"Madam," he said, "allow me to present to you the two young
officers, of whose bravery Charles of Sweden has written so
strongly, and whose parents have, with other gentlemen, been driven
from the land by villainy."
The young men bowed deeply. Anne held out her hand, and each in
turn, bending on one knee, raised it to his lips.
"There," she said, "let that be the beginning and end of ceremony.
This is not a court gathering, but a family meeting. I want to hear
your stories, and I want you, for the time, to forget that I am
Anne of England. I know that your fathers have always been faithful
to our house, and I hope that their sons will, ere long, do as good
service for me as they have done for a foreign prince.
"You have not seen these gentlemen yet, Sarah?"
"No, my husband has kept them to himself."
"I have had but little time to give them, Sarah, and wanted it all,
to question them on the Swedish modes of warfare."
"And you thought I should be an interruption?
"I am glad to meet you both, nevertheless. Since my husband likes
you, I am sure to do so;" and she smiled pleasantly, as she gave a
hand to each.
They were then introduced to the Prince Consort, George of Denmark.
At this moment, supper was announced.
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