The Keepers of the People

1463After the harvest a great festival of all the people, in honour of their victory over the Russians, was held in the plain before the palace. In the morning the troops were reviewed; in the afternoon there were contests between swordsmen, boxers, and wrestlers, the champions of the districts, races on foot and horseback; and in the evening there was a great feast. The dwellers in the palace watched the review and the games from the wall, Prince Ralph telling them of the part played by each regiment, or remnant of a regiment, in the fighting. He knew by sight too all those who contended in the games, something even of their chances of victory; and Ruth wondered more and more at the thoroughness of his knowledge of the people.

1464“How does Prince Ralph come to know so much of the people?” she said to Althea who lay by her side.

1465“Did you ever hear of Haroun Al Raschid?” said Althea.

1466“I see” said Ruth.

1467“Do you know you call him Prince Ralph now?” said Althea in a low tone.

1468“Yes; I do,” said Ruth.

1469“That is just like me: I called him Ralph a few times after I came here and Prince Ralph ever since,” said Althea.

1470“It seems natural,” said Ruth.

1471They were silent awhile; then Ruth said softly, half to herself, “I believe I should call him Prince Ralph, if he were my husband.” For a breath Althea looked at her with parted lips, and strange eyes; but Ruth was looking away over the plain, seeing nothing.

1472After a while the Princess Agnes began to grow jealous of her; either she had surprised some exchange of revealing glances between her and Prince Ralph; or her mind, so little occupied, passed from vexation at Ruth’s being plainly in the counsels of the Princes to a jealousy of her intimacy with her husband. The thought of his friendship with another woman blew the smouldering ashes of her old passion for him to a fresh flame. She began to chafe at seeing him only at dinner; for she had so wearied him, that on his visits to the wing of the Princesses to see his mother and daughter, he never came into her rooms. Her vulgar pride, the pride which prevents any admission of error, was once more wounded; and it found its natural expression. She showed an open dislike of Ruth, sneering at anything she said; and tried to show an open contempt for her. In this she failed: she did not in truth despise her, and feigned contempt badly, appearing only spiteful. Ruth had too fine a dignity to fall into a bickering with her, and met her attacks with an utter, contemptuous indifference which was not feigned. The Princess Agnes was soon growing to hate her; and the Princes were growing weary of the marring of the peace at their nightly gathering in the great hall.