, but his efforts were in vain. In consequence he was
compelled to beat a hasty retreat to his country seat, and to leave it
to its own devices. Trading on the popularity he believed himself to
enjoy, the Prince of Lilienhoehe returned from exile, and, assisted by
certain notorious enemies of the Ramonyi dynasty, made a vigorous
attempt to seize the throne. He also was disappointed in his endeavour,
for the country would have neither a Lilienhoehe nor a Ramonyi. What it
wanted was a Republic of the French and American description, and a
Republic, in hot haste, it was determined to have. As a result the
Prince followed our example and crossed the Border with as much despatch
as possible.

As soon as my mother was convalescent, it became necessary to arrive at
some sort of an understanding as to what our future was to be. To return
to our own country was out of the question; for many reasons, too
numerous to mention, it was impossible for us to remain in Gota; while
the neighbouring kingdoms were equally unsafe. It was King George
himself, our host, who solved the problem for us. As a result my tenth
birthday found us on English soil. Nowhere else in Europe could we hope
to be so safe, and the affection I feel for that country may be said to
have originated at the moment we set foot upon her shores. We were
welcomed by the country at large, while, with thoughtful generosity, a
royal residence was placed at our disposal until we should be in a
position to find one for ourselves. This done, however, we settled down
to the enjoyment of a quiet country life, and to wait until the course
of events should make it possible for us to return to Pannonia once
more. The change in our affairs proved exactly to my father's taste. He
was no longer worried with the cares and responsibilities of kingship,
but was able to give himself up entirely to the studies he so ardently
loved. In my own heart I believe that, during the period of years that
elapsed before his death, he had but one real fear, and that was the
dread lest affairs should right themselves in Pannonia and he be called
upon to resume his old life. With my mother it was altogether different.
Where he rejoiced at his new-found liberty, she chafed and worried about
the change in our lives. She could not forget that she was a king's wife
and a king's daughter, and that in England we were exiles, turned out of
our country and defrauded of our just rights. Where he scarcely spoke