r to you that, not only shall no one
either laugh or boast in any way, but no one even shall fail in the
respect due to your rank. Rely upon me, duke, as I rely upon you."

"You do not explain yourself, madame; my heart is full of bitterness,
and I am in utter despair; no consolation, however gentle and
affectionate, can afford me relief."

"Do you remember your mother, duke?" replied the queen, with a winning
smile.

"Very slightly, madame; yet I remember how she used to cover me with her
caresses and her tears whenever I wept."

"Villiers," murmured the queen, passing her arm round the young man's
neck, "look upon me as your mother, and believe that no one shall ever
make my son weep."

"I thank you, madame," said the young man, affected and almost
suffocated by his emotion, "I feel there is indeed still room in my
heart for a gentler and nobler sentiment than love."

The queen-mother looked at him and pressed his hand. "Go," she said.

"When must I leave? Command me."

"At any time that may suit you, my lord," resumed the queen; "you will
choose your own day of departure. Instead, however, of setting off
to-day, as you would doubtless wish to do, or to-morrow, as others
may have expected, leave the day after to-morrow, in the evening; but
announce to-day that it is your wish to leave."

"My wish?" murmured the young duke.

"Yes, duke."

"And shall I never return to France?"

Anne of Austria reflected for a moment, seemingly absorbed in sad and
serious thought. "It would be a consolation for me," she said, "if
you were to return on the day when I shall be carried to my final
resting-place at Saint-Denis beside the king, my husband."

"Madame, you are goodness itself; the tide of prosperity is setting in
on you; your cup brims over with happiness, and many long years are yet
before you."

"In that case you will not come for some time, then," said the queen,
endeavoring to smile.

"I shall not return," said Buckingham, "young as I am. Death does not
reckon by years; it is impartial; some die young, some reach old age."

"I will not harbor any sorrowful ideas, duke. Let me comfort you; return
in two years. I perceive from your face that the very idea which saddens
you so much now, will have disappeared before six months have passed,
and will be not only dead but forgotten in the period of absence I have
assigned you.'

"I think you judged me better a little while ago madame," replied the
young man,