he looked at her, he wondered that he could ever have loved her.
His love of ten years was over; it fell down dead on the spot, at
the Kensington Tavern, where Frank brought him the note out of "Eikon
Basilike." The Prince blushed and bowed low, as she gazed at him, and
quitted the chamber. I have never seen her from that day.

Horses were fetched and put to the chariot presently. My lord rode
outside, and as for Esmond he was so tired that he was no sooner in the
carriage than he fell asleep, and never woke till night, as the coach
came into Alton.

As we drove to the "Bell" Inn comes a mitred coach with our old friend
Lockwood beside the coachman. My Lady Castlewood and the Bishop were
inside; she gave a little scream when she saw us. The two coaches
entered the inn almost together; the landlord and people coming out with
lights to welcome the visitors.

We in our coach sprang out of it, as soon as ever we saw the dear lady,
and above all, the Doctor in his cassock. What was the news? Was there
yet time? Was the Queen alive? These questions were put hurriedly, as
Boniface stood waiting before his noble guests to bow them up the stair.

"Is she safe?" was what Lady Castlewood whispered in a flutter to
Esmond.

"All's well, thank God," says he, as the fond lady took his hand
and kissed it, and called him her preserver and her dear. SHE wasn't
thinking of Queens and crowns.

The Bishop's news was reassuring: at least all was not lost; the Queen
yet breathed, or was alive when they left London, six hours since. ("It
was Lady Castlewood who insisted on coming," the Doctor said.) Argyle
had marched up regiments from Portsmouth, and sent abroad for more; the
Whigs were on the alert, a pest on them, (I am not sure but the Bishop
swore as he spoke,) and so too were our people. And all might be saved,
if only the Prince could be at London in time. We called for horses,
instantly to return to London. We never went up poor crestfallen
Boniface's stairs, but into our coaches again. The Prince and his Prime
Minister in one, Esmond in the other, with only his dear mistress as a
companion.

Castlewood galloped forwards on horseback to gather the Prince's friends
and warn them of his coming. We travelled through the night. Esmond
discoursing to his mistress of the events of the last twenty-four hours;
of Castlewood's ride and his; of the Prince's generous behavior and
their reconciliation. The night seemed short enough; and t