Parliamentary vacation
approached; and what before had been mere talk and threat could now be
put into instant action. And so when he had given the King his run, and
listened to the royal obstinacy in all its varying phrases of
repetition, contradiction, reproach, till it reached its final stage of
blank immobility, he formally tendered the Ministry's resignation.

The King sat and thought for a while, for now it was clear that one way
or the other he must make up his mind. All those strings of red tape,
which he had meant to tie with such dilatory cunning hung loose in his
grasp; to a Cabinet really set on resignation he could not apply them.
Just as his hands had seemed full of power they became empty again. He
knew that at the present moment no other ministry was possible, and that
a general election was more likely to accentuate than to solve his
difficulties; and so in sober chagrin he sat and thought, and the Prime
Minister (as he noticed) was so sure of his power that he did not even
trouble to watch the process of the royal hesitation resolving itself.

When after an appreciable time the King spoke he seemed to have arrived
nowhere.

"This is the fifth time," he said, "that you have offered me
resignation: and you know that I am still unable to accept it."

The Prime Minister bowed his head; he knew it very well, there was no
need for words.

"And you know that I am still entirely unconvinced."

"For that," said the minister, "I must take blame; since it shows that
my advocacy in so strong a case has been very imperfect."

"Oh, not at all," said the King. "I think you have shown even more than
your accustomed ability."

"That is a compliment which--if it may be permitted--I can certainly
return to your Majesty."

"I have felt very strongly upon this matter," said the King.

"We all do, sir--one way or the other. With great questions that is
inevitable."

"You admit it is a great question?"

"I should never have so troubled your Majesty were it a small one."

The King's thoughts shifted.

"What a pity it is," said he, "that I and my ministers have never been
friends."

"Have not loyal service and humble duty some claim to be so regarded?"
inquired the Prime Minister. But the King let this official veneer of
the facts pass unregarded.

"It would have helped things," he went on. "As it is, when I differ from
my ministers I am all alone. It is in moments of difficulty like this
that the head of