Contents:

The Young King The Birthday of the Infanta The Fisherman and his Soul The Star child

THE YOUNG KING

[TO MARGARET LADY BROOKE THE RANEE OF SARAWAK]

It was the night before the day fixed for his coronation, and the young King was sitting alone in his beautiful chamber. His courtiers had all taken their leave of him, bowing their heads to the ground, according to the ceremonious usage of the day, and had retired to the Great Hall of the Palace, to receive a few last lessons from the Professor of Etiquette; there being some of them who had still quite natural manners, which in a courtier is, I need hardly say, a very grave offence.

The lad for he was only a lad, being but sixteen years of age was not sorry at their departure, and had flung himself back with a deep sigh of relief on the soft cushions of his embroidered couch, lying there, wild eyed and open mouthed, like a brown woodland Faun, or some young animal of the forest newly snared by the hunters.