"I should like to do so, mama, but I fear the story I now relate will soon be discovered. The scene is not laid in England, but near the coast of an adjacent country, an exposed rock, on the summit of which there was a castle but indifferently defended. A long siege had so much weakened the garrison, that few were able to protect the prince who led them; they were forced to surrender to the enemy at the foot of the rock, who had anxiously expected the moment when starvation would conquer their courage. The prince knelt to the victor for mercy; life was granted; but he was cast out, with a few faithful followers, to find shelter and support from any who would take pity on him." "We were sure Emily would tell us something pathetic; it is a very pretty story, but we cannot think who it is. Were there old men, women, and children turned out, and taken care of by the besiegers?" "No, it was not the taking of Calais by Edward III. I ought to have told you that the rock was an island." "Mama," whispered Alfred, who had secured his mother's lap, "do you ask questions, for I am tired, and want to know." Mrs. Macdonald indulged him, and begged to know if the conquered and the conqueror were related to each other. "Oh! mama, Emily moves her head to say yes. We know now; when little boys I think they quarreled, because one of them threw a bucket of water over the other; if they began so early to fight, no wonder they hated each other in after life." "Can any of you tell me," enquired their aunt, "what celebrated building was erected in this reign? William, if you retain your wish to study law, you may some day know more of its interior." "I can tell you, mama; it was Westminster Hall; the Tower of London was also much added to, some say commenced in this reign." "Yes, but has been still more enlarged and altered since. Your aunt mentioned Earl Godwin last night; it was in this reign that the lands which had belonged to him were overflowed." "I remember," said Alfred, looking very solemn as he thought of his death; "but now, dear Edward, do tell us something funny." "That will not be very easy," replied his cousin; "and I dare say mama could obey your request much better than I can." "I will tell a story next," exclaimed Willie; "the consequences were sad, but the beginning will please Alfred. You must witness the toilet of a king, and fancy he has taken a new scarlet cloak from his attendant's hands; he tries in vain to fasten the hood, he pulls and struggles, but the material will not bear such treatment, and is soon torn." "I think," said Mrs. Macdonald, "you have, to please your little brother, chosen a curious specimen of your powers of memory." "Indeed, mama, Holinshed is my authority; the sad end is, that the cloak was sent to the king's brother, who, he said, had a smaller head than his; this so hurt his brother's feelings, that he refused all nourishment, and died in a few days. He was the king's prisoner at the time."