hing to the curtain, he seized its silken folds and tore it
completely from its hangings--only to face himself in a large mirror.
"Ods-pitikins, my own reflection!" he exclaimed, with menacing tone,
though there was relief as well in his voice. He bent the point of his
blade against the floor, gazed at himself in the pier-glass and looked
over his shoulder at Nell, who stood in the midst of his courtiers,
splitting her sides with laughter, undignified but honest.

"Rogue, rogue," he cried, "I should turn the point on thee for this
trick; but England would be worse than a Puritan funeral with no Nell.
Thou shalt suffer anon."

"I defy thee, Sire, and all thy imps of Satan," laughed the vixen, as
she watched the King sheathe his jewelled sword. "Cast Nell in the
blackest dungeon, Adair is her fellow-prisoner; outlaw Nell, Adair is
her brother outlaw; off with Nell's head, off rolls Adair's. Who else
can boast so true a love!"

"Thou shalt be banished the realm," decided the King, jestingly; for he
was now convinced that her Adair was but a jest to tease him--a Roland
for his Oliver.

"Banished!" cried Nell, with bated breath.

"Aye; beyond sea, witch!" answered the King, with pompous austerity.
"Virginia shall be thy home."

"Good, good!" laughed Nell, gaily. "Sire, the men grow handsome in
Virginia, and dauntless; and they tell me there are a dearth of women
there. Oh, banish me at once to--What's the name?"

"Jamestown," suggested York, recalling the one name because of its
familiar sound.

"Yea, brother James," said Nell, fearlessly mimicking his brusque
accent, "Jamestown."

"Savages, wild men, cannibals," scowled Charles.

"Cannibals!" cried Nell. "Marry, I should love to be a cannibal. Are
there cannibals in Jamestown, brother James? Banish me, Sire; banish me
to Jamestown of all places. Up with the sails, my merry men; give me the
helm! Adair will sail in the same good ship, I trow."

"Adair! I trow thou wert best at home, cannibal Nelly," determined the
King.

"Then set all the men in Britain to watch me, Sire," said Nell; "for,
from now on, I'll need it."

The King shook his finger warningly at her, then leaned carelessly
against the window.

"Ho there!" he cried out suddenly. "A night disturbance, a drunken
brawl, beneath our very ears! Fellow-saints, what mean my subjects from
their beds this hour of night? Their sovereign does the revelling for
the realm. James, Rochester and all, see to 't!