Part 27 (2/2)
”It's a poor enough picture of ?”
Bulstrode looked at it attentively with an inscrutable illu, very good indeed,” he exclaily so, he could with truth say it
Gresthaven had proved hi seemed to have many friends---and the poor little wo bow of tulle and her er--her madder confidence in Lord Almouth Gresthaven--where were _her_ friends? Jimmy leaned to her, and Mrs Falconer could have told that it was his voice of goodness that spoke, the voice ”that Jimmy seemed able to call at will from some wonderfully dear part of his nature: it was for people in trouble, for people he was determined to help in spite of thereat honor,” Bulstrode said ”You have said I was the King's friend, I should like instead to be _your_ friend
Women need friendseven queens Would it be too vast a presumption if I should from henceforth feel da's friend?”
His innocent lese-majeste, coupled with the tone he used, reached the woman in her---not to speak of his personal charm
”Didn't I imply friendshi+p when I chose you for this mission?” she said
He winced ”Of course--but I mean from now on----”
She nodded sweetly ”_Cela va sans dire_, Gresthaven”
”Don't call me so,” he interrupted, ”say _friend_, to pleaseI will say it for you then in Poltavian It's a sacred ith us,” and she called hiue with the prettiest accent and a royal inclination of her head as if she knighted him It cut him and pleased him at once, and he hurried to ask her:
”What would you think of Gresthaven if, instead of ed he should do--he should betray you--should have warned your husband and have gone so far _as to fetch the King to waylay you and stop your flight_!”
But Carhed, and dismissed the ridiculous supposition with a word of disbelief
”Tell ed, ”tell htily at his insistence as if his hypothesis were real to her at last:
”He would be the most despicable traitor in the world”
Bulstrode pursued: ”What--would you think of Gresthaven--if in order to save you, to give you time, time to think, to reflect, to perhaps alter your decision--he had used other ood faith?”
Here she looked keenly through hi:
”Gresthaven--_what have you done_?”
His heart came into his throat and his voice nearly failed him He did not know Poltavians nor the queenly te, but he kneo that variability which arises in their own ht, ”if for no ed her _own_ mind!”
”In five minutes,” he said bravely--”your Majesty will be at Westboro'
Abbey station, our carriage has been attached to the other train which followed us fro to her feet, rushed to theand stared out where nothing in the golden afternoon beauty revealed to her in what part of England she was Bulstrode had put his hand out before her as if he feared she h the open