thing she had seen at Biggin House, even when the Lord Deputy was there. Sir Oliver was this evening not only perfectly well dressed and well mannered, but elevated in his whole style of thought and sentiment. Henrietta felt that her father was dignified in one way; and the King in another; and now she perceived that there was yet another style of dignity, of which Sir Oliver was an example. She could only speculate, when she saw their Majesties distinguishing the old man, what they would have thought if they had seen him tossing up his wig because the King had dissolved the Parliament before it could well get to work. On his part, Sir Oliver’s heart warmed to his darling when he saw how pretty she looked, with her heightened colour and her shining eyes.
When His Majesty inquired into their relationship, and spoke some kind words about her, Sir Oliver frankly said that she had never looked so pretty before, and that it was her loyalty that showed itself in that way.
A little later, when Henrietta was in conversation with one of the Queen’s ladies, she was startled by the King’s speaking to her. He sat down, and made her sit also; and in the conversation which ensued she became as simply and sincerely interested as if she had been listening to any other gentleman, in any other apartment. His Majesty inquired about Mr. Hampden’s health, and expressed admiration of his devotedness to what he had considered to be the interests of the country. It was deplorable, he said, that dissensions should arise as they had done; but no opposition of views on public affairs had ever blinded him to the honourable character of Mr. Hampden; so that, when it became necessary to try a certain point in a court of law, he had himself suggested that Mr. Hampden’s case should be the one tried, as that of the most choice antagonist whom he could select. How glad would Henrietta have been to recall one single instance in which her father had regarded the King as honourable, or had spoken of him with respect like this for his personal character, apart from his function! As she could not, she concluded that the King had the advantage in point of liberality and generosity.
His Majesty went on to say that there had been times when he had conceived some hope of a union of forces between the leaders of the opposing views. He had, in fact, consulted some of his friends about the possibility of inducing Mr. Hampden and Mr. Pym, and some of their friends, to aid him in the work of government; and he did not, after all, give up the hope.
On such a point Henrietta could only listen; but the manner of her listening showed the King what her feelings were towards her father, and probably induced him to say some things that would not have been uttered for her own sake. He probably hoped that every word would go to her father when he said, with a sigh, that no man is always wise, and that every man whose business lies in public affairs has occasion at times to regret mistakes: and his immediate reference to some future discussion and arrangement left Henrietta no doubt whatever that the King regretted the haste of his act of the last week, at the very moment when the members of the dispersed Parliament were stirring up indignation against the King in every corner of the country.
She was astonished afterwards at the sudden boldness with which her tongue was unloosed to say what she now did. Thus far she had scarcely spoken: her devout attention and her beaming eyes had been better than speech: but now she earnestly informed the King of her father’s constant assumption that the King must have whatever he needed or desired in the way of supplies; that all that every citizen possessed ought to be at his service as the supreme head of the nation; and that all that was to be insisted on, on the part of the people, was that the supplies should be furnished in the fixed mode,—through the regular channel of the Parliament.
“Ay, that is it,” the King observed, with a mournful shake of the head. “That is the essential point on which the acknowledged Ruler of the State is permitted no freedom,—no use of his own judgment, for which he is responsible to the King of kings. The Parliament has its own duty, and if it outrages that duty, the sovereign must do his. He can permit no interference with his judgment and conscience as to the way in which he will discharge the office of Ruler and Protector of his own kingdom.”
“I wish—” said Henrietta; but she stopped abashed.
“What do you wish?” asked the King, gently. “Speak freely. Tell me your wish. I am sure it is nothing unkind.”
“I feared it was presumptuous,” Henrietta replied. “But I do wish my father might be permitted to explain to your Majesty what he thinks,—and not he only,—what the chief men of the Parliament mean by the part they have taken. If your Majesty could hear from their own lips—”
“And why not?” said the King. “If they have more to say than has been said in the courts and in the House, why do they not say it? I am always to be found. They would not be glad to see me in their Parliament House; but they will always be welcome to my house, if they come as friends, and not as enemies. I fear, however, that we understand one another only too well. If it is otherwise, the time will come of which I spoke, when Mr. Hampden and his friends will assist me with their counsels, and help me to remedy those mischiefs of which they accuse me, while their own perverseness is the true cause. For eleven years they have withstood their sovereign; and what the natural consequence is, let the misery of the country show.”
Henrietta’s eyes were brimming with tears. On inquiry, the King learned what she had seen in Cornwall when the pirates carried off the children. The King sighed, and said he had done what he could to raise the money for ships; and the people would not pay it. Within that very month he had offered to surrender the ship-money, if the Parliament would provide the necessary funds in any way they preferred. Perhaps he ought to have had more patience with them: but they