a little and her
heart quailed as she noted all of the means employed to insure Mary's
safe-keeping.

"My father was right," she thought. "To obtain entrance is not all. There
will still be difficulty, I fear, in seeing her. What if she comes not to
the garden? But courage! Poor lady! I marvel not that she doth wish to
gain her liberty. Methinks I should die were I to be deprived of my
freedom!" Thus she mused little dreaming that not many weeks would elapse
ere she would be put to the test.

"There are the gardens," said Will breaking in upon her thoughts. "'Tis
there that I have often seen the queen. See, the guard is leaving."

"Don't they guard her through the day, Will?"

"Ay, master. But the sentinels stand not at the doors and windows as they
do at night. The walls only are guarded through the day. There she is,
forsooth."

"I see her not, good Will."

[Illustration: _QUEEN MARY'S WIT GRASPED THE SITUATION_]

"In the main garden, master. To the right."

Francis looked in the direction indicated and soon descried the form of a
woman seated in a large rolling chair which was wheeled by an attendant.
Along the walks of the garden they went pausing ever and anon to pluck
some flower or the cherries which were ripening in the sun. For a moment
only Francis gazed and then, before Will had time to say her nay, she
leaped off from the wagon and bounded swiftly in the direction of the
garden.

"Uds!" growled Will his mouth agape with astonishment. "Methought there
was more to 't than appeared," and he went on to the kitchens.

Meantime Francis, trampling over flowers and vegetables in her haste,
reached the side of Mary, and thrust into her hand the package of
letters. Mary's quick wit grasped the situation instantly. Concealing the
papers about her she drew back from the seeming carter, crying in a loud
voice for she saw one of the guards approaching:

"Well, what meaneth this? Forgive me," she whispered hurriedly, "if I
seem angry. 'Tis but for thine own safety." So saying she drew back still
further from the kneeling girl exclaiming as the guard came up, "I know
thee not, boy. Why dost thou trouble me?"

"I wished to see thee," murmured Francis rising. "Forgive me. I
wished----"

"There!" said Mary. "'Tis no matter. Barbara," to her companion, "hast
thou the purse? Give the lad a groat. Marry! thou art all alike. Ye wish
bounty whether ye deserve it or not. Go, and trouble me no more."

She turned as