k excitedly.

"Don't interrupt me, dear. In a few minutes you must go. Whatever
feelings your father and I may at one time have had, we are now fixed in
our determination to support those who are now our rulers. The Prince
has been very kind to us, and the Princess has become my dearest friend.
I believe she loves me, Frank, and I want her to find that my boy will
prove one of her truest and best followers. I want you to grow up to be
either a great soldier or statesman."

"I shall be a soldier like my father," said Frank proudly.

"We shall see, Frank," said Lady Gowan, smiling. "You are too young yet
to decide. Wait a little--bide a wee, as they say in the north country.
Now you must go; but you will promise me to be careful and avoid all
who might try to lead you away. Think that your course is marked out
for you--the way to become a true, loyal gentleman."

"I promise, mother," said the lad firmly.

"Of course you do, my boy," said Lady Gowan proudly. "There, kiss me
and go. I have to play butterfly in the court sunshine for a while; but
how glad shall I be to get away from it all to our dear old country
home."

"And so shall I, mother," cried Frank, with his eyes sparkling.

"For a holiday, Frank. Life is not to be all play, my boy; and
recollect that play comes the sweeter after good work done. There, I
had you here for a pleasant chat, and I have done nothing but give you
lessons on being loyal to your king; but we are separated so much, I
have so few opportunities for talking to you, that I am obliged to give
you a little serious advice."

"Go on talking to me like that, mother," said the boy, clinging to her.
"I like to hear you."

"And you always will, won't you, Frank?"

"Of course," he said proudly.

"One word Frank, dear, and then you must go. Do you know why I have
spoken like this? No, I will not make a question of it, but tell you at
once. Andrew Forbes"--Frank started and changed colour--"is your very
close companion, and with all his vanity and little weaknesses, he is
still a gallant lad and a gentleman. Poor boy! he is very strangely
placed here at the court, an attendant on the Prince and Princess, while
his father is known to be a staunch adherent of the Pretender--a
Jacobite. He was your father's closest friend, and I knew his poor
wife--Andrew's mother--well. It was very sad her dying so young, and
leaving her motherless boy to the tender mercies of a hard world just