[Biographical Stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne]@TWC D-Link book
Biographical Stories

CHAPTER VI
8/17

"No, please your Majesty, I have no son to be the playmate of his royal highness; but there is a nephew of mine somewhere about the house.

He is near the prince's age, and will be but too happy to wait upon his royal highness." "Send for him, man! send for him!" said the king.
But, as it happened, there was no need of sending for Master Noll.
While King James was speaking, a rugged, bold-faced, sturdy little urchin thrust himself through the throng of courtiers and attendants and greeted the prince with a broad stare.

His doublet and hose (which had been put on new and clean in honor of the king's visit) were already soiled and torn with the rough play in which he had spent the morning.
He looked no more abashed than if King James were his uncle and the prince one of his customary playfellows.
This was little Noll himself.
"Here, please your Majesty, is my nephew," said Sir Oliver, somewhat ashamed of Noll's appearance and demeanor.

"Oliver, make your obeisance to the king's majesty." The boy made a pretty respectful obeisance to the king; for in those days children were taught to pay reverence to their elders.

King James, who prided himself greatly on his scholarship, asked Noll a few questions in the Latin grammar, and then introduced him to his son.


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