ir in the lieutenant's garden Edward Devereaux chanced to
be walking there also. Seeing them he doffed his bonnet and approached,
deferentially speaking to Mrs. Shelton:

"Gracious madam, may I be permitted to speak with your charge?"

"It is not the custom for one prisoner to hold converse with another,
young sir," replied Mrs. Shelton. "But, as ye are enemies, I will indulge
thy request, albeit ye speak that I may hear all."

"I thank you, madam, for your courtesy," replied the youth bowing.
"Mistress Francis, how fare you?"

"Well, Master Devereaux," answered Francis. "That is," she added, "as
well as one may fare who rests under the displeasure of the queen."

"You say truly," sighed Devereaux. "Yet, me thinks that to be under the
queen's displeasure brings not more ill than to stand high in her
grace."

"What mean you, Master Devereaux?"

"Why, truly, you lie under her ill will, and so abide in this grim
fortress; while I, who am her favorite page, do dwell in the same place."

"But wherefore?" asked Francis. "Of what crime hast thou been guilty?"

"None, Francis. Save and except that I wearied of the court and its vain
pleasures. I would play a man's part as did Sir Phillip Sidney. There was
a man, noble, chivalrous and brave! Ready to adventure all things, yet he
was the flower of courtesy! He was my example. I wished, like him, to
achieve renown, and so when the news came that the Armada was about to
embark from Spain, I asked her leave to go with Drake, who was to set
sail for Cadiz to obstruct the Spanish fleet's progress. She refused to
let me go, and so I ran away to Plymouth, where was my Lord Howard in
charge of our ships there awaiting the coming of the enemy. But the queen
held me in so much favor that she feared for my safety, and so sent after
me, and had me conveyed hither to remain until the danger be over.
Gramercy!" he broke forth his lips curling with scorn, "am I to stay here
mewed up like a girl when every son of England should be in arms against
the Spaniard?"

"But are the Spaniards coming, in truth, Edward?"

"So rumor hath it, Francis. 'Twas said that they have set sail already,
but I know not the truth of the matter."

"Thou art not much changed," said Francis presently.

"But thou art, Francis. Thou art taller, and thinner; yea, and paler,"
observed Devereaux with such a note of compassion in his voice that
Francis flushed. The youth noted her annoyance and added quickly: "An