While strolling about the town, looking at the people and the quaint old buildings, they stepped into the Exchange, where all the great merchants of the town had come together doing business.

Prince George walked about, talking quite freely, first to one and then to another.  As the towns-people had not expected him, no preparation had been made to receive him with honor; and the merchants stood in little groups, and consulted together with, a look of anxiety upon their faces.

“What is to be done?” asked one.

“I do not know,” replied another.  “If his Royal Highness does not give us notice of his coming, how can we entertain him in a proper manner?”

“Would it be well to ask him to come to one of our homes?” inquired a third.

“No, no!” cried another.  “We could not ask him to partake of our humble fare, or even come to our homes, after the splendor to which he has been accustomed.  For my part, I shall go home to dinner.”

“And I also,” said the first one.  “I do not care to remain here, and stare at the Prince, when we have nothing to offer.”

Then one by one, the merchants slipped away, afraid or ashamed to ask the great Prince to their homes.

Prince George and the officer wondered at seeing the merchants disappear.  At last there was but one man left, and as he walked toward the Prince, he bowed low, and said—­

“Excuse me, sir; are you the husband of our Queen Anne, as folks here say you are?”

“Yes, I am,” was the answer; “and have come for a few hours to see the sights of the good town of Bristol.”

“Sir,” said the man, “I have seen with much distress that none of our great merchants have invited you to their homes.  Think not, sir, that it is because they are wanting in love and loyalty.  They doubtless were all afraid to ask one so high as yourself to dine with them.

“I am one John Duddlestone, sir, only a bodice-maker, and I pray you not to take it amiss if I ask you and the gentleman who is with, you, to come to my humble home, where you will be most welcome.”

“Indeed,” answered the Prince, laughing, “I am only too delighted to accept your kind invitation, and I thank you for it very heartily.  If you lead the way, we will follow at once.”

So Prince George, the officer, and Duddlestone, passed out of the Exchange together.

“Ours is but humble fare,” said Duddlestone; “for, sir, I can offer you only roast beef and plum-pudding.”

“Very good, very good indeed!” exclaimed the Prince; “it is food to which I bring a hearty appetite.”

They stopped before a small house.  John pulled the latch, and, walking in, looked for his wife; but she was upstairs.

“Here, wife, wife!” he called in a loud whisper, as he put his head up the narrow staircase; “put on a clean apron, and make haste and come down, for the Queen’s husband and a soldier-gentleman have come to dine with, us.”