CHAPTER V
THE MOTHER'S VOW
WE had no knowledge at first hand, of any family life except our own. But we imagined that we made up for any loss in that direction by following the outward fortunes of one other family, from a reverent distance, but with a closeness of
devotion.
In that mysterious world beyond the heath, we divined two exhaustless springs of enthusiasm: the Army and the Royal Family.
The reason for the first is clear.
As for the second, we never guessed that our varied knowledge and intimate concern about the persons of the reigning house was a commonplace in English family life of the not very strenuous sort.
Royal personages presented themselves to our imagination, partly as the Fairly Tale element in life, partly as an ideal of mortal splendour, partly as symbols of our national greatness.
From fairy queens and princes no great step to the sea-king's daughter, or to her sailor-son,
