As soon as William had prorogued the Houses, he was impatient to be again in his native land.

He felt all the glee of a schoolboy who is leaving harsh masters and quarrelsome comrades to pass the Christmas holidays at a happy home.

That stern and composed face which had been the same in the pursuit at the Boyne and in the rout at Landen, and of which the keenest politicians had in vain tried to read the secrets, now wore an expression but too intelligible.

The English were not a little provoked by seeing their King so happy.

Hitherto his annual visits to the Continent had been not only pardoned but approved.
It was necessary that he should be at the head of his army.