our r'y'l Majesty."

"Ah, sire," sighed Mrs. Russell, whose eyes fell in shy embarrassment
before the dazzling gaze of "His Majesty."

"Ax," resumed "His Majesty," "that seemed like thrayson to our r'y'l
person have unfortunately compilled us to detain yez; but we hope it
'll be all right, an' that ye'll be all well thraited. We thrust
we'll be able to come to terrunos av a satisfactory character."

A murmur followed from Mrs. Russell.

"Aifairs av state," continued "His Majesty," "doesn't allow us to
give full an' free play to that jaynial timpiramint that's our chafe
an' layding fayture. It's war toime now, so it is, an' our r'y'l
moind's got to be harsh, oystayre, an' onbinding. War wid our
raybellious subjix compile us to rayjuice thim to obejience by farree
av arrums."

"An' now, madame an' ladies," continued "His Majesty," after a brief
pause, "I hope yez won't feel alarrumed at what I'm going to say
nixt. Ye see, our Prime Ministher has conveyed to our r'y'l ear
charges against your worthy husband av a traysonable nature."

"My husband!" exclaimed Mrs. Russell. "What! my John? Oh!"

"Yis," said "His Majesty." "I'm towld that he's been passing himself
off as Lord John Russell, the Prime Ministher av England, an' as the
spicial ambassador exthraardinary from our r'y'l cousin, the Quane av
England, to invistigate the state av affairs in Spain, wid an' oi to
raycognition av our r'y'l claims. As such we've honored him wid an'
aujence, an' communicated to him siviral state saycrits av a highly
important nature. At that toime he wint an' he tuk onjew advantage av
our confidince to desayve our r'y'l moind. Upon the discovery av this
offince I felt the kaynist sorrow, not for him, ladies, but for you;
an' it's for your sakes that I now come here, to assure you av my
tinder sympathy, an' also to ax about the fax. Is he Lord John
Russell?"

Mrs. Russell had at first felt ready to faint at this woful
disclosure, but she felt the eye of majesty resting on her, and she
saw something there that reassured her. She afterward told Katie, in
confidence, that she could understand exactly how Queen Esther had
felt when Ahasuerus held out his sceptre.

"Ah, sire!" she replied. "Oh, Your Most Gracious Majesty! He isn't
quite a lord, sire, it's true, but he's a gentleman."

"Sure to glory that's thrue," said "His Majesty." "Don't I know
it?--meself does. He's a gintleman, so he is, ivery inch av him; an'
yit may I ax, madam