"Stewart locks," he murmured, and his voice trembled with the thought of what had been, what might have been, and what could now never be; and another ringlet of this hued hair that lay hidden in his bosom seemed to turn into a dagger that pierced into his heart. With a great effort he put the child from him and rose. "Bring His Highness to see us soon, my lord," he said to Marlborough; "and see he learns no lackey’s tricks such as the vulgar one of speaking scornfully of your masters in your masters’ houses, which faults, like the vile treasons of mean men, are beneath us to punish; but we would not have the child ape these manners." Marlborough’s serene face slightly flushed; he could not, for all his self-command, answer; he bowed very low under the King’s straight gaze. "You will not forget the soldiers, sir?" cried the little Duke anxiously. "On my honour, no," answered William. "Tell Her Highness I shall soon wait on her." He bent and kissed the smooth auburn head and then the upturned, grateful, earnest little face. My lord left with his charge, and Torrington was soon after dismissed; the King remained in the window-seat. After awhile came my Lords Devonshire, Somers, and Dorset, straight from Westminster, looking very gloomy about this business of the breaking of the troops, and after them Lord Ranelagh, back with his answer from the Commons. The King came forward a step to meet him, and Ranelagh, felt the blood leave his own face as he saw the look that sprang into William’s haggard eyes. He stood silent, and the other lords glanced at each other furtively. The King put his hand to his heart. "Why"—he looked round the distressed faces—"why—they have not—refused?" Ranelagh dropped to one knee. "Alas, sire," he began, "’twas from the first hopeless.... Harley hath such a hold——" William interrupted. "The Commons have refused our request?" Ranelagh dared not make words about it. "Yes, sire," he answered, in a broken voice. "Ah!" exclaimed William. He turned away from all of them, and walked up and down the long shining floor; after a moment or so he paused beside Dorset, and said, in a very curious tone— "I must get beyond sea—to—to breathe a little." None of them ventured to speak, and he moved to the window again; there on the seat was the little crumpled paper boat William of Gloucester had been making out of a scrap of his lesson paper. The King saw it, and a sudden passion kindled in him; he cast his eyes wildly about him, and exclaimed, with the vehemence of agony— "Had _I_ a son, by God, these Guards should not leave me!" CHAPTER XII APATHY Matthew Prior, secretary to the English Embassy at The Hague, walked in the wonderful gardens at Loo, where the King Stadtholder lived in retreat.