d his loving strife
He took Sweet Williame for his wife.
The like before was never seen,
A serving man become a queen."

Francis laughed merrily when he finished.

"Poor Williame! but it ended well after all. Well, my days for man's
attire will soon be o'er."

"'Tis to be hoped so," answered her father. "Though the dress well
becomes thee."

At length, though they had returned by easier stages than they had
performed the journey to Stafford, Lyndhurst was reached, and soon the
turrets of Stafford Hall became visible.

"Home again, my child," spoke Lord Stafford cheerily. "Right glad am I to
enter its gates once more. How is it with thee, Francis? Thou hast fared
widely. Dost still revere thy home?"

"More than ever, my father. Never have I seen it look so beautiful. Even
the stones seem to smile a welcome."

"Marry, there stands my lady wife! Look, she sees us."

With a cry of joy the lady ran to greet them.

"Ye are safe," she cried embracing them. "Ah, but it hath been long, long
since ye left. Methought something had befallen you."

"No; my sweet wife. Weary we may be with the journey, and ready for the
good cheer which we know awaits us, but well otherwise. How now, sweet
chuck? Thou art pale, and even though thou hast us safe with thee, yet
doth thy lip still quiver, and thy form tremble. What is it? Speak,
madam, I beseech thee."

"My lord, I wot not what to think of it, but to-day a messenger came from
the queen saying that Elizabeth in her royal progress through Hampshire
would honor us with a visit."

"Elizabeth here?" cried Lord Stafford in astonishment. "Art sure?"

"Sure, my lord. What doth it portend? Is there hidden menace in the fact?
Doth she suspect, think you, that Ballard hath been here? My lord, what
can it mean?"

"Madam, I know not. We are her subjects. If Her Majesty chooses to visit
us we can but receive her. But look not so pale. 'Tis but a matter of a
few days' entertainment, and surely we would do ill to be churlish of
them. It is not the first time that royalty hath honored Stafford. Right
well do I remember that Henry, Elizabeth's bluff old father, favored us
with a visit. With his own hand he brought down many a fat buck in yon
forest park. Right well pleased was my father with that visit."

"True, my lord; but he had favor with Henry, and had naught to fear."

"And what is there to fear from his daughter? We must bestir ourselves to