"
They each made a sweeping courtesy, with hand on breast, and gravely
saluted him:
"Your grace! good even'."
Brandon's bow was as deep and graceful, if that were possible, as
theirs, and when he moved on into the room it was with a little halt
in his step, and a big blowing out of the cheeks, in ludicrous
imitation of his late lamented predecessor, that sent the girls into
peals of soft laughter and put us all at our ease immediately.
Ah! what a thing it is to look back upon; that time of life when one
finds his heaven in a ready laugh!
"Be seated all," said the princess. "This is to be without ceremony,
and only we four. No one knows a word of it. Did you tell any one, Sir
Edwin?"
"Perish the thought," I exclaimed.
She turned her face toward Brandon, "--but I know you did not. I've
heard how discreet you were about another matter. Well, no one knows
it then, and we can have a famous evening. You did not expect this,
Master Brandon, after my reception of you the other morning? Were you
not surprised when Sir Edwin told you?"
"I think I can safely say that I was prepared not to be surprised at
anything your highness might graciously conclude to do--after my first
experience," he answered, smiling.
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