ouge affected by
the ladies of the court. Her tresses were streaked somewhat with gray,
but they were still her own. Her eyes were as blue as periwinkles and
full of tenderness and love. The girl's eyes swept the painted face above
her, and her heart grew hot within her breast at the queen's question.
Amazed at her own audacity she arose and said boldly:

"Madam, I crave pardon, but my mother is to me the fairest woman in the
world."

For an instant there was dead silence in the chamber. An expression of
fury crossed the queen's face. She half rose from her couch, and then
sank back upon it.

"We were near forgetting, Sir Malapert, that thou hadst not had benefit
of court life. Thy manners must be mended ere thou dost come into our
presence again. Go! you weary me. Come near me no more. And he is a pupil
of Greville's!" Francis heard her exclaim as she hurried away. "My life,
the boy is duller than he looks!"

Full of consternation at what she had done, angry and resentful also,
Francis sought her parents to relate the incident to them.

"Oh, child, child," moaned the mother. "What hast thou done! What hast
thou done!"

"My mother, was it not the truth? Thou art fairer; a thousand times
fairer than she. She is an ugly old woman----"

"My daughter," interrupted Lord Stafford, "say no more. Elizabeth is the
queen, and whatever may be her weaknesses and faults she is still the
queen. And mark you, child! though she hath many faults she hath also
great virtues. For this reason her people overlook her vanity and exalt
her. She is a queen, but she is also a woman. Thou art too young to
understand all that that means yet. Now, let me think how to make
amends."

"She said that I was to come near her no more while she remained. I am
sorry if I did wrong in speaking so, but still it is the truth. My mother
is the fairer."

"Hush, hush," whispered the lady drawing her close. "'Tis treason, child.
What doth it matter to us whether or no I am the fairer. It bodes us ill
to say so. Oh, child, I am afeared."

"Let us ask Greville to aid us," said Lord Stafford. "Mayhap he can
suggest a remedy, for well doth he ken Elizabeth's humors."

CHAPTER XI

AT THE QUEEN'S COMMAND

But neither Greville's obsequious homage, nor Lord and Lady Stafford's
apologies could regain the goodwill of the queen. Seeing her state of
mind Lord Stafford advised that Francis should retain her chamber during
the rest of Elizabeth's visi