tuous iips which uttered it."
"She betrayed his confidence?" asked
Portsmouth, breathlessly.
"Betrayed — and worse!" gesticulated
Nell, with the visage of a madman. "A
woman base, without a spark of kindli-
ness — an adventuress! This is the pidture
of that Eleanor Gwyn! Where is a cham-
pion to take up the gauntlet for such a
Nell?" [ 254 ]
A Merry Tale of-, M^^^^^Yiii^
ine Duchess saw h.m and cried out in
surpnse. Nell did not turn-only caugi"
a ch..r-top to save herself from falling^
v.- ^T\ '''' ^^^^'"er!" he called, his
voice husky with passion. "Thou base
purveyo. of lies, answer me-me fo'
those words! I am Nell's chanipioniri
force you to own your slander T lie."
j he Kmg was terribly in earnest.
mouJh f^ '"i • ^.'^^ g"^'-d •' " "lied Ports-
mouth faintly, almost overcome by the
scene In her passion that the King so re-
thalld " '°'' 'r ^"' ^^^ <l-te'forgot
that Adair was the bearer of her packet
1 want no guard," commanded the
King. "An insult to Nell Gwyn is mv
cause alone." ^ *">
Nell was in an elysium of ecstasy. She
realized nothing, saw nothing. ^
. He loves me ! He loves me ! " her trem-
bl.ng lips breathed only. "He -11 fighX
"Come; draw and defend yourself"
angrily, critd the King. /"""^seit,
Mistress Ne/l
upon
Portsmouth screamed and fell
his arm.
It is doubtful what the result would
otherwise have been. True, Nell oft-
times had fenced with the King and
knew his wrist, but she was no swords-
woman now. Though she took up in her
delirium the King's challenge with a wild
cry, "Aye, draw and defend yourself!"
she realized nothing but his confession
of love for Nell.
The scene was like a great blur before
her eyes.
She rushed upon the King and by
him, she scarce knew how. Their swords
harmlessly clashed; that was all.
The cries had been taken up without.
"The guard ! The guard !" "Treason ! "
" Treason ! "
The air was alive with voices.
Nell ran up the steps leading to a French
window, which opened upon a tiny railed
balcony. Below, one story only, lay a soft
carpet of greensward, shimmering in the
moonlight. With her sword, she struck
the frail sash, which instantly yielded.
[ 256 ]
li
Meantime, the room hadlilletr;^
courtiers, guards and gallants, who had
rushed in, sword and spear in hand to
guard the King.
As the glass shivered and flew wide
under the point of Nell's blade, all eves'
turned toward her and all blades quiv-
ered threateningly in the air.
Buckingham was first to ascend the
steps m pursuit. He was disarmed — more
through the superiority of Nell's position
than through the dexterity of her wrist.
Ihen for the first time, she realized
iicr danger. Her eyes staring from their
sockets, she drew back from her murder-
ous pursuers, and, in startled accents, she
knew not why, screamed in supplication,
with hands uplifted:
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!"
The storm was stayed. All paused to
hear what the stranger-youth would say.
Would he apologize or would he sur-
render?
The suspense was for but a second
thmigh It seemed an eternity to Nell.
The open window was behind.
[ 257 ]
Mistress Ne//
With a parting glance at the trem-
bling blades, she turned quickly and with
reckless daring leaped the balcony.
"T'hell with ye!" was wafted back
in a rich brogue defiantly by the night.
Astonishment and consternation filled
the room; but the bird had flown. Some
said that the wicked farewell-speech had
been Adair's, and some said not.
How it all happened, no one could
tell, unless it was a miracle.
CHAPTER X
I comt, my love; I come.
s9iff JhT'I^ ""'^''' "' '° 'P'^^ '"°^-
socket in the cosy drawing-room- and a
sjngle moonbeam found its iy in through
the draperies of the window leading to the
terrace and to St. James's Park ^'^'
Moll lay upon a couch asleep; but it
was a restless sleep. ^
The voice of a town-crier resounded
Irs'lSr"''^P^^'^--"^'^"'g^t;and
abtXTd'wr'"''^''^^^^^^'"
,nLT''^ "I'dnight crier'" she thought-
?ace mT'k '""^^^ expression in\e;
nearly ou;:J^'='^"^^^-P-'^''^--clles
She jumped to her feet and hastily
■ghted two or three of its more substan'
tul mates, of which there was an abun-
[ 259 ]
Mistress Nr//
i'l
dance in the rich candelabra about the
room.
A cricket in a crevice startled her. She
ran to the window and looked anxiously
out upon the park, then hastened to the
door, with equal anxiety, lest it might
be unlocked. Every shadow w.is to her
feverish fancy a spirit of evil or of death
"1 wish Nell would come," she
thought. "The ghosts and skeletons
ta.rly swarm in this old house at mid-
night; and I am all alone to-night. It's
difFerent when Nell 's about. The goblins
are afraid of her merry laugh. Boo! I am
cold all over. I am afraid to stand still,
and 1 am afraid to move."
She ran again to the window and this
time pulled it open. The moonlight in-
stantly flooded the room, dimming the
candles which she had lighted. She saw
her shadow, and started back in horror
"Some one glided behind the old oak
in the park," she cried aloud, for the com-
pany of her voice, "Oh, oh! Nell will be
murdered ! I begged her not to go to Ports-
mouth s ball. She said she just wanted to
[ 260 J
hud. She shut her eyes tight and prayed
harder. The objeft of her fear was^a loni
gray boot, wh.ch had been thrown in af
the w,ndo wand had fallen harmlessly
by her s.de. It was followed in an instant
d'eldfr''"^""^'""^'"^^'^^'^'!-"/
.hf l-if""*^''^"/'' ""'"'''^^ by a friendly
shoulder then bounded over' the balus-
witMn ?h ''''I ^'^'^ '^ ^'gl^ of relief just
within the window-opening. It was Nell
murning from the 4rs; !he :: pa •
almost death-hke. The evening's excite^
•TK^nt her daring escapade and more es-
pecially Its exciting finish had taken hold
ot her in earnest. Her dainty little self
tTemble'"^ ' P'"'''^" ^^' ^'^ '^^ °^^
^^ " Safe home at last ! " she cried wearily.
Heaven reward you, Strings."
From below the terrace, without the
[ 261 J
tress jNell; and good sleep "
Nell .fi."'^!''' ^°'"'-^de,- answered
,, ' ^' '^^ ^'most fell into the room
" IPray.ng for Nell," her trembling l.m
mechanically replied ^ ^
• "H"mph!" cried' Nell, half faint
'"Ihe'reTr^ '""" "P'^" ''^'^ --"•
praying LV"'" '" '^''' ^''^ ^"'"'^
Ke!sfngarr-"'"^'""^^"-=-'l
The command brought Moll to her
ZT 'h"'^K^' ^^^'''^^^ ''^^^ -^ -as really
ou I th°. ^^^T"*^.'*^"^ unceremoZ
ously She rushed to her for safety like
a frightened deer to the lake ^'
Nell, dear Nell!" she cried. "You
are ill
"Wine, wine
jrnptory tones fron/ the" halfrr'ed
■say.'' again fell in per
mint
[ 262 ]
JJferry Ta/e of a Merry Time
coaTlit '''°"''^" ^"'l h^'If "sed. petti-
diV " c7 "■'^ ^°""dcd; you are going to
aie, she cried. "Moll win k n P
in the world again " ^' '" '^'"''
she^fin ^''"'^^^''ook more than Nell's as
she filled a glass half full of wine Ld
passed It to her mistress. ""^
mandeHM' n"'"' ?'''' '° '^' ^"'^^" ^om-
rdttgt""^?i;:;:f..^'''^^p-p--^
fashtn:'Ttel,fo;te;f '" ^^"^-
need lots o/stiL'u;;;iTg"''^-"'---^
^^^'^Vouareall of a tremble," continued
" Little wonder! " sighed Nell. " These
Mnii r J'^^'S^'^'i hysterically, while
Moll closed the window. "You s^e .
[ 263 J
MICIIOCOPY HESOIUTION TEST CHART
(ANSI ond ISO TEST CHAKT No, 2)
1.0 [ri^ 1^
" ^ 1^ 12.2
3.6
12.0
1.8
1.6
_^ APPLIED IM/IGE I
SSr- '65.5 East Main Street
S T'.JS Ro< lester. New Vork 14609 USA
"-^ ' ? 1 6) 482 - 0300 - Phone
-— — (716) 283 - 5989 - Fax
Mistress Nell
never was a man before, and I had all that
lost time to make up_acres of oats to
scatter lu one little night. Open my
throat; I cannot breathe. Take off mv
sword The wars are done, I hope." She
startled Moll, who was encasing her
mistress's pretty feet in a pair of dainty
Moll, she contmued, "I was the gayest
mad-cap there. The sex were wild for me
Tf T r^ u ^^^"^ P°'"'^ of attack, lass.
it 1 had been seeking a mate, I could have
made my market of them all and started
a harem.
She seemed to forget all her dangers
past in the recolleftion.
J^^'<jked girl," said Moll, pouting re-
I " ^^1 L^*^ ''-'°"y roisterer, little one,"
laughed Nell, in reply, as with cavalier-
strides she crossed the room. She threw
herself upon the table and proceeded to
boast of her doings for Moll's benefit
swinging her feet meanwhile. "I ran the'
gamut. I had all the paces of the truest
cavalier. I could tread a measure, swear
[ 264 ]
he will dream aboS I'stef 'th'^K
KryTo"-^^"^^' ^ -y-' I could /y'
and whaled the astonleJ g° ^'^it
about the room, until she herself 7eeIeH
for want of breath TI.»„ "c-seu reeled
great carved oa£n-eL,v";hTS;Tnt"-'
"J only k. s" exulted Nell, "I made
[ 265 ]
Mistress Nell
him swear his love for Nell to Ports-
mouth's face. I made him draw his sword
for Nell."
"Great Heavens!" exclaimed Moll
aghast. "You did not draw yourself? A
sword against the King is treason."
" Ods-bodikins, I know not ! " answered
Nell. "I know not what I did or said. I
was mad, mad! All I remember is: there
was a big noise— a million spears and
blunderbusses turned upon poor me! Gad!
I made a pretty target, girl."
"A million spears and blunderbusses!"
echoed Moll, her eyes like saucers.
" An army, child, an army ! " continued
Nell, in half-frantic accents. "X did not
stop to count them. Then, next I knew,
I was in my coach, with dear old Strings
beside me. The horses flew. We alighted
at the Chapel, tiptoed about several cor-
ners to break the scent; then I took off
my shoes and stole up the back way like
a good and faithful husband. Oh, I did
the whole thing in cavalier-style, sweet-
heart. But, 'twixt us, Moll," and she spoke
with a mysterious, confidential air,"_I
[ 266 ]
wouldn't have it go fili^SiTfoT^^^s
diredtion of the nark fh^ c a ^
i J • I , r^-^-> tne sad remnanr nf
f^db'ted breath''" ""' ^""'^^^-^
"Hark! What is thaf?" u-
Nell ^'- whispered
" Nonsense, you little P-nnc^ " ,
stratpfl ivr»ir lu 1 6°ose, remon-
"some f ' ^°"S^ "°"^ foo bravely-
some of your ex-Irvprc ,,^i- , v*
bleeding belts to the tSs " '"^ ^'"^
"No> no; listen .'"exclaimed Moll fran
t«cally,asthenoisegrewIouder"?L7v:
m the entry." -^ "^^
"In the entry!" stammered Nell- and
she almost collapsed at the thought oJ
more adventures. " I wish we were fn ' ^d
wuh our heads under the shS'" '
Here is your sword," said Moll, as she
r 2^-7 1
Mistress NeU
brought Nell the sharp weapon, held well
at arm's lengih for fear of it.
"Oh.yes, my sword! "exclaimed Nell,
perking up_foran instant only. -I never
thought of my sword; and this is one of
the bravest swords I ever drew. I am as
weak, as a woman, Moll."
"Take heart," said Moll, encouraging
her from the rear, as Nell brandished the
glittering blade in the direction of the
door. " You know you faced an army to-
night."
" True," replied Nell, her courage ooz-
ing out at her finger-tips, "but then I was a
man, n nd had to seem brave, whether I was
or no. Who's there?" she called faintly.
"Who's there? Support me, Moll. Beau
Adair is on his last legs."
Both stood listening intently and trem-
bling from top to toe.
A score of rich voices, singing harmo-
niously, broke upon the night.
The startled expression on Nell's face
changed instantly to one of feariess, rogu-
ish merriment. She was her old self again.
She tossed the sword contemptuously
[ 268 ]
.^on the rtoor, laughing in deri^i^rT;^
at her companion's fear,
-ut\rZ^t\^ ,r'^"^de!" she cried.
^ome She ran gaily to the window and
peeped out. " Oh, ho, masqueraders from
bound. I am generous, I'll give thee all
but one, sweet mouse. The tall knight in
white for me ! I know he 's gallant, thCh
his vizors down Marry, Lis their ca^p-
mln 1 hT' ^"'^ "°"^ but a captain of
men shall be captain of my httle heart."
It is batan and his imps," cried Moll
dor^'''"^ t° draw Nell from the win-
"Tush, little one," laughed .Nell re-
E"g'y- "Satan is my warmest fri;nd.
Besides, they cannot cross the moat. 1W
rampartsareours.The draw-bridge is up' '
In a merry mood, she threw a piece of
drapery, mantle-like, about Adair^ shoul-
ders, quite hiding them, and, decapitating
a gnm old suit of armour, placed fhe hel-
met on her head. Thus garbed, she threw
the window quickly open and stepped
[ 269 ]
Mistress Neil
boldly upon the ledge, within full view
of the band beneath. As the moonlight
gleamed upon her hchnet, one might
have fancied her a goodly knight of yore-
and, mdeed, she looked quite formidable!
"Nell, what are you doing?" called
Moll, wildly, from a point of safety.
"They can see and shoot you."
"Tilly-vally, girl," replied Nell, un-
daunted now that she could see that there
was no danger, "we'll parley with the
enemy m true feudal style. We'll teach
them we have a man about the house. Ho
there, strangers of the night — breakers of
the Kmg's peace and the slumbers of the
righteous! Brawlers, knaves; would ye
raise honest men from their beds at such
an hour.? What means this jargon of tipsy
voices.? What want ve.?"
A chorus of throats without demanded,
in muffled accents: "Drink'" "Drink'''
"Sack!" "Rhenish!"
"Do ye think this a tavern, knaves?"
responded Nell, in a husky, mannish
voice. "Do ye think this a vintner's.?
There are no topers here. Jackanapes,
[ 270 ]
j^enjyale of a Merry Time
the ctadel and train the guns "
Her retort was met with boisterous
laughter and mocking ci-s of " n
w.ththedoors!""Breaif„;he:ind!?:sT"
patL ^^'"""'^^^"^'''^""f-'ici-
pated. She jumped from the ledge or
rather tumbled into the room, nerfousW
dropp.ng her disguise upon the floT'^
with n /"^'■'^''"''"^'^^^^i'lfoMoll
wuh ,„^^j^^^ complexion in he
Mdl t, "°.' ' u "'^ '^^^ ^°"Id dare."
rK u T'^ the cashes and bolted
them then hugged Nell close.
Ho, there, within!" came in a ..nf
Ves? Nell tried to say; but the word
scarce went beyond her lips "^
Again in guttural tones came a second
summons — "Nell! Nelll" ^ ^^'^°"'*
Nell turned to Moll for support and
heart she ^'^r''^' ^"'^ '^""-"'"f
^eart, she answered, as best she couldt
[ 271 ]
Mistress Nell
in a forced voice: "Nell's in bed'"
"Yes, Nell's in bed," echoed the con-
stant Moll. "Everybody's in bed. Call
to-morrow ! "
" No trifling, ench ! " commanded the
voice without, angrily. "Down with the
door! '
"Stand close, Moll," entreated Nell
as she answered the would-be intruder
with the question:
"Who are ye.? Who are ye.?"
"Old Rowley himself!" replied the
guttural voice.
This was followed by hoarse laughter
from many throats.
"The King — as I thought!" whis-
pered Nell. "Good lack; what shall I do
with Adair.? Plague on't, he'll be mad
It 1 keep him waiting, and madder if I
let him in. Where are your wits, Moll?
Run for my gown; fly_fly!"
Moll hastened to do the bidding.
Nell rushed to the entry-door, in fran-
tic agitation.
" The bolt sticks. Sire," she called, pre-
tending to struggle with the door, hoping
[ 272 ]
___AJden2_^Uc of a Merry rime
so to
have ti
stay hi
ajesty until she should
"ictodisposcfpoor Adair. "How
can I get out of these braveries? " she then
asked herself, tugging awkwardly at one
partofjhemaleattireandthenatanother
1 den t know which end of me to begin
rn first. »'"
Moll re-entered the rrom with a bun-
dle of pnk m her arms, which turned
wilhlac'e. °"'"^' "■'''" '■°'^^''^™--'
br::t"s;. ^'^ '■■" ' '°""'^'" ^^^ -'^
Nell motioned to her nervously to put
It upon the couch. ^
woSjT ""' °"' «f thiscoat," shepleaded
Moll took off the coat and then assisted
Nell to circumscribe with the gown, from
heels to head her stunning fi/ure, neatW
encased m Aaair's habit, whicl. now con-
sisted only of a jaunty shirt nf white, gray
breeches, shoes and stockings.
"Marry, I would I were a fair with
a magic wand; I could belWdle 'men's
eyes easier," Nell lamented.
[ 273 ]
Mistress Nell
"Patience, my liege," entreated Ndl
drawng her gown close about her and
muttenng with personal satisfaction:
rhcre, there; that hides a multitude of
sms. The g.rdle, the girdle! Adair will
notescape from this-ffwc can but "ep
hun c,u,et; the rogue has a w. man's
tongue, and it will out, I fear "
bhe snatched up a mirror and arranged
her hair as best she could in the dim light
w.th the cnes wuhout resounding in he;
ea.^and^w,th Moll dancing an^xicusiy
"Down with the door," threatened
the Kmg, impanently. "The ram; the
battermg ram.
"I come, my love; I come," cried Nell
in agitation, fairly running to the doo^
- open ,t, but stopping aghast as her eye
caught over her shoulder the sad, teL
tale condition of the room.
"'Sdeath," she called in a stage-whis-
ner to Moll; "under the cou?h with
Adair s coat! Patience, Sire," she be-
[ 274 J
sought in turn the Kin7~^nT "~ ^
It was done,
pefson Sh ''' S°"" ''""= "I""" A<l"ir-.
•. ^7° ■'^ell, bowing gracioudv tr. u
untimely visitors. g'^^'^"^"s'y to her
[ 275 J
^
CHAPFER XVI
OJs-pitiiins, my own rtfleSlion!
U PON the fine face of the King, as he
entered Nell's drawing-room, was an ex-
pression of nervous bantering, not wholly
unmixed with anxiety.
The slanderous Adair and his almost
miraculous escape had not long weighed
upon his Majesty's careless nature.
As he had not met Adair until that
night or even heard of him, his heart had
told him that the Irish roisterer could
scarcely be a serious obstacle in the way of
Nell's perfect faith, if, indeed, he had met
Nell at all, which he doubted. His com-
mand to the guard to follow and overtake
the youth had been more the command
of the ruler than of the man. Despite him-
self, there had been something about the
dainty peacock he could not help but like;
and the bold dash for the window, the dis-
arming of the purse-proud Buckingham,
[ 276 ]
AMerry Tale of a Merry Time
who for many reasons dispkasecThhn^
the leap to the sward below, with the ac-
companying farewell, had especally de-
lighted both his manhood and his sense
of humour.
He had, therefore, dismissed Adair from
his mind, except as a possible subjec^t to
laanter Nell withal, or as a culprit to pun-
ish, if overtaken.
His restless spirit had chafed under the
Duchess's lavish entertainment— for the
best entertainment is dull to the lover
Wfhose sweetheart is absent— and he had
turned instindtively from the ball to Nell's
terrace, regardless of the hour and scarce
noticing his constant attendants.
The night was so beautiful that their
souls had found vent in song.
This serenade, however, had brought
to Nell's window a wide-awake fellow,
who had revealed himself in saucy talk,'
and the delighted cavaliers, in hope of
fun, had charged jeeringly that they had
outwitted the guard and had found Adair.
It was this that had brought theanxious
look to the King's face; and, though his
[ V7 ]
Mistress Ne/l
better judgment was still unchanged, the
sight of the knave it the window, to-
gether with the suggestions of his merry
followers, had cast a shadow of doubt for
the moment upon his soul, and he had re-
flefted that there was much that the Irish
youth had said that could not be recon-
ciled with that better judgment.
With a careless shrug, he had, there-
fore, taken up the jest of his lawless crew,
which coincided with his own intended
purpose, and had sworn that he would
turn the household out of bed without
regard to pretty protests or formality of
warrant. He would raise the question
forthwith, in jest and earnest, and worry
Nell about the boaster.
"Scurvy entertainment," he began,
with frowning brow.
" Yea, my liege," explained Nell, win-
somely; "you see— I did not expeft the
King so late, and so was unpresentable."
" It is the one you do not expeft," re-
plied Charles, dryly, "who always causes
the trouble, Nell."
" We were in bed. Sire," threw in Moll,
[ 278 ]
___^i^ff^V^JakjfaMerry Time
thinking to come to the rescur^Th;;:
misfiess.
"Marry, truly," said Nell, catching at
the cue, "-asleep, Sire, sound asleep ; and
our prayers said." ^
"Tilly vally," exclaimed the King
we m.ght credit thy tongue, wench, but
Nell M^"^""'^ N° digressions, spider
?H ;^^ Tc'^'i'' '" ^ %h'i"g mood.
Sdeath call forth the knight-errtnt who
holds thy errant heart secure for one short
„ "The knight of my heart! " cried Nell.
Ah, bire, you know his name."
She looked at his Majesty with eyes of
unfailmg love; but the King was true to
nisjest.
"Yea marry I do," laughed Charles,
tauntmgly, with a wink at his compan-
ions; "a pretty piece of heraldry, a bold
escutcheon, a dainty poniard-pale as a
ily, and how he did sigh and drop his
Ids and smirk and smirk and dance your
latest galhard to surpass De Grammont.
Ask brother James how he did dance."
Nay, Sire," hastily interceded the
[ 279 ]
Mistress Nell
ever-gallant Rochester, "his Highness of
York has suffered enough."
York frowned at the reference; for he
had been robbed of his lady at the dance
by Adair. He could not forget that. Heed-
less of his royalty, bestowed by man, she,
like the others, had followed in the train
of the Irish spark, who was royal only bv
nature. ^
"Hang the coxcomb!" he snarled.
'"Slife, I will," replied Charles, slyly,
"an you overtake him, brother."
"His back was shapely, Sire," observed
Rochester, with quaint humour.
"Yea, and his heels! " cried the King,
refleftively. "He had such dainty heels
— Mercury's wings attached, to waft him
on his way."
"This is moonshine madness!" ex-
claimed Nell, with the blandest of bland
smiles. "There's none such here. By my
troth, I would there were. Nav ask
Moll." •''
Moll did not wait to be asked.
" Not one visitor to-night," she asserted
promptly.
[ 280 ]
tone "Whence came the Jack at hf
wtndow-the brave young ciallenger-
Would ye raise honest men from their
beds at such an hour?'"
A burst of laughter followed the King's
grave .muat.on of the windo w-boastef.
Sire! s.ghedRochester,inhkespirit.
Do you think this a vintner's? There
are no topers here.'"
Anotherburstofmerrylaughtergreeted
the speaker, as he punftuatfd his^wo ds
t/h."^;"?- T '^' ^*"^-^"P^ from the
table and clinking them gaily.
Nell s face was as solemn as a funeral.
T.m. ^°"[ "^^'' '"'"'^>" commanded
prrnce.'^"" ^' "'"'^ '^"^^ ""'^'y ^^J--^
ouslf -'^ '"'^ T™''''" F^'"^'^ Nell, seri-
ously ' twas I myself with helmet and
rs;Tp''r^^^'i\-'-y---"-e"re
fpedSbnity:^'™''^''^"-'^^-'^-
Z\u f!—^ battle-which would
have killed thee straight ! "
[ 281 1
Mistress Neil
" It had liked to," reflefted Nell, as she
tartly replied: "A war of the sex with-
out me? It was stupid, then. The Duch-
ess missed me, I trow."
" Never fear," answered Charles, with
difficulty suppressing his mirth; "you
were bravely championed."
"I am sure of that," said Nell, slyly;
"my King was there."
"And a bantam cock," ejaculated
Charlto, sarcasticailv, "upon whose lips
' Nell ' hung familiarly."
"^Some strange gallant," cried Nell,
in ecstasy, " took my part before them
all? Who was he. Sire? Don't tantalize
me so."
She smiled, half serious, half humor-
ous, as she pleaded in her charming way.
" A cliip from the Blarney Stone," ob-
served the King at length, ironically,
"surnamed Adair!"
"Adair! Adair!" cried Nell, to the
astonishment of all. " We spent our youth
together. I see him in my mind's eye.
Sire, throw down the gauntlet in Nell's
name and defy the world for her. Fill the
[ 282 ]
new-
gallant! Longl.irSr,?'""™™;
.0 .he hosts', L';;fJi-"-P»"»
Mr,S';«'°-^^°°--'"a„fS
claL°d£&Sfc„"t'T'^'""-
looK up the royal oleHap " a ° •'^
Nell!"''Nelli""W.Mi5 , ^^^' ^y^'
"V^ J . ^^ " '^""k to Nell'"
. 7t^o me honour, royal gentlemen "
bowed Nell, well please/ at^^^fj^n^g's
She had scarce touched the cup to her
-m.,„.-„h.„h„.,,sl'!;;o°„te';;
Mistress Nell
Adair's gray boots, which Moll had failed
to hide, in her excitement, now revealing
itself quite plainly in the light of the
many candles. She caught it adroitly on
the tip of her toe and sent it whizzing
through the air in the diredtion of poor
Moll, who, fortunately, caught it in mid-
air and hid it quickly beneath her apron.
The King turned at the sound; but
Nell's face was as woefully unconcerned
as a church-warden's at his hundredth
burial.
The wine added further zest to the
merry-making and the desire for sport.
"Now, fair huswife," continued
Charles, his thoughts reve.-ting to Adair,
"set forth the dish, that we may carve it
to our liking. 'Tis a dainty bit, — lace,
velvet and ruffles."
" Heyday, Sire," responded Nell, eva-
sively, "the larder's empty."
"Devil on't," cried Charles, fero-
ciously;" no mincing, wench. In the con-
fusion of the ball, the bird escaped my
guard by magic. We know whither the
flight."
[ 284]
- ^J^^'-'-y T"^f of^ Merry Time
Jj5 King ^^^^ii^:^dTk^^^^~~^~^
Escaped the guard?" gasped Nell, in
coat has hid him then."
"I'll stake my life upon't," observed
James, who had not been heard from in
some time but who had been observinjr
the scene with decorous dignity.
ni "?'T'J°n '^°"''^ "°' '"''""e Adair,"
pleaded Nell, now alert, with all her arts
of fascination "You are too generous.
Blue eyes of heaven, and such a smile'
Did^you^mark that young Irishman's
Her impudence was so bewitching that
the Kmg scarce knew whether it were
jest or earnest He sprang to his feet from
the couch, where he had thrown himself
after the toast to Nell, and, with some
torcefulness, exclaimed:
"Odsfish, this to my teeth, rogue!
Guard the doors, gallants; we'd gaze
upon this paragon." ^ ■
"And set him pirouetting. Sire," sar-
donically suggested James.
"Yea, to the tune of these fiddle-sticks "
r 28c 1
Mistress Ne/l
I
laughed Charles, as he unsheathed his ra-
pier. "Search from tile to rafter."
"Aye, aye," echoed the omnipresent
Rochester, "froiii cellar to garret."
Before, however, the command could
be obeyed, even in resolution, Nell
moved uneasily to a curtain which hung
in the corner of the room and placed her-
self before it, as if to shield a hidden man.
"Sire," she pleaded fearfully, "spare
him. Sire; fur my sake. Sire. He is not to
blame for loving me. He cannot help it.
You know that. Sire!"
"Can he really be here?" muttered
Charles, with clouding visage. "Saucy
wench! Hey! My blood is charging full-
tilt through my veins. Odsfish, we '11 try
his mettle once again."
"Prythee, Sire," begged Nell, "he is
too noble and brave and handsome to die.
I love his very image."
"Oh, ho!" cried Charles. "A silken
blind for the silken bird ! Hey, St. George
for merry England! Come forth, thou
pifture of cowardice, thou vile slanderer."
He grasped Nell by the wrist and fairly
[ 286 ]
dragged
The
- " '"v.' room. 1
•ng to the curtain, he st .ed its silken
foldsandtoreitcomplctelvfromlshn.
or':Bds'^!V-^^'^'^'"^^^'^"'"^'-ge mir-
ror Ods-p,t,k,ns,myown reflection ' "he
exclaimed, with menacing tone thoul
there was rehef as well in^.svdce lie
bent the point of his blade again"" the
floor gazed at himself in the pier-glass
and looked over his shoulder at Nell,Sho
stood m the midst of his courtiers X
nngW Sides With laughter. und4'n£
ju;tei;r;;^^r-;;-^°s
England would be worse than a PuHtan
funeral wuh no Nell. Thou shalt sufS"
"I defy thee, Sire, and all thy imps of
th?"Ki^^ h^' ^ T''^ '' -she'watSed
"Casf N^eM ''^l ^'lJ'^^-"-d sword.
'-ast J\ell in the hlirlrpcf j
A J ■ • I ^ uiacKest dunpeon
Adair IS her fellow-prisoner; outlawS "'
nJv U ^f' i'°'^'' °"''^^; off with
Nell s head, off rolls Adair's. Who else
can boast so true a love!"
r 08-7 1
Mistress Nell
It
I H
I :>^
"Thou shalt be banished the rea:.n,"
decided the King, jestingly ; for he was
now convinced that her Adair was but
a jest to tease him_a Roland for his
Oliver.
"Banished!" cried Nel!, with bated
breath.
"Aye; beyond sea, witch!" answered
the King, with pompous austerity. "Vir-
ginia shall be thy home."
"Good, good!" laughed Nell, gaily.
"Sire, the men grow handsome in Vir-
ginia, and dauntless; and they tell me
there are a dearth of women there. Oh,
banish me atonceto— What's the name?"
"Jamestown," suggested York, recall-
ing the one name because of its familiar
sound.
"Yea, brother James," said Nell, fear-
lessly mimicking his brusque accent,
"Jamestown."
"Savages, wild men, cannibals,"
scowled Charles.
"Cannibals!" cried Nell. "Mnrry, I
should love to be a cannibal. Are there
cannibals in Jamestown, 'i-other James.?
[ 2«» ]
' — > •-"■■■.111 mc to Fames-
town of all places. Up with the sails, my
merry men; give me the helm! Adair
will sa.lm the same good ship, I ,row."
u ,'x .i™"^ '''"" ^'^'■f ^'"t at home,
cannibal Nelly," determined the King
Then set all the men in Britain to
watch me Sire," said Nell; "for. from
now on, I '11 need it."
The King shook his finger warningly
at her, then leaned carelessly against The
wmdow. "
"Ho there ! " hecried out suddenly. " A
night disturbance, a drunken brawl be-
neath our very ears! Fellow-saints, w'lat
mean my subjefts from their bed^ uiis
hour of night? Their sovereign does the
revelling for the realm. James, Rochester
and all, see to 't!"
CHAPTER XVII
i
Thi day will hi w happy ; fir I 'vi seen you at the dawn.
1 HE room was quickly cleared, the
King's courtiers jostling one another in
their efforts to carry out the royal bid-
ding
Charles turned with a merry laugh and
seized Nell in his arms almost fiercely.
"A subterfuge!" he cried eagerly
"Nell, quick; one kiss!"
"Nay; you question my constancy to-
night," said Nell, sadly, as she looked into
his eyes, with the look of perfeft love.
" You do not trust me."
" I do, sweet Nell," protested the King,
earnestly.
"You bring me Portsmouth's lips,"
said Nell, with sad reproof
" I left her dance for you," replied the
King, drawing her closer to him.
"At near sunrise, Sire." sighed Nell,
reprovingly, as she drew back the curtain
[ 290 ]
"Nay do not tantalize me, Nell " be
t"etu;!^r^^'''7"""^^''"-'^'"p-
tfte couch. I am sad to-night "
Ihe woman's forgivin? heirf ,„.c
touched with sympath'y.Hf.e?:sTough
h sadly beauntul face. She ran to hfm
felUpon her knees and kissed his hand
, " '^^TS'^^ ""y ^'"g •' " '^^ cried. " The
iYhe"'" be so happy; for IVe seen you
tervour and pathef ^ tenderness which the
great composer has compressed into the
love-music of" Tristan and Isolde "in her
voice. iijiici
tinued. Heaven g.ves us crowns, but
deeds '• eye to see the ending of our
T ''*^°'^f^^^ them," said Nell. "Ah Sire
I thank the Maker of the world for r:
ing^a crown to one whom I respedt and
"And I curse it," cried the King, with
[ 291 ]
r
Mistresi Nell
earnest eyes; "for 'tis the on
to our united love. It
of;
the
.cat
barrier
sparkling
veb of in-
spider in the centre
trigue and infamy."
"You make me bold to speak. Cut
the web. Sire, hich binds thy crown to
France. There is the only danger."
"Thou art wrong, Nelly, wrong!" He
spoke in deep, firm accents. "I have de-
cided otherwise."
He rose abruptly, his brow clouded
tvith thought. She took his hand tenderly.
"Then, change your mind, Sire," she
pleaded; "for I can prove — "
"What, girl.?" he asked eagerly, his
curiosity awakened by her manner.
Nell did not respond. To continue
would reveal Adair, and she could not
think of that.
" What, I say? " again asked Charles,
impatiently.
" To-morrow, Sire," laughed Nell, eva-
sively.
"Aye, to-morrow and to-morrow!"
petulantly repeated the King.
He was about to demand a dircdt re-
[ 292 ]
A Merry Tale of a Merry Ti
tme
ply but was stayed by the sound of a strug-
gle without. °
It befell in the nick of time for Nell
as all things, indeed, in life seemed to
befall in the nick of time for her. The
impious huswives shook their heads and
attributed it to the evil influence; the
pious huswives asserted it was providen-
tial; Nell herself laughingh; declared it
was her lucky star.
"Ho, without there!" Charles cried,
impatiently—almost angrily—at the in-
terruption. "Whence comes this noisv
not?" ■>
James, Rochester and the otheis un-
ceremoniously re-entered.
"Pardon, Sire," explained the Duke
of York; "the guard caught but nov an
armed ruffian prowling by the house.
They report they stayed him on suspi-
cion of his looks and insolence."
"Adair! Adair! My life upon't!"
laughed the King, ever ready for sport.
"Set him before us."
An officer ofthe guard departedquickly
to bring in the offender. The courtiers
[ 293 ]
Mistress NeH
took up the King's cry most readily; and
there was a general cackle of "Adair i"
"Adair!" "A trial!" "Sire!" "Bring in
the coward!" ^
Nell stood in the midst of the scene
the pifture of demure innocence.
"They've caught Adair!" she whis-
pered to Moll, mischievously.
"Aye,gallants," cried the Merry Mon-
arch, approvingly, "we'll form a Court
of Inquiry. This table shall be our bench
on which we'll hem and haw and puff
and look judicial. Odsfish, we will teach
Radamanthus and Judge Jeffreys ways of
terrorizing." ^
He sprang upon the table, which
creaked somewhat beneath the royal bur-
den, and assumed the austere, frowning
brow of worldly justice.
" Oyer, oyer, all ye who have griev-
ances-- "cried the garrulous Rochester
in the husky tones of the crier, who most
generally assumes that he is the whole
court and oftentimes should be.
_ "MistressNell,"commandedtheroyal
judge, summoning Nell to the bar, " thou
L 294 ]
life hangs upon thy skill to outwit the
Charles, with the injured dignity of a
petty just.ce about to commit a flasJi of
true wit for contempt of court
"Traitor lips?" cried Nell, sadly. "By
my troth, I never kissed Adair. I con-
^e^ss, I tried, your Majesty; but I could
" Have a care," replied the King, in a
tone which indicated that the fires of sus-
picion still smouldered in his breast- "I
am growing jealous." '
Nell fell upon one knee and stretched
torth her arms suppliantly.
"Adair is in such a tight place, Sire,
hecan scarcely breathe,"shepleaded, with
the zeal of a barrister hard-working for
fo^hiitift^;;^/-^-"--^^^^^
"We will havejustice; not mercy," re-
phed the court, with a sly wink at Roch-
r 201: 1
Mistress Nell
ester. "Guilty or not guilty, wench?"
"Not guilty. Sire! Did you ever see
the man who was?"
The King laughed despite himself, fol-
lowed by his ever-aping courtiers.
" I'll plead for the Crown," asserted the
grim James, with great vehemence, " to
rid the realm of this dancing-Jack."
"Thou hast cause, brother," laughed
the King. "Rochester, thou shalt sit by
h»» ^
ere.
Rochester sprang, with a contented
chuckle, into a chair on the opposite
side of the table to that upon which his
Majesty was holding his mock-court and
seated himself upon its high back, so
poised as not to fall. From this lofty
bench, with a queer gurgle, to say noth-
ing of a swelling of the chest, and with
an approving glance from his Majesty,
he added his mite to the all-inspiring
dignity of the revelers' court.
"Judge Rochester!" continued the
King, slapping him with his glove, across
the table. "Judge— of good ale. We'll
confer with the cups, imbibe the statutes
[ 296 ]
A Merry Tale of a Iderry Time
In obedience to the command, a man
well muffled with a cloak was forced into
th^ room, a guard at either a.m.
Behind them, taking advantage of the
open door to appease their curiosity,
crowded many hangers-on of courtdom
among whom was Strin- ., who had met'
therevellers somedistan. Vom the house
and had returned with them
"Hold off your hands, knaves," com-
rnanded the prisoner, who was none other
dtm^oT' ''' ^^^^"' '"'^'^"^"' ^' '^^
Ki^^ "^; ;S "' ^°"'""'^^' '^^
"Sire!" cried Hart, throwing off his
mantle and glancing for the first time at
the judge s face. He sank immediately
upon one knee, bowing respectfully
"Jack Hart! "cried one and all, craning
.''JJ^r '" '"'P"'^ ^"'l expeftation.
. hlife a spy upon our merry-mak-
!"x^x u ^'^'^'^''ned tlie displeased monarch
What means this prowling, sir.?"
r 207 1
Mistress Nell
" Pardon, pardon, my reply, your Maj-
esty," humbly importuned the player.
"Blinded by passion, I might say that I
should regret."
" Your strange behaviour and stranger
looks have meaning, sir," cried the King,
impatiently. "Out v^^ith it! These are
too dangerous times to withhold your
thoughts from your King."
"No need for commands. Sire," en-
treated Hart. "The words are trembling
on my lips and will out themselves " . spite
of me. At Portsmouth's ball, an hour past,
I o'erheard that fop Adair boast to-night
a midnight rendezvous here with Nell."
Nell placed her hands upon her heart.
"This— my old friend," she reflefted
sadly.
"Our jest turned earnest," cried
Charles. "Well.? Well.?" he questioned,
in peremptory tones.
" I could not believe my ears. Sire," the
prisoner continued, faltering. " I watched
to refute the lie — "
"Yes — yes — " exhorted the King, in
expeftation.
[ 298 ]
'I cannoTgolinT^ '
"Knave, I command'"
toward theplaver ' V "^'"™^d sharply
false siriKfn^H ^""'-.^O'-Js are false,
"PaTd'nn . '^T"' '^^y '""^t be."
Hart and'L'!^"''' f ""'' ^^"•" '^°bbed
"• ^"^ ne turned away his eve. H„
could not look at her. ^ ^ -"^
^ "Love!" continued Nell, bitterly
wS .entir/""'' '^""^ ^'°"^. S'
Hart 'Tha God l""'°"-i ^''^ y°"' fr-"^
■1", tnat God has made you thus!"
L ^99 J
Mistress Ne/l
" No more, no more! " Hurt quite broke
beneath the strain.
" Dost hear, dost hear? " cried Charles,
in ecstasy, deeply affefted by Nell's ex-
position of true love. "Sir, you are the
second to-night to belie the dearest name
in England. You shall answer well to me."
"Ask the lady. Sire," pleaded Hart, in
desperation. "I'll stake my life upon her
reply."
"Nell.?— Nell? "questioned the King;
for he could scarce refuse to accept her
word when a player had placed unques-
tioned faith in it.
Nell hid her face in hersilken kerchief
and burst into seeming spasmodic sobs
of grief. " Sire! " was all the response the
King could hear. He trembled violently
and his face grew white. He did not know
that Nell's tears were merry laughs.
"Her tears convidt her," exclaimed
Hart, triumphal! rlv.
"I'll not believe it," cried the King.
Nell became more hysterical. She
sobbed and sobbed, as though her heart
would break, her face buried in her hands
[ 300 ]
•' Aaair's sides are aching," she chur
kl^d.n apparent convulsio^; ofL™
He s laughing through Nell's tears "
Mean wh.le, Moll had been stand?;, bv
in^ eagerly the exciting scene within the
room she could not faif to note the "und
o* galloping horses and the rat lingof ^
heavy coach on the roadway without
A coach and six at break -neck soeed "
she cned "have landed at the dooT a
cavalier alights." ^- ^
"Time some one arrived," thoueht
Nell, as she glanced at herself in fhe
mirror, to see that Adair was well hidden
and to arrange her curls, to bewitch the'
new arrivals, whosoever they migh be
As the cavalier dashed up the path in
the moonlight, Moll recognized thSke
"Buckingham, and at o'nce announced
nis name. ^uuccu
"Ods-pitikins!" exclaimed Charles
r
Mistress Nell
He had scarce spoken, however, when
Buckingham, unceremoniously and al-
most breathless, entered the room.
" How now? " cried the King, fiercely,
as the Duke fell on his knee before him;
for his temper had been wrought to a
high pitch.
"Pardon, your Majesty," besought his
lordship, in nervous accents. "My mis-
sion will excuse my haste and interrup-
tion. Your ear I crave one moment. Sire,
I am told Nell has to-night secreted in
this house a lover!"
"Another one!" whispered Nell to
Moll.
"'Tis hearsay," cried the King, now
at fever-heat, " the give-and-take of gos-
sips! I'll none of it."
"My witness, Sire!" answered Buck-
ingham.
He turned toward the door; and there,
to the astonishment of all, -,tood the Duch-
ess of Portsmouth, who had followed him
from the coach, a lace mantilla, caught
up in her excitement, protefting her
shapely shoulders and head.
[ 302 ]
j^^enyTaUjfa Merry Time
As the assembled cwtTcrTlool^d^up;;^
he beautiful rivals, standing, as they did
ace to face before the Kingtand rea^Ii.ed
^he^suuat.on, their faces grew grave, in-
The suspense became intense.
^K' r A °^ reckoning's come,"
thought Nell, as she met with burning
glances the Duchess's eyes.
"Speak, your grace," exhorted Buck-
ingham. "The King attends you "
"Nay, before all, my lord.?" protested
Portsmouth, with pretended delicacy.
I could not do Madame G ^yn so much
injustice.
"If your speech concerns me," ob-
served Nell, mildly, "out with it boldly
My friends will consider the source "
"Speak, and quickly!" commanded
Lnarles.
"I would rather lose my tongue," still
protested the Duchess, "than speak such
words of any one; but my duty to your
Majesty ^ •'
"No preludes," interrupted the King-
and he meant it, too. He was done with
[ 3°.^ ]
Mistress Nell
trifling, and the Duchess saw it.
"My servants," she said, with a vir-
tuous look, " passing this abode by chance,
this very night,sawata questionable hour
a strange cavalier entering the boudoir of
Madame Gvvyn!"
"She would make my honour the price
of her revenge," thought Nell, her eyes
flashing. "She shall rue those words, or
Adair s head and mine are one for naught."
"What say you to this, Nell?" asked
the Kmg, the words choking in his throat.
"Sire,— I _ I _ '• answered Nell, eva-
sively. "There's some mistake or knav-
ery !
"Shehesitates,"interpolatedtheDuch-
ess, eagerly.
"You change colour, wench," cried
e-harles, his heart, indeed, again upon the
rack. "Ho, without there! Search the
house."
An officer entered quickly ti. obey
the mandate.
"Stay, Sire," exclaimed Nell, raising
herself to her full height, her hot, trem-
bling lips compressed, her cheeks aflatii.-.
\ 304 ]
^■e not seen Adair's face
'My oath :
this night."
Her words fell upon the assemblage
like thunder from a June-day sky. The
Kmg s face brightened. The Duchess's
countenance grew pale as death
-Mon Dk'u! Adair!" she gasped in
startled accents to Lord Buckingham
attendant at her side. "Could it be he
my servants saw? The packet ! Fool ' Why
did I give it him.?" ^
Buckingham trembled violently He
was even more startled than Portsmouth-
tor he had more to lose. England was his
nome and France was hers.
" The scales are turning against us," he
whispered. "Throwin this ringforsafetv
Nell s gift to Adair; you understand."
He slipped, unobserved, upon the
Duchess's finger the jewelled ring the
King had given to Almahyde among the
roses at the performance of "Granada "
"Yes! Yes! 'Tis my only chance," she
answered, catching at his meaning; for
her wits were of the sharpest in intrigue
and cunning, and she possessed the bold-
[ 305 ]
Mistress Nell
ness too to execute her plans.
She approached the King, with the
confident air possessed by great women
who have been bred at court.
"Your Majesty recognizes this ring?"
she asked in mildest accents.
"The one I gave to Nell!" answered
the astonished King.
" The one Adair this night gave to me,"
said Portsmouth, calmly.
"'Tis false!" cried Nell, who could
restrain her tongue no longer. "I gave
that ring to dear ol<' Strings."
"A rare jewel to bestow upon a fid-
dler," said the Duchess, sarcastically.
"It is true," said Strings, who had
wormed his way through the group at
mention of his name and now stood the
meeli central figure at the strange hear-
ing. " My little ones were starving, Sire;
and Nell gave me the ring — all she had.
They could not eat the gold; so I sold it
to the Duke of Buckingham!"
"We are lost," whispered Buckingham
to Portsmouth, scarce audibly.
" Coward ! " sneered the Duchess, con-
[ 306 ]
j^MerrjJTale jf a Me rry Time
temti^;;^;i,d^r^n;,7i;ot ready to"^^Jilbi?
r ranee so soon."
The King stood irresolute. Events had
transpired so quickly that he scarce knew
what It was best to do. His troubled spirit
longed for a further hearing, while his
hear demanded the ending of the scene
with a peremptory word.
Before he could decide upon his course,
the Duchess had swept across the room[
with queenly grace.
"Our hostess will pardon my eyes for
wandering," she said, undaunted; "but
her abode is filled with pleasant surprises.
Sire, here is a piece of handiwork."
She knelt by the couch, and drew from
under it a coat of gray, one sleeve of which
had caught her eve.
Neil looked at Moll with reprovin?
glances.
"Marry, 'tis Strings's, of course," con-
tmued Portsmouth, dangling the coat be-
fore the wondering eyes of all. "The lace,
the ruffle, becomes his complexion. He
fits everything here so beautifully."
As she turned the garment slowly about,
Mistress Nell
she caught sight of a package of papers
protruding from its inner pocket, sealed
with her own seal. For the first time, the
significance of the colour of thecoatcame
home to her.
"■Mon Ditu" she cried, "Adair's coat.
— The packet!"
Her fingers sought the papers eagerly;
but Nell's eye and hand were too quick for
her.
" Not so fast, dear Duchess," said Nell,
sweetly, passing the little packet te his
Majesty. "Our King must read these pa-
pers — and between the lines as well."
"Enough of this ! "commanded Charles.
"What is It.?"
"Some papers. Sire," said Nell, point-
edly, "given for a kiss and taken with a
kiss. I have not had time to read them."
"Some family papers. Sire," asserted
the Duchess, with assumed indifference,
"stolen from my house."
She would have taken fhem from his
Majesty, so great, indeed, was her bold-
ness; but Nell again stayed her.
" Aye, stolen," said Neli, sharply ; " but
[ 308 ]
' ^■'^'^rry Tale of a Merry Time
by the hostess herself— from her unsus-
pecting, royal guest. There, Sire, stands
the only thief!" She pointed accusingly
at Portsmouth. ° ■'
"My signature!" cried Charles, as he
ran his eye down a parchment. "The
treaties! No more Parliaments for En.-
land. I agreed to that."
,''Iag'-eetothatmyself,"saidNell,rogu-
! .shly. "England's King is too great to need
Parliaments. The King should have a con-
hdential adviser, however— not French "
and she cast a defiant glance at Ports-
mouth, "but English. Read on; read on "
She placed her pretty cheek as near as
possible to the King's as she followed the
letters over his shoulder.
" A note to Bouillon ! " he said, perus-
ingtheparchmentsfurther."Charlescon-
sents to the tall of Luxembourg. I did not
sign all this. I see it all: Louis's ambition
to rule the world, England's King debased
by promises won and royal contrafts made
with a clever woman — forp-ery mixed
with truth. Sweet Heaven, what have I
done!
[ 309 ]
Mistress Neli
"The papers have not gone. Sire,"
blandly remarked Nell.
"Thanks to you, my Nell,"said Charles.
He addressed Portsmouth sharply: "Ma-
dame, your coach awaits you."
"But, Sire," replied the Duchess, who
was brave to the last, "Madame Gwyn
has yet Adair to answer for!"
"Adair will answer for 1 jmself ! " cried
Nell, triumphantly.
She threw aside the pink gown and
stood as Adair before the astonished eyes
of all.
"At your service," she said, bowing
sweetly to the Duchess.
" A player's trick ! " cried Portsmouth,
haughtily, as a parting shot of contempt.
"Yes, Portsmouth," replied Nell, still
in sweetest accents, "to show where lies
the true and where the false."
"You are a witch," hissed Portsmouth.
"You are the King's true love," ex-
claimed the Merry Monarch. "To my
arms, Nell, to my arms; for you first
taught me the meaning of true love!
Buckingham, you forget your courtesy.
[ 310 J
A Merry Tale of g Merry^Time
Her grace wishes to be escorted to her
coach."
"■Bon voyage, madame," said Nell de-
. murely, as the Duchess tooli Bucking-
ham s arm and departed.
The King's eyes fell upon the player.
Hart, who was still in custody.
"Away with this wretch!" he cried
mcensed at his conduft. "I am not done
with him."
"Forgive him. Sire," interceded Nell.
" He took his cue from Heaven, andgood
has come of it."
"True, Nell," said the King, merci-
fully. Then he turned to Hart: "You are
free; but henceforth aft the knave only
on the stage." Hart bowed with shame
and withdrew.
"Sire, Sire," exclaimed Strings, for-
getting his decorum in his eagerness
"Well, Strings?" inquired the King
good-humouredly; for there was now no'
cloud in his sky.
" Let me play the exit for the villains.? "
he pleaded unftuously. "The old fiddle
is just bursting with tunes "
[ 311 ]
Mistress Nell
You shall, Strings," replied his Maj-
esty "and on a Cremona. From to-dai
you lead the royal orchestra." ^'
"Odsbud," cried Strings, gleefully, "I
can offer Jack Hart an engagement?"
Just retribution. Strings," laughed
Ne ,happ,ly."Canyoudoasmuchfor
iNell, and forgive her. Sire?"
"It is I who should ask your pardon,
Nell, exclaimed the King, ecstatically
throwing both arms passionately about
be^EngWV^'^^^'^^'^'^^^-'y-^hould