nterpolated Rhoda.

Mrs Dorothy smiled, but did not contradict her.

"Then up spoke the Queen's chaplain, and gave his voice like his
mistress, that there was no such passage; and several others of them at
the table said they thought the like. So the King, swearing his wonted
oath, cried out for some to bring a Bible, that he might search and
see."

"O Mrs Dolly! what was his favourite oath?"

"I do not see, my dear, that it would do you any good to know it. Well,
the Bible, as matters went, was not to be had. King, Queen, chaplain,
and courtiers, there was not a man nor woman at the table that owned to
possessing a Bible."

"How shocking!" said Phoebe, under her breath.

"Very shocking, my dear," assented Mrs Dorothy. "But all at once my
Lord Rochester cries out, `Please your Majesty, I'll lay you forty
shillings there's one man in this palace that has a Bible! He cut me
short for swearing in the yard a month since. That's old David, your
Majesty's Scots cook. If you'll send for him--' `Done!' says the King.
`Killigrew, root out old Davie, and tell him to come here, and bring his
Bible with him.' So away went Mr Killigrew, the King's favourite page;
and ere long back he comes, and old Davie with him, and under Davie's
arm a great brown book. `Here he is, Sire, Bible and all!' says Mr
Killigrew. `Come forward, Davie, and be hanged!' says the King. `I'll
come forward, Sire, at your Majesty's bidding,' says Davie, `and gin ye
order it, and I ha'e deservit it, I can be hangit,' saith he, mighty
dry; 'but under your Majesty's pleasure I'll just tak' the liberty to
ask, Sire, what are ye wantin' wi' the Buik?"

"Oh, how queer you talk, Mrs Dolly!"

"As David talked, my dear. He was a Scot, you know. Well, the King
gave a hearty laugh; and says he, `Oh, come forward, Davie, and fear
nothing. We'll not hang you, and we want no hurt to your darling book.'
`Atweel, Sire,' says Davie, `and I'd ha'e been gey sorry gin ye had
meant to hurt my buik, seein' it was my mither's, and I set store by it
for her sake; but trust me, Sire, I'd ha'e been a hantle sorrier gin ye
had meant onie disrespect to the Lord's Buik. I'll no stand by, wi' a'
honour to your Majesty, an' see I lichtlied.'"

"What does that mean, Mrs Dolly?"

"Set light by, my dear. Well, the King laughed again, but I think
Davie's words a little sobered him, for he spoke kindly enough, that no
harm should be done, nor was any disrespect intende