In Honours Cause | Page 2

else."
"I don't want to quarrel," said the boy, rather sulkily. "You did a moment ago, for all your hackles were sticking up like a gamecock's."
"Well, I don't now, Drew," said the boy, smiling frankly; "but the place is all so stiff and formal and dull, and I can't help wanting to be back in the country. I used to think one was tied down there at the school, but that was free liberty to this."
"Oh, you young barbarian! School and the country! Right enough for boys."
"Well, we're boys."
The other coughed slightly, took a measured pace or two right and left, and gave a furtive glance at his handsome, effeminate face and slight form in the glass. Then he said, rather haughtily:
"You are, of course; but I should have thought that you might have begun to look upon me as a man."
"Oh, I will, if you like," said the other, smiling,--"a very young one, though. Of course you're ever so much older than I am. But there, I'm going to try and like it; and I like you, Forbes, for being so good to me. I'm not such a fool as not to know that I'm a sort of un-licked cub, and you will go on telling me what I ought, to do and what I oughtn't. I can play games as well as most fellows my age; but all this stiff, starchy court etiquette sickens me."
"Yes," said his companion, with a look of disgust on his face; "miserable, clumsy Dutch etiquette. As different from the grand, graceful style of the old regime and of Saint Germains as chalk is from cheese."
"I say," said the younger of the pair merrily, after imitating his companion's glances at the doors, "you must not talk like that here."
"Talk like what?" said the elder haughtily.
"Calling things Dutch, and about Saint Germains. I say, isn't that high treason?"
"Pooh!--Well, yes, I suppose you're right. Your turn now. But we won't quarrel, Franky."
"Then, don't call me that," said the boy sharply; "Frank, if you like. I did begin calling you Drew. It's shorter and better than Andrew. I say, I am ever so much obliged to you."
"Don't mention it. I promised Sir Robert I would look after you."
"Yes, my father told me."
"And I like Lady Gowan. She's as nice as she is handsome. My mother was something like her."
"Then she must have been one of the dearest, sweetest, and best ladies that ever lived," cried the boy warmly.
"Thank ye, Frank," said the youth, smiling and laying his arm in rather an affected manner upon the speaker's shoulder, as he crossed his legs and again posed himself with his left hand upon his sword hilt. But there was no affectation in the tone of the thanks expressed; in fact, there was a peculiar quiver in his voice and a slight huskiness of which he was self-conscious, and he hurriedly continued:
"Oh yes, I like you. I did at first; you seemed so fresh and daisy-like amongst all this heavy Dutch formality. I'll tell you everything; and if you can't have the country, I'll see that you do have some fun. We'll go out together, and you must see my father. He's a fine, dashing officer; he ought to have had a good command given him. I say, Frank, he's great friends with Sir Robert."
"Is he? My father never said so."
"Mine did; but--er--I think there are reasons just now why they don't want it to be known. You see your father's in the King's Guards."
"Yes."
"Well, and mine isn't. He is not very fond of the House of Brunswick."
"I say, mind what you are saying."
"Of course. I shouldn't say it to any one else. But, I say, what made you burst put into that roar of laughter about nothing?"
"It wasn't about nothing," said Frank, with a mirthful look in his eyes.
"What was it then? See anything out of the window?"
"Oh no; it was in this room."
"Well, what was it?"
"Oh, never mind."
"Here, I thought we were going to be great friends."
"Of course."
"Then friends must confide in one another. Why don't you speak?"
"I don't want to offend you."
"Come, out with it."
"Well, I was laughing at you."
"Why?"
"To see you admiring yourself in the glass there."
Andrew Forbes made an angry gesture, but laughed it off.
"Well, the Prince's pages are expected to look well," he said.
"You always look well without. But I wish you wouldn't do that sort of thing; it makes you seem so girlish."
There was another angry gesture.
"I can't help my looks."
"There, now, you're put out again."
"No, not a bit," said the youth hastily. "I say, though, you don't think much of the King, do you?"
"Oh yes," said Frank thoughtfully; "of course."
"Why?"
"Why? Well, because he's the King, of course. Don't you?"
"No! I don't think anything of him. He's only a poor German prince, brought over