“How I wish that the king would send me with Marshal Tallard!”

“That would never do, Sire.  The English are your subjects, and they would never forgive you, if you were to appear in the field with a French army, fighting against them.”

“But the Irish Brigade fight, Dillon?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, but they are in the service of France, and, by the terms of the treaty of Limerick, were allowed to expatriate themselves, and to enter the French service.  We have, in fact, renounced our nationality, with the consent of the English, and, if taken prisoners, could only be treated as captured foes, and not as traitors.  Of course, when Your Majesty ascends the throne, we shall again become British subjects.”

“I trust that that may come soon, Dillon, and for your sake, rather than my own.  When the time comes, you will not find me backward, but this weary waiting tries me sorely, and, were it not for those who have remained faithful to our cause, I would gladly resign such chances as I have of succeeding to the throne of England, and take a commission in the Irish Brigade.”

Dillon and some of the elder men shook their heads.

“Can you wonder?” the young prince said, passionately.  “Here is Master Kennedy, who is younger than myself, though a free life and exercise have made him a man, in comparison to me.  He has his life before him.  He will bear his part in many a pitched battle, and, doubtless, in many a private adventure.  He is his own master, and, as long as he does his duty, there are none to say, ’you must not do that; you must not say that; you must preserve your dignity; you must speak softly and discreetly; you must wait patiently.’

“I envy you, Master Kennedy.  I envy you, from the bottom of my heart!  Come often to see me.  You will always be welcome;” and, turning abruptly away, he left the chamber hurriedly, to conceal the tears which filled his eyes.

His counsellors shook their heads solemnly, but Colonel O’Brien said, warmly: 

“What the king says is natural, for a man of his age; and, for my part, it has increased my respect for him.  I say it without offence, but what could be duller than the life this lad leads here?  He has been brought up, literally, without a pleasure.  His late Majesty, heaven rest his soul! was absorbed in his religious exercises, and nothing could have been more trying, to a boy, than a court in which the priests and confessors were practically supreme.  Since his father’s death, things have been but little better, and now I see that, at heart, the young king has plenty of spirit and energy, I can feel that his life has been that of a caged hawk, and I am not surprised that he occasionally breaks out into revolt against it.  It would, methinks, do him a world of good, had he a few companions about his own age, like Ensign Kennedy.  I would even say that, although I can quite understand that, as King of England, he could not well take a commission in one of our regiments, he might at least be placed with one of our most experienced and honoured colonels, in order to learn military exercises, and to mix with the officers as any other nobleman might do, when attached to the regiment.”