looked slightly confused, but speedily recovered herself.

"O madam, I think he touched me. I do think I had the honour of
touching His Gracious Majesty's little finger, I really do!"

"Really do, by all means, if it makes you happier; _I've_ no objection.
Jenny, I shall eat up all your cake. It is fit to be set before the
Queen. Millicent, I wonder you can find in your heart to wash your
hands."

"Oh, but I _had_ washed them, madam, before I knew," answered Millicent
regretfully.

"Well, I hope you had," answered Lady Fisher, "seeing there lay nine
years betwixt. Heigh ho! time runs away, and we with it. Seems pity,
doesn't it!"

"Depends on where we're running to," replied Tom, who had entered
unseen. "Children that's running home, when they know their father's
got a fine present for them, isn't commonly feared of getting there too
soon."

"But how if folks don't know, Tom?" suggested Jenny, and Millicent's
eyes reflected her query.

"My dear," answered Tom humbly, "it's not for the likes of me to speak
afore such as her Ladyship. But I know what my dear old Uncle Anthony
was wont to say: `The only way to be certain you're on the way Home is
to make sure that you are going to your Father; and to do that you must
go with Him.' And I doubt if he'd speak different, now that he's got
Home."

"Ay, I suppose we would all like to have God go with us," said Lady
Fisher gravely.

"Madam, saving your presence, Uncle was used to say there's a many would
like vastly well to have God go with them, that isn't half so ready to
get up and go with God. David spake well when he said, `Make _Thy_ way
plain before my face.' The Lord's way is the sure and safe way, and
'tis the only one that leads Home."

"I think, Jenny, you _are_ a happy woman," said Lady Fisher, an hour
later, as she took her leave. Tom had gone back to his work-shed.
"Good night; God be with you."

"I am that, Madam, the Lord be praised," answered Jenny. "But the Lord
is to be praised for it, for I've done nought all my life but make
mistakes, until He took hold of me and put me right."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: That part of the story which relates to King Charles and the Lane
family is quite true, with the exception of a few small details.
Authorities differ as to whether the King and Mrs Jane rode to Trent
House alone, or accompanied by the persons mentioned. Lord Wilmot
followed t