"It is like one
of the masques of the merry days of old." And as he retained her
hand and returned the salute on her lips, "Queen Mab herself, for who
else saw through thy poor brother sovereign's mean disguise?"
"I had seen your Majesty with the army," replied Emlyn, modestly
blushing a good deal.
"Ah! The Fates have provided me with a countenance the very worst
for straits like mine. But that matters the less since it is only my
worthy subjects who see through the grey coat. I would lay my crown,
if I had it, to one of those crispy ringlets of yours, that Queen Mab
was the poacher who drew off the crop-eared keeper."
"'Tis Robin Goodfellow, please your Majesty, who leads clowns
astray," said Emlyn in the same tone.
"Sometimes a horse I'll be, sometimes a hound," quoted the King.
Stead could only listen in amazement without a word to say for
himself. Near the confines of the wood, he had to leave Emlyn to
guide the King over a field-path while he fetched Mrs. Jane Lane and
the horse to meet them beyond, as it was wiser for the King not to
shew himself in the village.
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