CHAPTER VII

Come down!

Come up!

The music died away among the old oaks in the park. Before its final notes were lost on the air, however, hasty steps and a chatter of women's voices came from the house. The door leading to the terrace was thrown quickly open, and Nell appeared. Her eyes had the bewildered look of one who has been suddenly awakened from a sleep gilded with a delightful dream.

She had, indeed, been dreaming--dreaming of the King and of his coming.

As she lay upon her couch, where she had thrown herself after the evening meal, she had seemed to hear his serenade.

Then the music ceased and she started up and rubbed her eyes. It was only to see the moonlight falling through the latticed windows on to the floor of her dainty chamber. She was alone and she bethought herself sadly that dreams go by contraries.

Once again, however, the hunters' song had arisen on her startled ear--and had died away in sweet cadences in the distance. It was not a dream!

As she rushed out upon the terrace, she called Moll reprovingly; and, in an instant, Moll was at her side. The faithful girl had already seen the hunters and had started a search for Nell; but the revellers had gone before she could find her.

"What is it, dear Nell?" asked her companion, well out of breath.

"Why did you not call me, cruel girl?" answered Nell, impatiently. "To miss seeing so many handsome cavaliers! Where is my kerchief?"

Nell leaned over the bal.u.s.trade and waved wildly to the departing hunters. A pretty picture she was too, in her white flowing gown, silvered by the moonlight.

"See, see," she exclaimed to Moll, with wild enthusiasm, "some one waves back. It may be he, sweet mouse. Heigh-ho! Why don't you wave, Moll?"

Before Moll could answer, a rich bugle-horn rang out across the park.

"The hunters' horn!" cried Nell, gleefully. "Oh, I wish I were a man--except when one is with me"; and she threw both arms about Moll, for the want of one better to embrace. She was in her varying mood, which was one 'twixt the laughter of the lip and the tear in the eye.

"I have lost my brother!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed some one; but she heard him not.

This laconic speech came from none other than the King, who in a bantering mood had returned.

"I went one side a tree and pious James t'other; and here I am by Nelly's terrace once again," he muttered. "Oh, ho! wench!" His eyes had caught sight of Nell upon the terrace.

He stepped back quickly into the shadow and watched her playfully.

Nell looked longingly out into the night, and sighed heavily. She was at her wit's end. The evening was waning, and the King, as she thought, had not come.

"Why do you sigh?" asked Moll, consolingly.

"I was only looking down the path, dear heart," replied Nell, sadly.

"He will come," hopefully suggested Moll, whose little heart sympathized deeply with her benefactress.

"Nay, sweet," said Nell, and she shook her curls while the moonbeams danced among them, "he is as false as yonder moon--as changeable of face."

She withdrew her eyes from the path and they fell upon the King. His Majesty's curiosity had quite over-mastered him, and he had inadvertently stepped well into the light. The novelty of hearing himself derided by such pretty lips was a delicious experience, indeed.

"The King!" she cried, in joyous surprise.

Moll's diplomatic effort to escape at the sight of his Majesty was not half quick enough for Nell, who forthwith forced her companion into the house, and closed the door sharply behind her, much to the delight of the humour-loving King.

Nell then turned to the bal.u.s.trade and, somewhat confused, looked down at his Majesty, who now stood below, calmly gazing up at her, an amused expression on his face.

"Pardon, your Majesty," she explained, falteringly, "I did not see you."

"You overlooked me merely," slyly suggested Charles, swinging his stick in the direction of the departed hunters.

"I'faith, I thought it was you waved answer, Sire," quickly replied Nell, whose confusion was gone and who was now mistress of the situation and of herself.

"No, Nell; I hunt alone for my hart."

"You hunt the right park, Sire."

"Yea, a good preserve, truly," observed the King. "I find my game, as I expected, flirting, waving kerchiefs, making eyes and throwing kisses to the latest pa.s.ser-by."

"I was encouraging the soldiers, my liege. That is every woman's duty to her country."

"And her country_men_," said he, smiling. "You are very loyal, Nell. Come down!" It was irritating, indeed, to be kept so at arm's length.

She gazed down at him with impish sweetness--down at the King of England!

"Come up!" she said, leaning over the bal.u.s.trade.

"Nay; come down if you love me," pleaded the King.

"Nay; come up if you love me," said Nell, enticingly.

"Egad! I am too old to climb," exclaimed the Merry Monarch.

"Egad! I am too young yet for the downward path, your Majesty," retorted Nell.

The King shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

"You will fall if we give you time," he said.

"To the King's level?" she asked, slyly, then answered herself: "Mayhap."

Thus they stood like knights after the first tilt. Charles looked up at Nell, and Nell looked down at Charles. There was a moment's silence.

Nell broke it.

"I am surprised you happen this way, Sire."

"With such eyes to lure me?" asked the King, and he asked earnestly too.

"Tush," answered Nell, coyly, "your tongue will lead you to perdition, Sire."