“See you that dim, dark wood?  Let us e’en hide ourselves therein for a short hour.  My mother will miss me from her side anon, and will send to seek me.  I would not be found too easily.  Come, let us hide ourselves there, and you shall tell me all about yourself, and we will play at being trusty friends and comrades.

“It is dull work being always a prince.  I would that we could change parts for once.  You shall be the prince and I will be the bold knight’s son, and your very faithful servant.”

“O my lord!” faltered Paul, almost overcome with excitement and pleasure at this strange encounter.

But the little prince stamped his foot and spoke with the air of a regular little autocrat.

“Nay, call me not that.  Did I not say I would be nobody’s lord for the nonce?  What is your name?  Paul?  Then I will be called Paul for this next hour, and you shall be Edward.  See, here is my jewelled collar and the cap with the ostrich plume—­the badge of the Prince of Wales.  Yes, put them on, put them on.  Marry, I could think it was my very self, but a short inch the taller.

“Now, see, I take your cap instead; and now I am Paul, and you must bid me follow you and attend you in your journey through the forest.  See, we will be fugitives, flying from the wicked Duke of York, who would fain grasp at the king’s power, but my mother will not let him.”

For a moment the child’s eyes flashed, and his clenched hands and heaving breast showed that the spirit of Margaret of Anjou lived again in her child; but pulling himself up short with a laugh, the little prince added with a deferential bow, resuming his character of subject, “But I crave your pardon, sweet prince, if I lose control of myself in the thought of your wrongs.  Lead on, noble lord, and I follow.  Let us seek safety in the dim aisles of yon giant wood.  Surely there is some ford or bridge nigh at hand which will give us safe crossing without wetting ourselves.”

Children are children all the world over, and at any period of its history.  Childhood ever delights in romance and imaginative situations and adventures; and before ten minutes had passed the boys had completely entered into the spirit of their play.  Paul, shaking off the awe which had at first held him silent and abashed, played the part of prince with an energy and zeal which evoked the delight and admiration of his companion; whilst the younger boy was amused to lay aside for the moment any pretence at royalty, and pay his humble devoirs to his liege lord.

Paul knew of some stepping stones which led across the stream into the dark wood, and soon the boys were in what seemed to them the heart of the great forest.  The prince was delighted by all he saw.  The sense of freedom was enchanting, and his curiosity unbounded.  He had never in his life before enjoyed a game of play in so unfettered a fashion with a comrade of nearly his own age; and soon forgetting even their own game, the boys were walking with arms twined round each other’s neck, telling each other all that was in their hearts, and exchanging vows of unalterable affection.