one and
beside it a door which opened into a suite of apartments for the queen
whenever it should be her pleasure to be private. The hall was thronged
with spectators, for a masque was to be given, and menials as well as
courtiers were interested in the pageant.

Francis mingled with the crowd purposing to retire very soon to her bower
to don habit more befitting her sex, but enjoying for the nonce the
freedom which her garb gave her. Presently she felt her cloak twitched as
some one said:

"Where is your sister, sir? I see her not among those who attend the
queen."

"My sister?" The girl wheeled about, and uttered an exclamation of
amazement as she recognized the speaker. "What dost thou here?" she
demanded sternly. "And why art thou in that attire?"

The boy, for it was the lad who had shot the deer in the chase, gave vent
to a low laugh.

"I came to see the queen. Why should I not? I am her leal and true
subject, which is more than thou canst say even if thou didst rattle off
her welcome so glibly in Latin. As for my dress, it is my own. Why should
I not wear it, Master Stafford?"

"I am as true a subject to the queen as thou art," retorted Francis. "Why
art thou here? Thou shouldst be in durance for the deer which thou didst
shoot in the forest," and a sneer curled her lips.

"So she told you of it," exclaimed the lad.

"She? Whom mean you?" queried Francis in bewilderment.

"Thy sister, stupid. How else couldst thou have known of the deer? Truly,
thou art as much like her as one pea is to another. Should you but don
her frock there would be none that could tell ye apart. Where is she?"

Francis laughed outright as the lad's mistake dawned upon her, and a
merry twinkle came into her eyes.

"My sister is occupied," she answered mischievously. "Marry! it were well
for thee that it was she with whom thou didst dispute over the deer. But
thou hast been punished enough, else I would not let thee leave this hall
before thou wouldst feel the weight of my whip."

"Beshrew me, I like not thy brag," cried the other angrily. "Know, Master
Stafford, that I was not punished. So soon as the keepers found who and
what I was they made apology for treating me in such an unmannerly
fashion, and brought me the horns of the deer as trophy of my skill. They
now repose in mine own abode."

"Brought thee the horns in trophy of thy skill?" repeated the girl in
wrathful incredulity. "Brought them to thee, forsooth! Why, mini