The Keepers of the People

886At the end the old Prince said, “Fools in council do not produce the words of wisdom but of folly.”

887This was no way to receive the seasoned thought of a cultured Englishwoman; and her indignation which had died down, as she felt that she was speaking well, blazed up afresh. Not a face grew bright with faith in her judgment; and yet English statesmen, the leaders of the party whose name had stood for Progress and Enlightenment for generations, had listened to her with interest and enthusiasm; and the venerable figure-head of that party had even said to her, “If there were only a dozen women like you, my dear young lady, continually to spur us on, Universal Suffrage would be an accomplished fact within ten years.” And here, at this simple, barbaric court, out of the world, she was listened to as a prattling child. She was indeed angered; and only the thought that they should come to recognise her worth, soothed her.

888Then Prince Ralph began to ask questions about Varandaleel, and she listened to them with a growing contempt. He questioned them about harvests, the increase of cornland, vineyards, and cattle, about draining marshes and felling woods, about repairing aqueducts and highways, about the number of men in military training, even about the last love-songs; but never a word about the intellectual condition of the people, the growth of enlightenment. Did he think that this was ruling a people? She would teach him better. But that night she said no more.

889When at last the feast came to an end, the Princess Agnes found herself very weary after the hours of riding through the pass, and through the country to the palace; and the Princesses withdrew to their wing. Prince Ralph went with his father to the suite of rooms above the hall; and they lay on piles of cushions facing one another, the Mistress of the Mutes, Prince Raleigh’s favourite daughter, and perpetual companion, with them. She laid herself on the cushions beside Prince Ralph: they were very fond of one another: and mutes brought and lighted Narghiles and set cups of wine to their hands. They lay for a while, smoking in silence, Vashti now and again passing her slender fingers through Prince Ralph’s hair; and she and the old Prince watched him: they knew him well; and the content which they had looked to see there, was not on his face.