His wife stood by, watching with eagerness, and could hardly believe that from plain Mistress Duddlestone she had become Lady Duddlestone.

She would, have been very proud if the Queen had laid the sword upon her also; but she heard that was not needed.  However, she was made very happy by being called to the Queen’s side.

“Lady Duddlestone,” said Her Majesty, “allow me to present you with my gold watch, in remembrance of your visit to St. James’ Palace, and of the Prince’s visit to Bristol, which led to our knowing two such loyal and courteous subjects.”

Lady Duddlestone bowed lower and lower, almost unable to find any words in which to express her gratitude.

A gold watch!  Was it possible?  Watches were not common in those times.  She had heard of watches, and had even seen some; but had never dreamt of possessing one.

Such a big beauty it was!  She was glad to fall back behind the other guests, and get time to think quietly, and realize that all was true, and not a dream from which she would wake, and find herself in her little attic bed-room at Bristol.

Queen Anne then spoke to Sir John, offering to give him a position under Government; but he begged to be excused.

“It would be strange, your Majesty, very strange, up in London, and my work at Bristol suits me far the best.  We want for nothing, and should never feel so well and home-like as in our little house at Bristol.”

The Queen understood him, and did not press him; and in another day or two the couple were again on their way home.

“You’re glad, wife, that we’re going home?” John asked; “and you think I did well not to take some office in London?”

“Well!  You could have clone no better.  It’s been grand to see, and grand to hear; but it would be very strange and uncomfortable to live always like that, and I’ll be right glad to be back once more.

“I’m more than proud of it all.  But I should never like our own room, in which Prince George sat so home-like with us, to belong to another.”

“No, no—­we will keep our own snug home,” replied John with earnestness.

And so they did, living on quietly as of old; and the only display ever made by Lady Duddlestone was, that whenever she went to church or to market, she always wore the Queen’s big gold watch.

* * * * *

Language Lesson.—­Let pupils use other words to express the meaning of what is given below in dark type.

    You’d best keep alive.

    It’s been grand to see.

    Then you need not.

    You’re nearly crazed to go.

Attendant is made up of two parts—­the stem, attend, and the ending, ant (meaning one who).

The meaning of the word attendant is one who attends.

Make out an analysis of the last two lessons, and use it in telling the story in your own words.