A King and not a King

Chapter I

"So please your Majesty, the new page has come," announced Count Esmond to a boy of fourteen, who was lolling in front of a blazing wood fire, listlessly cutting a stick which had fallen, from it. At the news he started up, saying eagerly, " At last. I thought he would never arrive. Bring him here at once." " But shall he not first change his dress and eat some thing, Sire ? for he has had a long cold ride through the drenching rain." " Certainly not ; I have been expecting him long enough. I will have no more delay. Bring him here immediately." The Count shrugged his square shoulders and turned to obey, while the King, whose listlessness had entirely disappeared, brushed the chips from his clothes, and began walking up and down the room in the greatest impatience. He was tall for his age, slight and erect ; with a mass of soft bright hair standing round a well cut face, full of spirit and life, and above all of im periousness, for was he not accustomed to have every word and look obeyed ?

Perhaps he was not really handsome, yet there was a great charm in such an ex pressive face, especially in the sensitive lips, which were parted with laughter one moment and curved with pas sion the next ; and there could be no question as to the 1 B beauty of his great soft grey eyes, set deeply under well pencilled brows, and shadowed yet more by long curved eyelashes. They looked as though they were some other person's — some one", who had suffered. Was it possible that such sad pathetic eyes could belong to so gay and joyous a character as King Gabriel ? The Arras Chamber in which he was sitting was not as gorgeous as most of the rooms in the richly furnished and splendid palace of Rosco ; but it seemed a dazzling place to the tired boy who was suddenly ushered into it by the Count. Entirely hung with richly coloured tapestry, which was even drawn across the deep windows, shutting out the storm, it looked as though it were surrounded by an unending flower-crowned pro cession.

The tall white candles in their silver sconces, shed a diffused light over the inlaid furniture and gleam ing floor, and over the enormous dog lying in front of the fire, his head between his paws, his great watchful eyes following his master's movements, as he walked impatiently up and down the room. Two pages in the Royal uniform of crimson leant against the wall, looking decidedly bored, while through an open door some gentle men in waiting could be seen playing cards in a small ante-chamber. The draught caused by the opening door made the candles swing in their hanging chains, and the fire rush up the chimney with a sudden roar. The dog raised its head with a low growl, and the King sprang forward to greet the new-comer. As the light shone more fully on the stranger, who had paused on the threshold, dazzled by the brightness within, Gabriel suddenly stopped and drew himself up with a dignified air.

Against the dark opening, between the folds of gorgeous tapestry, stood a tall boy of fifteen, carrying his head proudly in spite of fatigue. His face was rather square, with a determined well-moulded chin ; his skin, pale transparent brown, with hardly a tinge of colour in it ; and his heavy hair, of deep rich brown, fell over his forehead, almost touching the straight dark eye brows. His features were very regular, the lips set firmly at the corners, like a statue's, and his clear brown eyes had a keen glance in them under their heavy curved lids. Gabriel thought that he had never seen such a hand some face before ; but it was not its beauty, but the contempt and disdain that curved nostril and lip which had checked his impulsive advance and made him feel as though he had been openly insulted.

The Count, un conscious of all this, yet feeling he was taking part in a scene of some interest, stepped forward, and standing between the two boys broke the momentary silence by saying : " Here is Duke Joscelyn, Sire, your new page. He is one of your greatest nobles." The King put out his hand, but Joscelyn not seeming to notice the action, only bowed, rather to the Count's amusement, for a displeased look came into Gabriel's face, and he was dropping his hand when Esmond came to the rescue, pushing Joscelyn on to one knee and say ing : " Ah, I forgot to tell you to kiss his Majesty's hand." Gabriel felt two hot lips graze his knuckles, and then Joscelyn started up in such haste that the Count, thinking he was overcome with shyness and that he would be happier when left alone with those of his own age, said good humouredly : "Now I will withdraw with your permission, Sire, and order the supper, which I am sure Lord Joscelyn is longing for, to be sent up immediately."

The King did not answer; he had seated himself astride on a chair and was gazing steadily at the new page, but as soon as the door was shut he started up in his usual impulsive way, exclaiming, " Yes, I suppose you are very hungry, and how wet you are — even your hair. Come nearer the fire and get warm. Here, Miles, push up that seat. Now you can sit down opposite me, and I will tell you all about the other boys. This is Lord Harry, he is my age. I suppose you are older, for you are taller than I, and I am taller than any of my other pages. Bernard and Eric are quite babies, they are only eight ; then come the two dullies, as I call them. This is one of them, his name is Miles and his pair is Sigmund. You will go with Harry. I am King Gabriel, and this is my dog Bruno ; so now you know all about every one.

Ah, here is your supper ; while you eat it, you can tell me about yourself. First of all, where have you lived till now ? " Joscelyn had risen and was unfastening the damp cloak which hung in heavy folds round him. He looked down haughtily at the King, who was leaning forwards out of the depth of his luxurious chair, and answered curtly, " I come from my castle in the north, up amongst the mountains." " I have never seen that part of my kingdom. It is odd that you who are one of my greatest nobles should not have come to court sooner." " Do you really think it odd, King ? " said Joscelyn, without taking the trouble to look up from his food, which he was eating hungrily. His off-handed manner shocked the pages, brought up as they were in the midst of the strictest forms and ceremonies, and Harry leant over his chair and whispered : " You must not say 'King.' Call him your Majesty or Sire."

"JOSCELYN HAD RISEN AND WAS UNFASTENING THE DAMP CLOAK." [lo face p. 4. But Gabriel's quick ears caught the words, and he said : " Never mind that now, Harry. Lord Joscelyn will learn all that soon enough, and it is quite a comfort to be called anything new. I get sick to death of hear ing 'Your Majesty,' every moment of the day." "You would not like us to call you anything else, Sire," answered Harry bluntly. " Suppose I were to begin King Gabrieiling you ! " " Certainly I should not like it, and it would not be at all right to do so," answered Gabriel; "for the King must be always treated with the greatest respect, as he is the highest person in the land. Besides, if you did, I should have you punished. But do not interrupt. I want to hear more about you, my Lord Joscelyn." There was no time to answer, for at that moment one of the gentlemen-in-waiting entered, and with a low bow, informed the King it was the hour for evening chapel.

Gabriel frowned impatiently ; but he rose from his chair, and followed by his pages and gentlemen, passed through a long passage, down a flight of marble stairs, which led into a closed cloister, upon whose vaulted and carved roof the waving lights borne by the servants made the shadows writhe and twist like serpents. The cloister ended in another short flight of steps, up which the small procession rustled, and, passing under a narrow arcb, they entered the chapel, which was ablaze with tapers. Joscelyn was swept almost unconsciously into one of the carved seats fronting the throne, under whose heavy canopy sat the young King. Was it a dream, he won dered, as he gazed round, hardly realizing what he saw, during the service. How different was this stately palace, perched above the crowded town, to his lonely castle, with its bare walls, shut in by the steep niountains.

His long ride through the fierce spring storm, ending in this warmth and glitter almost dizzied him ; and now the carved roof, the gilding catching the light from the tapers, the solemn organ, the voice of the priest, and the rise and fall of the chanting, seemed more and more unreal. But the King ! the boy younger than himself, whose hand he had kissed, who had patronized him, ordered him to talk as though he were a parrot — he was real enough. It was on him his thoughts had been fixed all through his long ride, on this un chivalrous coward, this usurper, this spoilt child, who neglected his duties as an avenger of blood, and those he called his subjects. How could he be happy among all this stifling grandeur — these glittering lords whose puppet he was ? How could he ? But his thoughts were put an end to by a violent nudge from Harry ; and as that produced no effect, he was pushed out of his seat and out of the chapel before he could collect his scattered wits.

When he did, he found that the King had gone, and only a few gentlemen were left. One of these, a severe looking man, came up to where he and Harry were standing, and said : "Lord Joscelyn, you are probably tired after your journey, and as it is not your night to attend at His Majesty's unrobing, you had best go straight to your bed. Lord Harry will show you the way; you share his chamber. I wish you a good-night." " Good-night, sir," answered Harry, and whispered almost at the same moment, while he pulled Joscelyn down another side of the cloister, "that is the Governor of the pages, and a mighty strict one he is too. He would like us to be paper dolls, so that he could pull one string to make us bow, and another to make us say our lessons. He has curious ideas. My Cousin Eleanor used to tell me I was the most unoriginal boy she had ever seen, but this old fellow says my invention is quite marvellous — for mischief.

This is our room. How do you like the King ? " Joscelyn hesitated. " I think he gives himself airs." " Of course he does," answered Harry. " What would be the use of being King if he did not? I am sure you would if you were he. But I like him, and I think the old Duke, his guardian, may well be proud of him. You see he has been King ever since he was two. I don't know much about history, we never learnt it, and I expect my uncle, Count Esmond, does not know much either, for if I ask him questions about old times he begins talking of something else, which is a way he has of hiding his ignorance. I tried doing it to the chap lain when he became too inquiring into rny knowledge, but it did not answer with him — he disapproved, for some strange reason. But as far as I can make out, Gabriel's father died when he was still only prince, before he was King, and then the old King (Gabriel's grandfather) died when he was only two years old, and so did his mother, and that is how Gabriel was King so young."

Joscelyn was by this time in bed, watching Harry, who talked and undressed with great deliberation. He must have really listened to this cons used account of the royal family, though he had not seemed to do so, for he said at last, " I wonder the great nobles allowed him to be King. I would not obey a child of two. Fancy your uncle, who is so brave, and the Duke, who is so wise, bowing and kissing the right hand of a baby, who is sucking the thumb of his left ! " Harry, who was pulling off his pointed shoes, stared round-eyed. " Oh, Joscelyn ! " he exclaimed, " you must not say those sort of things. I should think they were treason." "Treason!" laughed Joscelyn rather bitterly ; "no, that is not treason. Treason is quite a different matter. But I am very sleepy. Good-night."

Chapter II

Joscelyn awoke next morning with a start, to find sunshine streaming in through the deep window, lighting up every inch of the wainscoted room, whose scented cedar panels were as different to the rough stone walls of his own castle as was the soft many tinted carpet to the cold flags he was accustomed to spring out on. While he sat on the edge of his bed, nestling his bare feet in the soft wool, and telling himself he was really in the far-famed Palace, a bell pealed out from some tower overhead, making Harry roll over, rub his eyes, and begin a long string of grumblings. He hated the bell, he hated getting up. Why could not he wake up dressed ? it was so wearisome always to begin the day in the same way. Joscelyn could not stand this long, and put an end to it by pulling him out of bed. The two dressed hurriedly, and Joscelyn was ashamed to find how eager he was to see the King again and the Palace and stables.

Perhaps it was the sunshine, but everything seemed brighter to him this morning. "We have chapel first," explained Harry, " much the same as last night, except that fewer of the Court attend. Then we breakfast. The King used to have his alone; but last year he said it was too dull, and that we must have ours with him ; which is much more fun, for he snubs the Governor if he nags at us too much." Both boys were now dressed, and had run down to the ante-room out of which the King's bed-chamber opened. It was a long low room hung with curiously stamped leather, with a huge carved mantel-piece reach ing up to the ceiling on one side, and an oriel window on the other, into which Joscelyn walked after casting a hasty glance at the inlaid floor with its circles of mosaic work. Sitting down on the marble seat he gazed out at the bright stiff garden with its blazing flowers, its long terraces and shining statues.

Joscelyn had never seen anything like it before. Whenever he took the trouble to climb up into the narrow slits which served for windows in his own castle, he only saw the stone court, the high walls, the rocky mountains, with a grey lowering sky above. Here all was diffierent : the sky was pure pale blue, the trees in the long avenue were covered with a golden and rosy mist of buds, little birds were twittering and flying about in the most unexpected curves and darts, and some peacocks were basking in the warmth, on the stone balustrades, their heads sunk in their necks, a picture of content. A bell began toll ing, and Joscelyn's meditations were put an end to by Harry's whispering: "There is the Chapel bell; the King is late again, keeping every one waiting as usual. Have you seen the Governor?

You ought to bow to him. He is particularly fond of making one go through that idiotic performance." Joscelyn turned his head without troubling to rise, and saw that the other pages had all assembled in a group round the fire, which was crackling merrily, while the Governor was talking to an old man with a pompous face and voice and a pointed white beard, who, from his badge of office, he guessed to be the Chancellor. Still the door at the end of the ante-room remained shut, but not close enough to smother the sound of an imperious voice. " You get worse and worse, John," it cried. "I believe you do it on purpose ; no one in their senses would be so stupid; get out of my sight." The Chancellor shook his head mournfully at the Governor, and the pages giggled ; but they all turned and bowed most respectfully when the door was flung open and the King emerged, frowning fiercely, in his gorgeous dress of green velvet, glittering at throat and waist with jewels.

He paid no heed to their bows, and was striding on towards the opposite door when his eye fell on Joscelyn. In an instant every trace of anger left his face, and it became as bright as before it had been cloudy. "Ah, my Lord Joscelyn! there you are. I knew something good had happened, but I could not remember what it was, for John was unusually foolish this morning. Good-morning, my lords," he added, turning to them with a slight bow. " My Lord Governor, you will please tell my Chaplain I will have no address from him to-day, for I want to be out as soon as possible to talk with my Lord Joscelyn." He was obeyed ; there was no address, and Gabriel gave a triumphant glance at Harry as he rose from his seat, and half ran down the long cloister, to the distress of the Chancellor, who, in his effort to combine dignity with haste, tripped up twice, and reached the breakfast room door in a panting condition.

The Governor was the only courtier who stayed to superintend the informal meal, which was spread in the Arras Chamber. At a sign from the King the pages took their seats, Joscelyn being placed at his right hand. "But do not disturb Bruno; he likes plenty of room. I did not notice before you had got on your uniform ; you look very well in it," said Gabriel, glancing admiringly at the graceful figure beside him in the embroidered crimson velvet, which suited the clear brown skin and dark hair so perfectly. Then, not noticing Joscelyn's flush of annoyance he continued, " I am going to have a hunt to-day, and you shall see my horse, it is a beauty. I suppose you have ridden a great deal ? " " Yes, Sire, a great deal," was the brief answer. " I and my Court have large hunts, but so much time is wasted arranging who is to go and who is to stay, that we have never been very far.

It is very tiresome. Many things are tiresome." " Are they ? " said Joscelyn. " I shouldn't have sup posed you would have found them so. Do you do any thing else except hunt with your Court ? " The King stared at the tone in which this was said, and vouchsafed no answer as he finished his meal in silence. He listened very intently to the conversation, especially Joscelyn's, for he was curiously attracted to this tall, dark boy who spoke so disdainfully to him. He excused his familiarity, supposing he must be ignorant of the rule that the King always first addressed the person he wished to talk with, and indeed he found it a pleasant change from always having his wishes appealed to, or having them explained away if they were inconvenient. Joscelyn puzzled him ; and that again was a new sensation, for Gabriel did not often care or think enough about people to puzzle over them.

His life had been very shut in. He had never left his capital for more than a day, since he was crowned King in the great Cathedral ; and, in consequence, he was adored by the townsfolk, who had watched him grow year by year, and felt a personal interest in " our little King," as they called him, to his great disgust. — It was too absurd now that he was within a year of his coming of age, when he would gather the reins of government into his own hands. — Gabriel had had a nurse till he was five years old, but one day the Duke surprised her gossipping on the terrace with some friends, the little boy standing by listening open-mouthed to "what he said to me, and I said to him." The Duke, never fond of women, was only too glad of an excuse to dismiss her, and gave orders that in future no females were to be em ployed in the Palace : " We shall have enough of them when His Majesty marries," he said.

So John, the stupid, exasperating old man, became the King's ser vant, petting, spoiling, agreeing with him, and aggrava ting him more than any one else. Gabriel was so carefully taught, that, in spite of his extreme aversion to learning, he was one of the best informed princes of his time ; for he could read fluently, sign his name admira bly from constant practice, and especially delighted him self in doing it differently each time. He was devoted to fencing, riding, and hunting, and had not a match among his pages, whom he ordered about unmerci fully; and they obeyed him implicitly, knowing that un less they did so they would be punished. On the whole he was very popular with them, for he never told tales, and was kind to the little boys ; but he had no regard for their feelings, not from cruelty, but because it never occurred to him that they had any.

He was perfectly truthful, having no temptation to be anything else, for he had never been punished to his knowledge, except by having his tasks prolonged when he had been particularly unreasonable. But more than once he was very near it, especially after his famous trick of putting Bruno on guard over the Chancellor, who, having gone to sleep during a Council, woke to find " that enormous beast, for which His Majesty has such a strange and unaccountable predilection, glaring at me, and showing his fangs in a truly diabolical manner whenever 1 attempted to rise after my arduous labours for the good of the State and the welfare of Christendom. There I sat, my Lord Duke, from twelve at noon, the hour when I am accus tomed to make my modest repast, till five at even, clutching my chair, not daring to stir my members or exercise my vocal organ.

At last a distant whistle resounded through the chamber ; my enemy sprang up, and, thinking my last hour was come, I composed myself to die worthy of my ancestors. But, thank Heaven, it was to the half-opened door he rushed ; that door through which the fumes of roast and boiled had been wafted to excite my olfactory organs. 1 was free — free to resume my labours in behalf of that sovereign who had so cruelly used me, and on whom I demand punishment; for it is time he learnt to revere some one:" But after examining records, it was found that the Kin" must sign the warrant for his own chastisement, aud this the united efforts of the Council had never yet succeeded, by persuasions or trickery, in making him do. But to return to the party at breakfast. They had now finished, and were rushing about and shouting, while Joscelyn, to whom their behaviour seemed very childish, stood apart gazing wistfully at them.

Ho was quite relieved when the Chaplain appeared to summon them to their tasks in the monastic-looking chamber, with its stained windows and small stone seats, into which the boys settled themselves with a gloomy despair. Gabriel said airily, " Father, I do not wish to have long tasks to-day; it is much too fine to stay long cooped up in this cold, dark chamber." The Chaplain, a tall, dark man, bowed ; but he did not shorten the lesson, and was as strict as ever about the chapter Gabriel recited, while he leant back in his chair pulling Bruno's soft ears, and watching Harry's struggles over his writing. This writing was a sore trial to the boys, for they thought it beneath the dignity of gentlemen to copy the beautiful manuscript which lay open before them on the high desk. It was all very well for monks ; poor things, they had nothing better to do ; but why need gentlemen know how to write ?

So, though it was a choice of evils, they were relieved when they were told to lay down their pens, and begin the reading. Gabriel stopped when it came to his turn, saying, " Father, I don't want to go on. Why should I always read about the holy saints ? They are too holy, I cannot understand them." " That is natural, Sire. Suppose you were one of those people you see when you ride through the city, that man whose dirty hands and face filled you with such disgust the other day. Suppose you were to talk to him of the delights of being clean ; of feeling the air fresh on his face, without having first to soak through a film of grime ; of the delight of bathing in cold water. He might be interested at first, as you were, when you began the life of St. Boniface ; but soon he would be bored, and would say, ' Do not go on talking to me of cleanliness, I do not understand it.' No, Sire, to understand anything, you must first experience it."

The King became slightly impatient during this speech, aud gabbled over his paragraph in a far from pious way. He was thinking that this new Chaplain was not as respectful as he should be, for he had already rebuked him openly before all the other pages, of which Gabriel did not at all approve ; and he was more than usually delighted when the two long hours came to an end, and he and his pages were released, except the unfortunate Sigmund, who was kept back to receive his almost daily punishment.

Chapter III

No sooner was the door of his torture-chamber shut behind him, than Gabriel turned to his pages saying : " I am going out into the garden ; fetch me my cloak." Eric and Bernard ran off obediently, and Joscelyn was turning away in disgust, when the King came up to him, and laying his hand on his shoulder, said : " You don't look as though you enjoyed lessons, but they are not half as bad as Councils. I wonder why the Father will not let me read the chronicles of my ancestors, when there are accounts of wars and battles. I am always longing for a war. I should think no other King had had such a fearfully peaceful reign as I have had. In the next kingdom they are always fighting ; but it cannot be any fun, for it is civil war, and to fight against one's own subjects would be detestable. They must have been very ill-treated before they would have dared take up arms against their King.

I am sure mine never would, besides, they would have no excuse, for they are far too well governed." Before Joscelyn could answer the boys reappeared. " Put on my cloak for me, Lord Joscelyn," said Gabriel. " How clumsy you are, you cannot even put it on straight. I hope you will soon get accustomed to your duties." " I shall never get accustomed to acting chamberc .4 KING AND NOT A KING. maid," retorted Joscelyn, overcoming the strongest in clination to trample the cloak under foot. The King stared. " Do not speak like that to me again," he said; "it is not seemly, and I will not have it. Harry, you are more handy, come and see what he has done to my cloak ; he seems to have put it on upside down or inside out." . After a little more fretting, it was arranged to his liking, and the boys streamed down the long pillared corridor, on to the broad sunny terrace.

" I will reach the end first," cried Gabriel, setting off at full speed ; but to his astonishment, Joscelyn outstripped him easily, and in spite of his most desperate efforts had reached the goal and was calmly examining the marble Cupid as Gabriel came up panting. "You are beaten," said Joscelyn with his quiet smile. " I am not so sure. Did we start fair ? At all events, I will race you again as soon as I have got my breath." " You had better have a start this time," said Joscelyn, but the King looked much insulted at the idea. " I will race you fairly or not at all," he answered. " Now I am ready. Off." For a short time the two figures were abreast, but very soon the crimson one shot ahead and reached the smiling Cupid before the King had gone more than half the distance. " You cannot say we did not start fairly this time," cried Joscelyn triumphantly.