Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy

ere situated in such a happy position as to be well out of all possibility of modern innovation or improvement. They were too small to contain much attraction for

erence, being counted among the most orderly and law-abiding subjects of the realm. Very little interest was taken in their doings by the people of the mainland,-scarcely as much interest, perhaps, as is taken by Londoners in the inhabitants of Orkney or Shetland. One or two scholars, a stray botanist here and there, or a few students fond of adventure, had visited the place now and again, and some of these had brought back enthusiastic accounts of the loveliness of the natural scenery, but where a whole country is beautiful, little heed is given to one small corner of it, particularly if that corner is difficult of access, necessitating a two hours' sail across a not always calm sea. Vague reports were current that there was a strange house on The Islands, built very curiously out of the timbers and spars of wrecked vessels. The owner of t

in other countries,-in complete forgetfulness of all the nobler ambitions and emotions which lift Man above the level of his companion Beast. For the time is now upon us when what has formerly been known as 'high' is of its own accord sinking to the low, and what has been called the 'low' is rising to the high. Strange times!-strange days!-when the tradesman can scorn the duchess on account of her 'dirty mind'-when a certain nobleman can get no honest labourers to work on his estate, because they suspect him of 'rooking' young college lads;-and when a church in a seaport town stands empty every Sunday, with its bells ringing in vain, because the congregation which should fill it, know that their so-called 'holy man' is a rascal! All over the world this rebellion against Falsehood,-this movement towards Truth is felt,-all over the world the people are growing strong on their legs, and clear in their brains;-no lo

eing of a profound and thoughtful nature, had grown up to utterly despise the hollowness and hypocrisy of her surroundings. In extenuation of the coldness of her temperament, it may be said that her rooted aversion to men arose from having studied them too closely and accurately. In her marriage she had fulfilled, or thought she had fulfilled, a mere duty to the State-no more; and the easy conduct of her husband during his apprenticeship to the throne as Heir-Apparent, had not tended in any way to show her anything particularly worthy of admiration or respect in his character. And so she had gone on her chosen way, removed and apart from his,-and the years had flown by, and now she was,-as she said to herself with a little touch of contempt,-'old-for a woman!'-while the King remained 'young,-for a man! 'This was a mortifying reflection. True, her beauty was more perfect than in her youth, and there were no signs as yet of its decay. She knew well enough the extent of her charm,-she knew how easily she could command homage wherever she went,-and knowing, she did not care. Or rather-she had not cared. Was it possible she would ever care, and perhaps at a time when it was no use caring? A ce

curtsied onward; and she moved to the place prepared for her accommodation-a sheltered corner of the deck, covered by silken awnings, and supplied with luxurious deck chairs and footstools. Here two of her ladies were waiting to attend upon her, but none of the rougher sex she so heartily abhorred. As she seated herself among her cushions with her usual indolent grace, she raised her eyes and saw, standing at a respectful distance from her, a distinguished personage who had but lately arrived at the Court, from England,-Sir Walter Langton, a daring traveller and explorer in far countries,-one who had earned high distinction at the point of the sword. He had been presented to her some evenings since, among a crowd of other no

lter Langton!-I cannot allow you

e motioned him to be seated;-"You must be weary of hearing that even your silent presence is sufficient to fill space with melody and charm!

ueen, slowly unfurling her fan of soft

using tenderness darkened his fine hazel

and best?" res

re is no land so fair, or so much wor

ll your countrymen, yo

ted their historical scutcheons by this fondness for change. Where travelling is necessary for the attainment of some worthy object, then it is wise and

ted the Queen,-"Is not

and has been held in chains by men whose thoughts are all of Self,-the honour of England has been attainted by women whose lives are moulded from first to last on Self. To me, personally, England

ur Government?"

I could have with a child who is led into a ditch by its nurse. It is a weak

startled wonderment;-this man's clear, i

y heard of the 'advanced' women who push themselves so much forward in your countr

uade men, because in nine cases out of ten, they have neither wit nor beauty. And without either of these two charms, Madam, it is difficult to put even a clever cobbler, much less a Prime Minister, into leading strings! No,-it is the spendthrift women of a corrupt society that I mean,-the women who possess beauty, and are conscious of i

, if you see ruin and disaster threatening so great an Empire in the far

trong man speaks, we must all remain dumb. There is no real Government in England at present, just as there is no real Church. The Government is made up of directly self-interested speculators and financiers rather than diplomatists,-the Church, for which our forefa

more and more interested as she saw that this Englishman did not, like most of h

or any movement which could bring about internal dissension or riot,-but, at the same time, I believe their native sense of justice is

you begin?" a

would soon cease. If the majority of women would refuse to know, or to receive, any woman of high position who had voluntarily disgraced herself, they would soon put a stop to the lax morality of the upper classes. If our builders, artisans and mechanics would club together

se teachers

ck as we can trace it, whenever a serious reform has been needed in either soc

eyes rested upon him w

our King?"

!" he replied,-"And I

otive to gain, any place he sought to fill, that he should assum

public-house companion of theirs, that it is somewhat remarkable to find one who speaks of his monarch with loyalty and respect. I suppo

ter discreetly rose, craving her permission to retire to the saloon, where he had promised to join

nable gentlem

and sociable disposition;-"I have often thought it would be more pleasant and pr

stress. This time, however, she escaped the chilling retort her remark might possibly, on another occasion, have called down upon her. The Queen said nothing. She sat watching the sea,-and now and again took up her field-glass to study

that book, Teresa," she said

f love!" replied Te

makes yo

ur warming her fair face;-"But as concerns this book, I smile, because it is full o

id the Queen; "Re

is just such a thing as a man might scribble in his note-book after a bout of champagne, when he is in love for

s pleased

rld is gla

s pleased

ns the liv

s pleased

my life and

s pleased

the maste

at my Lad

ical light

at my Lad

ot live wi

would truly mean as much lov

avour of an excellent cigar, they might then indeed be taken as an expression of his truest and dee

r laughter rippled

y love must surely be quite unable to express themselves. This man who sings about his 'Lady' being pleased t

he opinion of her vivacious lady-in-waiting. Just at that moment the King and his suite, with Sir Walter Langton and one or

de of De Launay. "I sent him an early message asking him to

n the gardens. He gave me no hint as to whether he knew of your intention to sail to The Islands this afternoon or not; he was read

rsued the King; "I sent for hi

d his attendance again to-day, Sir," replied Sir R

s concerning my health and safety, as he seemed last night to have doubts of both!" He smiled, and his eyes twinkled humourously. "Later on, I requested him t

upon him. It was not a suitable time for cross-examination, even of the most friendly kind; there were too many persons near at hand who might be disposed to listen and to form conjectures; moreover the favou

coast through his gla

e gathered round him; "We have forbidden any announcement of our visit here, and, therefore, w

is Montala, a somewhat effeminate elegant-looking man, with small delicate features and l

an have none at all! But beauty exists everywhere, and I daresay we shall find it in as good evidence here as in other parts of the kingdom. Our land is

d to defend them. They have, unhappily, lost all the soft grace and modesty for which their grandmothers were renowned, and one begins to remark that their very shapes are no longer feminine. The beautiful full bosoms, admired by Gainsborough and Romney, are replaced by an unbecoming flatness-the feet and hands are growing large and awkward, instead of being well-shaped, w

ir Walter?" asked t

married England-I love h

ve sufficient to

cally, I find this-that if I had a wife she might probably occupy too much of my time,-certes, if I had children, I shou

d you merit," said the Queen gently;

Walter simply; "The joy of wo

t to move, for he failed to seize the rope, whereat, with an angry exclamation as the rope slipped back into the water, and the yacht bumped against the pier, a sailor sprang to land, and as it was thrown a second time, s

any men a

addressed shook his

one to keep

understood to growl forth something about 'no strange boats being permitted to harbour

That vessel is the Royal yacht,

ident alarm, ran away as fast as his legs could carry him and disappeared. The captain returne

ves; but as our visit will be but brief, we shall no doubt find enough to interest us in th

minutes the Royal party were landed, and the yacht was left to the stewards and servants, who