The Keepers of the People

977But Princess Agnes came back to her wing of the Palace unshaken in her opinion. Prince Ralph said nothing to drive the lesson home; but after they had supped, she said slowly, and scornfully, “After all, your Varandals are but slaves. How much nobler it would be to rule free men!”

978Prince Ralph thought a while; then he said slowly, “Slaves? What are slaves? There is not one man in a thousand, no, nor in ten thousand, free. If, as you say, the Varandals are my slaves, am I not a slave to them? Since I was a child, I have been their slave; and till I die my days will be laborious, and my nights wakeful in their service. With what an easier servitude do they serve me! Working a few hours in the day, the husbandman in the pleasant fields, the craftsman at his craft, the singer at his song, each rejoicing to see the work grow under his hands, and going to his pleasure free from the thought of it. While we, their rulers, may only lay aside our burden under the spell of the love of loves, the pleasure of pleasures; and for how brief a space! Paying for our relief the best blood of our hearts. Yet — the people laugh. And, by the sword-arm of Ralph, while I live, they shall laugh still!”

979He had spoken at greater length than ever before to her, a little sadly at first, then warming to an exaltation she had never dreamed of in him; and for a while it abashed her. But when his eyes had faded to their wonted coldness, she said, “Laughter, what is laughter? Theirs is the happiness of children.”

980“There is no other,” said Prince Ralph.

981“But they are ignorant of the great things of life! Consider the women, trifling away their lives as smiling wives and mothers. I would teach them to be earnest, strenuous, to have noble purposes in life, to burn with Moral Fervour!” she cried, firing in her turn.

982“Words — bubbles — shadows,” said Prince Ralph.

983“No mockery shall turn me!” she cried, with a very angry face. “I am called to teach them nobler things! To lead them to the higher life! It is my mission; and I demand — I demand, I say — to be allowed to go to them with my message!”

984“Never,” said Prince Ralph with a gentle coldness.

985She rose hastily, and without a word entered her bedchamber; and he heard her slip the bolts. Prince Ralph left the wing, and it was long before he set foot again in her apartments.