"Already!" cried the King. He went very white; he had seen a sudden look of Mary in Mary’s sister’s child. The Duke nodded. "But it is wicked to want to go before God calls you," he said, quoting, obviously, his worthy tutor; "and being tired is a temptation of the devil." "A strong one," answered the King shortly, and then was silent; it seemed terrible to him that this child should begin where he left off, in utter fatigue and despondency. He put his arm round the fragile little body. "Highness," he said, "I will give you a troop of Horse, and you shall drill them yourself, and you shall have some hours off your studies for it, and I will come and give you lessons in soldiering." The little Duke’s face flushed and changed in a marvellous fashion; he caught the King’s free hand and kissed it passionately. "But Dr. Burnet——" he faltered instantly. "God doth not only speak through Dr. Burnet," replied William. "Men and horses are more than paper and ink for all that I could ever see; ay, and dogs and swords more than Greek and Latin. The devil is as likely to be between the pages of a book as out in the open, with the animals whom you might love more than men, so faithful they are. My lord!" he called to Marlborough, who had withdrawn with Torrington, and the magnificent Earl came instantly, with his winning air of deference. "This child is too much closeted," said the King. "Look to it, my lord, that he is more on horseback." "Dr. Burnet findeth him an apt pupil, sir," responded Marlborough, with the serenity and courtesy of indifference. "And Her Highness is very satisfied." "But we are not," said William quietly. "It is our intention to give His Highness a troop of Horse." Then he was silent, for he recalled in a flash that his own beloved companions in arms might be taken from him with no more regard than Marlborough would show in taking wooden toys from this child. Perhaps some such thought was in my lord’s mind; he smiled and let his fine eyes rest mildly on the King. The little Duke clung to the voluminous ruffles on the King’s breast; his face was scarlet with excitement, and had for the moment lost its premature look of wisdom and anxiety. "When you next go to Flanders may I come too?" he whispered. "Why, this is peace, Highness," smiled William. "But there will be war again, will there not, sir?" "God forbid," answered the King solemnly, "for we have utterly disarmed ourselves." Seeing him so suddenly grave the Duke was silent, and the old look of wonder and question came back into his eyes. William turned to him again. "But you will be a great soldier yet; remember me in your first battle, Highness." The child fondled the King’s star, and William, with exquisite tenderness, lifted his long smooth curls of auburn hair, and passed them round his fingers.