A EIGHT'S ACCOUNT OF HIS KNIGHTING.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 116, 12 February 1881, Page 3

A EIGHT'S ACCOUNT OF HIS KNIGHTING.

The scene of the eeremonv ,wts Windsor Castle,' and the lenient' expectant was conversinewith the Duke- -of Brabant, now Kmeof Beleians; when an u*hei*.carried'him off., for presentation to Her IVTojesty} It* was a small oak pannelled room, m the middle of which stood a lauv surrounded by sedaferlooking men. ..I. felt as if a mistake bad been, marie; — that I • bad got into tbe manorial enclosure instead of the strangers. pfw-T^and wasi.pn th.c pojnt of bowiiig Thyself -ouVagainj "in -the 'humbleiifc wav possible, as a prbof-of my uniotentionHl intru-von, wben tbe^ lady mentioned smiled, 80 klh'dty tb«V I left off howin? and walked further on. There was no neeessitv to tell' me now that I was hrthe " presence of tbe QneenV I felfelr was.- ! Whatever may be thought nowadays of ° »»ch, divinity as an doth^.edgejaionarchy'VT f°r m T P arfc w js ready at. .o.nco t to aoknowtedge that fenlkv to England's^ ruler -which I-had only -offered to tbe dear country itself. After a ftiw '.words bad ; passed, a/cusbion was broueht and laid-before me, and then another Oil which there/ was a heavy .looking sword. v iEJbnie one bebin4 me whispered thab I was -to :kneel—^an ; operation 'i by no means agreeable to a man before company. This I somewhat- awkwardly, did, and so remnined, expecting every moment to feel the weietttbftbe 1 sword oh my shoulders to <ndicate'tbatthe'Cer'emony' bad: begun v but nothing eamft. Th«re was a dead silence. So I lookednp and saw the Queen holding up-tnesword and ; directing ;an enquiring glance to some one behind my back. Whoever that person was,; he seemed to be alone time m answering. It" was the Earl of Aberdeen, rjltvwasi evident to. me that her Majesty could not bold tbe Rword over my head much ,longer. I asked what was-' wanted. " Your' Christian' name," her Majesty: saidr " Stephen," I replied ; «nd down came the aword, missine the shotilder and striking tbe cushion. Tbo ceremony however, was complete without that, for her Majesty immediatelysaid. . ." Arise, Sir Stephen," 'and held out her band to kiss I did kis» it, and felt-in 'doing so that she hwJ not manylin her wide realm who would ■ervtfmbreidevbtedlj that t, if necessity requiwdit. — '•- ----- The cushions were removed ; tbe Queen graciously smiled to all afonnd nnd left the toom, and we retired together through the long corridor before mentioned. I was •tending near the entrance to the castle door wSrilst-theJDuke of Newcastle rejoined us and siiid, ; '*Allowi me to congratuiafc you as Sir Stephen Lakemah. and a* to having your head still on:' - ; I thought at one time/ her Majesty was going: to r cut it off." "Ab," said Lord -Clarendon, puffing away at ; :his cigftrettej" which I ..thought ex-, tremelv unbecbtmng'ih the Castle'," lir if the Queen bad given it- a whack it would have done it gQpdJ', " Jusr as it might" -do- your lorsVip to Vhackout^ vourf'lcigarette," I replied. I had r ■ with m ibe. last 'ftar; days, taken a sudden dislike to Viis iorHsHip, which however unacountable at the time was a true presentiment of : ou* r'elatiohß.^-i-JVo»» a Vvfayve afipir, St?phpu t -^a^emfin.