Chapter 13: Monarchy in Action

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌⁠Mrs. Courteen scarcely believed Betty spoke the truth. Never could she remember such a gigantick wave of elation as swept over her on receipt of the Beau's letter. Yet, without a doubt, it was true. There was the royal notepaper and, as she reverently examined the outside, there was the river of the house of Ripple meandering in regular curves through meadows of sealing-wax. She marked the colour—