at
grew upon the balustrade.

"Ah, you come a long-forgotten path to-night," she said abruptly.

The King was alert in an instant. He felt that he had placed himself in
a false light. He loved the witch above despite himself.

"I saw thee twa evenings ago, lass," he hastily asserted, in good Scotch
accents, somewhat impatiently.

"And is not that a long time, Sire," questioned Nell, "or did Portsmouth
make it fly?"

"Portsmouth!" exclaimed Charles. He turned his face away. "Can it be my
conscience pricks me?" he thought. "You know more of her than I, sweet
Nell," he then asserted, with open manner.

"Marry, I know her not at all and never saw her," said Nell. "I 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
uncertain way, as he thought it was never possible 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, decisively. "The Duchess may find it more
than she can hold and toss it over."

"How now, wench!" exclaimed the King, with assumption of wounded
dignity. "My heart a ball for women to bat about!"

"Sire, two women often play at rackets even with a king's heart," softly
suggested 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. "They 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 irritation at the
interruption.

"'Tis so!" he said at last, resignedly. "The King is lost."

The horn sounded clearer. The hunters were returning.

"Again--nearer!" exclaimed Charles, fretfully. His mind reverted to his
pious brother; and he laughed as he continued: "Poor brother James and
his ostriches!"

He could almost touch Nell's finger-tips.

"Farewell, sweet," he said; "I must help them find his Majesty or they
will swarm here like bees. Yet I must see my Nell again to-night. Yo