o years older than you. You've overtaken and
passed me, lad. I'm getting quite afraid of you."

"Oh, don't banter me now, Drew. I can't bear it."

"It's only my spiteful tongue, Frank. I don't banter you at heart. I'm
in earnest. Only a short time ago I used to think I was as old as a
man, and it was trouble about my father made me so. Now I can't help
seeing how trouble is altering you too. Don't mind what I say, but I
must say it. Some day you'll begin to think that I am not so much to
blame for talking as I do about our royal master."

Frank drew a long, deep breath, and felt as if it might after all be
possible.

"There, that's enough for one morning," cried Andrew merrily. "We're
only boys after all, even if I am such a queer fish. Let's be boys
again now. What do you say? I'll race you round the end of the canal,
and see who can get in first to breakfast."

"No," said Frank; "I want to walk back quietly and think."

"And I don't mean to let you. There, we've had trouble enough before
breakfast. Let's put it aside, and if we can get away go and see the
Horse Guards parade, and then listen to the band and see some of the
drilling. I want to learn all I can about an officer's duty, so as not
to be like a raw recruit when I get my commission, if I ever do. I say:
hungry?"

"I? No."

"Then you must be. Make a good breakfast, lad. Sir Robert's safe
enough by now, and he'll be more cautious in future about coming amongst
his Majesty's springes and mantraps. Look yonder; there's Captain
Murray. Who's that with him?"

"The doctor."

"So it is. Let's go and talk to them."

"No; let them go by before we start for the gate. I feel as if every
one will be knowing about last night, and want to question me. I wish I
could go away till it has all blown over."

"But you can't, Frank; and you must face it out like a man. I say--"

"Well?"

"You're not likely to see the King, and if you did it's a chance if he'd
know who you are; but you're sure to see the Prince, and I am a bit
anxious to know whether he'll take any notice about what his page did
last night, and if he does, what he'll say."

"I'm pretty well sure to see him this afternoon," said Frank gloomily;
"and if he questions me I can't tell him a lie. What shall I say?"

"I'll tell you," said Andrew merrily.

"Yes? What?"

"Say nothing. He can't make you speak."

"Then he'll be angry, and it will be fresh trouble for my m