rt
together at the court, and there hath been none to take thy place since
thou didst go into retirement upon thy marriage. Therefore, say on."

"I thank thee that thou hast spoken so favorably and kindly of the
friendship that once held between us," replied Lord Stafford. "Albeit, I
would not curry favor with thee because of it. But to the matter in hand.
Know then that when the Queen's Majesty was about to come hither, and we
were preparing for her reception, Hugh Greville, my daughter's tutor and
my kinsman, did lament that I had no son to speak the welcome to
Elizabeth. In an idle moment, I unwittingly consented that Francis should
don the habit of a page and deliver the speech not thinking that the
queen would do more than to listen to it. But she was drawn to the girl
and spoke words of approbation to her, enquiring her name. 'Francis,' she
observed as the child gave it her, 'ah! well do I ken, my lord, that that
was your father's name.' Then as she moved on she asked if I had other
children. To which I answered, 'No.' Methought that that would end the
matter, but mark you! She bade my supposed son to attend her in her
chamber; and then, thou knowest the tenor of the court talk, she asked if
she did not deem her mother fairer than she, the queen, was. My daughter,
Shrope, knows naught but to speak the truth. She is a maiden of tender
years, simply brought up, and as wild and free as the linnet that sings
upon yon bough. She spoke the truth when she answered that to her, her
mother was the fairest woman that lived. Elizabeth spurned her from her
presence, and conveyed threat as to the manners of my son when she left
the hall. 'Ods life, my lord! to what pass hath England come when
children must be taught to dissemble and fawn else they be subjected to
discipline by the queen? Had she not enough courtiers to hail her as
'Diana,' and 'The Miracle of Time,' and other things of like ilk that she
must needs try to subvert my child from truth? Gramercy! I am ready at
this moment to enter the tilt-yard to defend the girl's saying against
all comers. Her mother is the fairest lady that ere the sun shone on.
I----"

"Hold, Stafford, thou ravest! Be not so heated in thy words. Give pause
while I think on what thou hast told me."

Lord Stafford tried to subdue his feelings while the other sat in
thought. Presently Lord Shrope looked up.

"Stafford, for the sake of that old friendship to which I have before
referred, bear