disappointed, John!"

"Nay, I did not admire anything about them," John hastened to say. "I
saw that the King was cruel. I believe well that he was also wicked.
But he seemed to have friends. How can a bad man have friends? And
why do the people allow him to be their king?"

"Ah, John!" cried the Hermit, "it is not so easy to find a good king!
Perhaps his people do not care; perhaps they know no better. Perhaps
he is so powerful that they have no choice but to obey him."

"Is the King so wicked?" asked John, wondering how the Hermit knew so
much. "What has he done that is bad?"

The old man hesitated; then he turned to John with a gesture that the
boy did not understand.

"Listen, John," he said. "I will tell you some things that this King
has done. It is well that you should know. Years ago, before you were
born, he was not the lawful king in this Country. The true king was
his brother Cyril, who was good and kind, ruling wisely and well. But
suddenly he died. Those in his service guessed that his brother
Robert, this present King, had caused his death by poison. So Robert
became king. A stormy time he had of it, at first; for the whole land
loved King Cyril. Many accused Robert, and refused to do him
honor,--especially one holy man, John, King Cyril's friend and
physician. Yes, my son, he bore the same blessed name as yourself.
This man the people loved dearly, for he was wise and generous with his
wisdom. He healed them freely of their hurts. He went about the
country doing good, bringing love and good cheer wherever he went. He