How would you like to
have to call me 'Sir Charles'?"
"Not at all, darling; except when you deserve it, by being cross to me;
and that never, never happens. I wish there was more chance of it."
"Well, dear, if you won't, the other people must; for His Majesty has
been graciously pleased to turn me into a Baronet. He says that I have
earned it; and perhaps I have; at any rate, he put it so nicely that
without being churlish I could not refuse. And it will be a good thing
for Frank, I hope, by bringing him back from his democratic stuff. To
myself it is useless; but my children ought to like it."
"And so they will, father, for your own dear sake. Let me be the first
to salute you, father. Oh, Dolly will be in such a rage because you told
me, without telling her!"
"I never thought of that," said the Admiral, simply; "I am afraid that
I shall get in for it. However, I have a right to please myself, and you
need not tell her until I do. But that is not all my news, and not by
any means the best of it. The King was reminded, the other day, of all
that he and his family owe to the late Sir Edmond Scudamore, and better
late than never, he has ordered your governess, as he called her, to be
put on the list for a pension of 300 pounds a year. Nothing that once
gets into his head can ever be got out of it, and he was shocked at
seeing his old physician's widow 'gone out as a governess--gone out as
a governess--great disgrace to the royal family!' I am very glad that it
happened so.
Pages:
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468