"I am, I
suppose!" she said somewhat plaintively,--"But yet, even now, I do not
understand. What is the King? He is nothing! He does nothing for
anybody! People make petitions to him, and he never answers them--they
try to point out errors and abuses, and he takes no trouble to remedy
them--he is no better than a wooden idol! He is not a real man, though
he looks like one."
"Oh, you think he looks like one?" murmured Von Glauben; "That is to
say you are not altogether displeased with his appearance?"
Gloria's eyes darkened a moment with thought,--then flashed with
laughter.
"No," she said frankly--"He is more kingly than I thought a king could
be. But he should not lose temper. That spoils all dignity!"
Von Glauben smiled.
"Kings are but mortal," he said, "and never to lose temper would be
impossible to any man."
"It is such a waste of time!" declared Gloria--"Why should anyone lose
self-control? It is like giving up a sword to an enemy."
"That is one of Rene Ronsard's teachings,"--said the Professor--"It is
excellent in theory! But in practice I have seen Rene give way to
temper himself, with considerable enjoyment of his own mental
thunderstorm. As for the King, he is generally a very equable
personage; and he has one great virtue--that is courage. He is brave as
a lion--perhaps braver than many lions!"
She raised her eyes enquiringly.
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