Page:Lady Barbarity; a romance (IA ladybarbarityrom00snai).pdf/311

 *gret to say that there is really nothing to be done. His Majesty refused to see me."

"His Majesty refused to see you!" I cried out. His words had put a pitiful commotion in my heart.

"Unhappily," he says, "these Yorkshire irregularities of ours have by some means become the property of the town, and the whole family is in terrible disgrace; and, I might add, would have been in some degree of peril but for the merciful recovery of the rebel."

"Indeed," says I, inconsequently, and then observed a miserable silence for a while.

"You see, my poor dear child," the old worldling said, "one cannot hope to plunge one's finger in the smoking pie of politics without getting that finger burned. I am very sorry for you, child, but I can no more save your friend than I can sway the eternal forces."

"Have you seen the Parliament men, my lord, Walpole, Harley, and the rest?"

"Yes; and quite against their several inclinations," he replied. "They felt it to be highly indiscreet to receive one who was out of favour. As for lending their assistance, I can assure you, child, that they know their business better."

"How monstrous of them!" I broke out; "set of water-blooded wretches, who will not help their friends!"

"Ah, but we are not their friends now; we are out of favour." The ancient courtier said this lightly, but I knew that his heart was groaning. He had