"But he must not!" exclaimed Constance, returning. "Then you must pluck him out, and set him on the floor," repeated little Roger earnestly. "'Twill be all I can do to let him to [hinder him from] get in again then--without you clap his chaucers [slippers] about his ears," he added meditatively, as if this expedient might possibly answer. Constance took the future master of England by his shoulders, and pulled him out of bed without any further quarter. The monarch elect grumbled exceedingly, but in so inarticulate a style that very little could be understood. "Now, Nym!" said Constance warningly to her refractory and dilatory nephew, "if thou get into bed again, we will leave thee behind, and crown Roger, that is worth ten of thee. By my Lady Saint Mary! a pretty King thou wilt make!" "Eh?" inquired Edmund, brightening up. "Let be. Go on and busk thee. Roger! if he is not speedy, come to the door and say it." Constance went back to the girls. She found Anne nearly ready, but Alianora, who apparently shared the indolent disposition of her elder brother, was dressing in the most deliberate manner, though Maude and Anne were both hastening her as much as they could. "Now, Nell!" said Constance, employing the weapon which had proved useful with Edmund, "if thou make not good speed, we will leave thee behind." "Well, what if so?" demanded Alianora coolly, tying a string in the most leisurely style. "If I have not as great a mind to leave you both behind!"--cried Constance in an annoyed tone. "I will bear away Nan and Roger, and wash mine hands of you!" "Please, I'm ready!" announced little Roger in a whisper through the crack of the door, in an incredibly short space of time. "Why wert thou not the firstborn?" exclaimed the Princess. "I would thou hadst been! What is Nym about?" "Combing his hair," said Roger, glancing back at him, "and hath been this never so long." Constance dashed back into the room with one of her quick, impulsive movements, snatched the comb from his dilatory young Majesty, smoothed his hair in a second, ordered him to wash his hands, and to put on his gown and tunic, and stood over him while he did it. "The saints have mercy on thee, Nym, and send thee a wise council!" said she, half in earnest and half in jest. "The whole realm will go to sleep else." "Well, they might do worser," responded Edmund calmly. The two sluggards were ready at last, but not before Constance had lost her temper, and had noticed the unruffled endurance of Anne. "Why, Nan, thou hast patience enough!" she said. "I have had need these seven years," answered the maiden quietly. "Now, Maude, take thou Lord Roger by the hand; and Nan, take thy sister. Nym, thou comest with me. Lead on, Sir Bertram; and mind all of you-- no bruit, not enough to wake a mouse!" "It would not wake Nym, then!" said little Roger.