hich to her was as hollow and faded as a
theatre by day. She could hold out no longer; burying her face in her
hands, she wept without restraint.

Some yards behind her was a little spring of water, having a stone margin
round it to prevent the cattle from treading in the sides and filling it
up with dirt. While she wept, two elderly gentlemen entered unperceived
upon the scene, and walked on to the spring's brink. Here they paused
and looked in, afterwards moving round it, and then stooping as if to
smell or taste its waters. The spring was, in fact, a sulphurous one,
then recently discovered by a physician who lived in the neighbourhood;
and it was beginning to attract some attention, having by common report
contributed to effect such wonderful cures as almost passed belief. After
a considerable discussion, apparently on how the pool might be improved
for better use, one of the two elderly gentlemen turned away, leaving the
other still probing the spring with his cane. The first stranger, who
wore a blue coat with gilt buttons, came on in the direction of Anne
Garland, and seeing her sad posture went quickly up to her, and said
abruptly, 'What is the matter?'

Anne, who in her grief had observed nothing of the gentlemen's presence,
withdrew her handkerchief from her eyes and started to her feet. She
instantly recognised her interrogator as the King.

'What, what, crying?' his Majesty inquired kindly. 'How is this!'

'I--have seen a dear friend go away, sir,' she faltered, with downcast
eyes.

'Ah--partings are sad--very sad--for us all. You must hope your friend
will return soon. Where is he or she gone?'

'I don't know, your Majesty.'

'Don't know--how is that?'

'He is a sailor on board the Victory.'

'Then he has reason to be proud,' said the King with interest. 'He is
your brother?'

Anne tried to explain what he was, but could not, and blushed with
painful heat.

'Well, well, well; what is his name?'

In spite of Anne's confusion and low spirits, her womanly shrewdness told
her at once that no harm could be done by revealing Bob's name; and she
answered, 'His name is Robert Loveday, sir.'

'Loveday--a good name. I shall not forget it. Now dry your cheeks, and
don't cry any more. Loveday--Robert Loveday.'

Anne curtseyed, the King smiled good-humouredly, and turned to rejoin his
companion, who was afterwards heard to be Dr. ---, the physician in
attendance at Gloucester Lodge. This