ou really, Frank?" cried the lad eagerly.

"Of course I do; you know I always say what I mean."

"Then thank you," cried the lad warmly; "that's almost as good as
going."

"I'll ask her to invite you next time. Hallo! where are you off to?"

"Only to my room for a bit."

"What for? Anything the matter?"

"Matter? Pish! Well, yes. I'm thinking I'd better be off, for fear,
instead of my converting you, you'll be taking advantage of my weakness,
offering me a share in Sir Robert and Lady Gowan for a bribe, and
converting me."

"I wish I could," said Frank to himself, as his companion hurried out of
the room. "Why not? Suppose I were to take my mother into my
confidence, and ask her to try and win him away from what is sure to end
in a great trouble!"

CHAPTER TWELVE.

THE TROUBLE GROWS.

Frank was thinking in this strain when he went to his mother's rooms in
the Palace soon after, and her maid showed him at once to where she was
sitting reading, having dressed for the Princess's reception in good
time, so as to be free to receive her son.

"Oh!" ejaculated the maid, as she was just about to leave the room; and
there was a look of dismay in her countenance.

"What is it?" cried Lady Gowan, turning sharply with her son clasped in
her arms.

"Your dress, my lady--the lace. It will be crushed flat."

"Oh," said Lady Gowan, with a merry laugh, "never mind that. Come in an
hour and set all straight again."

"Yes, my lady," said the maid; and mother and son were left alone.

"As if we cared for satins and laces, Frank darling, at a time like
this. My own dear boy," she whispered, as she kissed him again and
again, holding his face between her white hands and gazing at him
proudly. "There, I'm crushing your curls."

"Go on," said Frank; "crush away. You can brush them for me before I
go--like you used to when I was home for the holidays."

"In the dear old times, Frank darling," cried Lady Gowan, "when we did
not have to look at each other from a distance. But never mind; we
shall soon go down into the country for a month or two, away from this
weary, formal court, and then we'll have a happy time."

Frank gazed proudly at his mother again and again during that little
happy interview, which seemed all sunshine as he looked back upon it
from among the clouds of the troubles which so soon came; and he thought
how young and girlish and beautiful she appeared. "The most beautiful
lady at the