Part 24 (1/2)
”Very gallant on the part of the king; fitting and humble the action of the queen,” said the rector.
”I would not have got down on my knees to him,” said Ruth.
”May I ask why Miss Newville would not have knelt to her future husband and sovereign, had she been Princess Sophia?” the rector asked.
”Because it was an acknowledgement at the outset that she was not his equal. She abased herself by taking an inferior position. In the days of chivalry, men knelt to women. The princess did not leave her happy home to be a subject of King George; but to be his wife to stand by his side, and not crouch at his feet.”
”Hurrah! That's a whole broadside. She's sweeping your quarter-deck,”
shouted the admiral.
The rector grew red in the face.
”It is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, Miss Newville, that wives must be obedient to their husbands,” he replied.
”Does the Bible say a wife must kneel at her husband's feet?” she asked.
”Perhaps not in so many words, but she is commanded to obey. Our holy church teaches the doctrine. When the princess knelt at the feet of his majesty, it signified she would obey him. Perhaps it is my duty, Miss Newville, to say that your sentiments would be regarded as heretical by the authorities of the church.”
”Hold on, rector,” said Mr. Adams. ”Don't set the canons of the church to thundering.”
”It is the gossip at court,” said Mr. Dapper, ”that the king wanted to retire soon after sundown, but the queen said she wasn't going to bed with the hens. It is said he told her she must wear a particular dress, but she informed him he could dress as he pleased, and she should do the same.”
”You will have to go to court, rector, and lecture the queen on heresy,” said Mr. Adams.
The company laughed, and Ruth's eyes sparkled over the rector's discomfiture.
The meats had been removed and Pompey was serving the pastry and comfits.
”What delicious cheese you have. It is as toothsome as the finest Ches.h.i.+re,” said Lord Upperton.
”We think it of excellent flavor, and I am sure you will relish it all the more when I inform you, my lord, that it was made by a girl not older than myself,” replied Ruth.
”Indeed! is it possible? How very clever she must be.”
”She is a New Hamps.h.i.+re lady.”
”Are dairymaids ladies?”
”Indeed they are, my lord. The young lady who made the cheese you are eating, I dare say, would adorn the court of our queen,” responded Mr.
Adams.
”Bless me! oysters, cranberries, succotash, canvasback ducks, wild turkeys, pumpkin pie, dairymaids ladies, wives the equals of their husbands! Rector, will there be anything beyond these in the New Jerusalem?” exclaimed Lord Upperton.
Dinner over, the ladies pa.s.sed into the parlor while the gentlemen smoked their pipes and finished their wine.
”I suppose, my lord,” said Mr. Adams, ”you have not been here sufficiently long to form an opinion in regard to the Colonies.”
”Everything is so new and strange,” Lord Upperton replied, ”I hardly know what to make of it. I had an idea that I should find your people quite rude and uncultivated. I understand you haven't any theatre or anything of that sort; but, really, your ladies charm me by their conversation. Mrs. Adams informs me she has studied Latin and Greek.”