ce but to obey, as the Queen would not require her
reader till after dinner, and Anne followed after the various
attendants, who did not seem very willing to forward a private
interview with a possible rival, though, as Anne supposed, the
object must be to convey some message to the Queen. By the time she
arrived and had been admitted to the inner chamber or dressing-room,
the Princess had thrown off her more cumbrous finery, and sat at
ease in an arm-chair. She nodded her be-curled head, and said, "You
can keep a secret, little Woodie?"

"I can, madam, but I do not love one," said Anne, thinking of her
most burthensome one.

"Well, no need to keep this long. You are a good young maiden, and
my own poor mother's godchild, and you are handy and notable. You
deserve better preferment than ever you will get in that Popish
household, where your religion is in danger. Now, I am not going to
be in jeopardy here any longer, nor let myself be kept hostage for
his Highness. Come to my rooms at bedtime. Slip in when I wish the
Queen good-night, and I'll find an excuse. Then you shall come with
me to--no, I'll not say where, and I'll make your fortune, only
mum's the word."

"But--Your Royal Highness is very good, but I am sworn to the Prince
and Queen. I could not leave them without permission."

"Prince! Prince! Pretty sort of a Prince. Prince of brickbats, as
Churchill says. Nay, girl, don't turn away in that fashion.
Consider. Your religion is in danger."

"Nay, madam, my religion would not be served by breaking my oath."

"Pooh! What's your oath to a mere pretender? Besides, consider
your fortune. Rocker to a puling babe--even if he was what they say
he is. And don't build on the Queen's favour--even if she remains
what she is now, she is too much beset with Papists and foreigners
to do anything for you."

"I do not," Anne began to say, but the Princess gave her no time.

"Besides, pride will have a fall, and if you are a good maid, and
hold your tongue, and serve me well in this strait, I'll make you my
maid of honour, and marry you so that you shall put Lady before your
name. Ay, and get good preferment for your uncle, who has had only
a poor stall from the King here."

Anne repressed an inclination to say this was not the way in which
her uncle would wish to get promotion, and only replied, "Your Royal
Highness is very good, but--"

Whereat the Princess, in a huff, exclaimed, "Oh, very well,