themselves before this child. They bent their bodies till their beards almost swept the dust: They looked as if they were ready to kneel down and worship him. </p> <p> The poor little prince! From his earliest infancy not a soul had dared to contradict him; everybody around him had acted as if he were a superior being; so that, of course, he had imbibed the same opinion of himself. He naturally supposed that the whole kingdom of Great Britain and all its inhabitants had been created solely for his benefit and amusement. This was a sad mistake; and it cost him dear enough after he had ascended his father&rsquo;s throne. </p> <p> &ldquo;What a noble little prince he is!&rdquo; exclaimed Sir Oliver, lifting his hands in admiration. &ldquo;No, please your Majesty, I have no son to be the playmate of his royal highness; but there is a nephew of mine somewhere about the house. He is near the prince&rsquo;s age, and will be but too happy to wait upon his royal highness.&rdquo; </p> <p> &ldquo;Send for him, man! send for him!&rdquo; said the king. </p> <p> But, as it happened, there was no need of sending for Master Noll. While King James was speaking, a rugged, bold-faced, sturdy little urchin thrust himself through the throng of courtiers and attendants and greeted the prince with a broad stare. His doublet and hose (which had been put on new and clean in honor of the king&rsquo;s visit) were already soiled and torn with the rough play in which he had spent the morning. He looked no more abashed than if King James were his uncle and the prince one of his customary playfellows. </p> <p> This was little Noll himself. </p> <p> &ldquo;Here, please your Majesty, is my nephew,&rdquo; said Sir Oliver, somewhat ashamed of Noll&rsquo;s appearance and demeanor. &ldquo;Oliver, make your obeisance to the king&rsquo;s majesty.&rdquo; </p> <p> The boy made a pretty respectful obeisance to the king; for in those days children were taught to pay reverence to their elders. King James, who prided himself greatly on his scholarship, asked Noll a few questions in the Latin grammar, and then introduced him to his son. The little prince, in a very grave and dignified manner, extended his hand, not for Noll to shake, but that he might kneel down and kiss it. </p> <p> &ldquo;Nephew,&rdquo; said Sir Oliver, &ldquo;pay your duty to the prince.&rdquo; </p> <p> &ldquo;I owe him no duty,&rdquo; cried Noll, thrusting aside the prince&rsquo;s hand with a rude laugh. &ldquo;Why should I kiss that boy&rsquo;s hand?&rdquo; </p> <p> All the courtiers were amazed and confounded, and Sir Oliver the most of all. But the king laughed heartily, saying, that little Noll had a