The Queen's Favourite: A Story of the Restoration
so we are equal there."

"If I cannot forget, I shall have to make believe I can," said Henrietta; "but as to what England is like, I know no more than you do," she added.  "I was brought over from England just as you were, an infant in swaddling clothes, by my dear Lady Dalkeith, so we are equal there."

"Except that you know who you are, but I am only Agnes Beaumont, with neither father nor mother, nor kith nor kin, no one save Patience to care for me."

"Except that you know who you are, but I am only Agnes Beaumont, with neither father nor mother, nor kith nor kin, no one save Patience to care for me."

"We care for you, my mother and I," said the princess, drawing the child closer to her.  "What more do you want?"

"We care for you, my mother and I," said the princess, drawing the child closer to her.  "What more do you want?"

"Never to leave you," said the child passionately. "I would be your handmaid, your servant."  And, as if a sudden fear had taken hold on her, she clung to the princess.

"Never to leave you," said the child passionately. "I would be your handmaid, your servant."  And, as if a sudden fear had taken hold on her, she clung to the princess.

"You foolish child," answered Henrietta.  "Of course you will always stay by me. Where should I be without my little Agnes?"

"You foolish child," answered Henrietta.  "Of course you will always stay by me. Where should I be without my little Agnes?"

"But kings and queens, I have heard, cannot do what they will; they cannot even love where they will," said the child.

"But kings and queens, I have heard, cannot do what they will; they cannot even love where they will," said the child.

"That is true," answered Henrietta, "but you are only a child. Who will mind you? Besides," she continued thoughtfully, "you are Agnes Beaumont to-day, but you may be a great lady in disguise. Courtiers will crowd round my brother's throne; those who have been against him will be for him, now he is king, and you, the queen's favourite, my favourite, may find both kith and kin in your prosperity."

"That is true," answered Henrietta, "but you are only a child. Who will mind you? Besides," she continued 
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