Frank was thinking in this strain when he went to his mother's rooms in
the Palace soon after, and her maid showed him at once to where she was
sitting reading, having dressed for the Princess's reception in good
time, so as to be free to receive her son.
"Oh!" ejaculated the maid, as she was just about to leave the room; and
there was a look of dismay in her countenance.
"What is it?" cried Lady Gowan, turning sharply with her son clasped in
her arms.
"Your dress, my lady--the lace. It will be crushed flat."
"Oh," said Lady Gowan, with a merry laugh, "never mind that. Come in an
hour and set all straight again."
"Yes, my lady," said the maid; and mother and son were left alone.
"As if we cared for satins and laces, Frank darling, at a time like
this. My own dear boy," she whispered, as she kissed him again and
again, holding his face between her white hands and gazing at him
proudly. "There, I'm crushing your curls."
"Go on," said Frank; "crush away. You can brush them for me before I
go--like you used to when I was home for the holidays."
"In the dear old times, Frank darling," cried Lady Gowan, "when we did
not have to look at each other from a distance. But never mind; we
shall soon go down into the country for a month or two, away from this
weary, formal court, and then we'll have a happy time."
Frank gazed proudly at his mother again and again during that little
happy interview, which seemed all sunshine as he looked back upon it
from among the clouds of the troubles which so soon came; and he thought
how young and girlish and beautiful she appeared. "The most beautiful
lady at the court," he told himself, "as well as the sweetest and the
best."
Time after time the words he wished to speak rose to his lips, for the
longing to make her his confidante over the Jacobite difficulty was
intense. But somehow at the critical moments he either shrank from fear
of causing her trouble and anxiety, or else felt that he ought not to
run the risk of bringing Andrew into trouble after what had passed. He
knew that Lady Gowan would not injure the mistaken lad; but still there
was the risk of danger following. Besides, he had to some extent
confided in his father, and would probably say more; so that if it was
right that Lady Gowan should know, his father would speak.
She gave him very little chance for making confidences till just at the
end of the hour she had set apart for him, when the maid appeared to
repair the disorder which she alone could see, but was dismissed at
once.
"Another ten minutes by the clock, and then Mr Frank will be going."
The maid withdrew.
"Oh, how time flies, my darling!" said the lady. "And I had so many
more things to say to you, so much advice to give to my dearest boy.
But I am proud to have you here, Frank. Your father's so much away from
me, that it is nice to feel that I have my big, brave son to protect
me."
Frank coloured, and thought of his companion's words.
"It reconciles me more to being here, my boy," she continued; "for you
see it means your advancement as well. But these are very anxious,
troublous times for both your father and me. And you are going to dine
with him at the mess this evening. Well, you are very young, and I want
to keep you still a boy; but, heigh-ho! you are growing fast, and will
soon be a man. So be careful and grow into the brave, honourable, loyal
gentleman I wish you to be."
"I will try so hard," he said eagerly; and once more he longed to speak
out, but she gave him no time, though at the last moment he would hardly
have spoken. As it was, he stood feeling as if he were very guilty
while she held his hand.
"Of course, my dear," she said, "you are too young to have taken any
interest in the political troubles of the time; but I want you to
understand that it's the happiest thing for England to be as it is, and
I want you as you grow older to be very careful not to be led away by
discontented men who may want to plunge the country into war by bringing
forward another whom they wish to make king."
"Mother!" began Frank 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
when dissensions led his father to take the other side. The Princess
knows everything about him, and it was at my request that he was placed
here, where I could try and watch over him. Now, naturally enough,
Andrew has leanings toward his father's side; but he must be taught to
grow more and more staunch to the King, and I want you, who are his
closest companion, to carefully avoid letting him influence you, while
you try hard to wean him from every folly, so that, though he is older
in some things, he may learn the right way from my calm, grave, steady
boy."
"But, mother--"
"Yes," she said, smiling; "I can guess what you are about to say. Go,
dearest. No: not another word.--Yes, I am ready now."
This to her maid, who was standing in the doorway, looking very severe;
and Frank was hurried out to return to his own quarters.