E PALACE

Hazel was with Mary in their own apartments when she received word that
a messenger desired to see her.

"Bid him give thee the message, and do thou bring it here," said Hazel.

The servant went out, but soon returned. "The soldier, madam, doth
refuse to put the packet into other hands than thine," said the maid.

"What may this mean?" thought Hazel. "Surely this must be of vast
importance," said she to Mary.

"Mayhap 'tis best that thou shouldst see him," said Mary.

The two maids walked down the passage to where the man was standing,
cap in hand, and as motionless as a pile of armour. However, when he
saw the ladies approaching he started forward and, dropping on one
knee, he handed the packet to the proper maid, though how he knew her I
cannot understand. But then those fellows about the Palace have naught
to do but learn who people are and all about them.

"Here is a gold piece for thee," said Hazel, as she reached it toward
him.

"No, yer ladyship," he replied, "Oi thank thee much fer thoine offer;
but moy master hath alridy given me so much o' the pricious stuff that
it's thinkin' Oi am to know what to do with it." With this he saluted
them smartly and walked away.

"What is it, Hazel?" asked Mary, when Michael was gone.

Hazel, however, was so deeply engaged with the reading of my letter
that she did not hear her companion; so Mary leaned on her friend's
shoulder, and read it for herself.

Neither said anything until they had read twice what was writ. "What
can it all mean?" asked Mary, at last. Then she read aloud, as though
the sound of her voice might make the meaning clearer, as it sometimes
doth.

"Hush!" said Hazel, as she put her hand over her friend's mouth; "dost
thou not see that he commands me to keep this most secret? Come, let
us to the Queen, and tell her all."

So they went to her Majesty's apartments; she was talking with her
daughter Elizabeth when they entered. "What causes thee to look so
troubled, Hazel?" asked the Queen, the moment that they had entered;
for my dear girl was badly frightened by the contents of my note.

"I have just received a letter which is of great import to thee,"
answered the maiden; and she handed the Queen the open packet; for her
fear had robbed her of any bashfulness she might have felt in having
her Majesty see the manner in which I did address her.

The Queen read and reread the letter through, from first to last. At
length sh