ifficult to see or to be seen, but
Lady Pembroke had over-ruled this by saying,--

[Illustration: THE TILT YARD, WHITEHALL]

'There is room for all in the front row, good Crawley. Suffer Mistress
Lucy to come forward.'

And then Lucy, beaming with delight, had a full view of the fortress, and
found herself placed exactly opposite the window at which the Queen was to
sit with her favourites to watch the show.

'Tell me, I pray you, the name of that grand lady whose jewels are flashing
in the sunshine?'

Lucy said this to her companion, who bid her sit as close as she could, and
not squeeze her hoop, and take care not to lean over the edge of the booth
so as to obstruct her own view of the people who were rapidly filling up
the seats.

'And forsooth, Mistress Forrester, you must not speak in a loud voice. It's
country-bred manners to do so.'

Lucy pouted, but was presently consoled by a smile from Philip Sidney, who
came across the yard to exchange a word with his sister, and to ask if his
young brother was able to get a good view.

Lucy was much elated by that recognition, and her companion said in a low
voice,--

'You ask who yonder lady is? Watch, now, and I'll tell you.' For Philip
had, in returning, stopped before the booth where Lady Rich sat, and she
had bent forward to speak to him. Only a few words passed, but when Philip
had moved away there was a change in Lady Rich's face, and the lines of
discontent and the restless glance of her dark eyes, seeking for
admiration, were exchanged for a satisfied smile, which had something also
of sadness in it.

'That lady is Lord Rich's wife, and Mr Sidney's love. He will never look
with favour on anyone besides. The pity of it! And,' she added in a low
voice, 'the shame too!'

'But, hush!' as Lucy was about to respond. 'We may be heard, and that would
anger my lady, who has no cause to love my Lady Rich, and would not care to
hear her spoken of in the same breath as Mr Sidney.'

The waiting time for spectacles is apt to grow wearisome; and some of the
spectators were yawning, and a few of the elder ladies resigning themselves
to a quiet nap, their heads heavy with the ale of the morning meal, swaying
from side to side, and endangering the stiff folds of the ruffs, which made
a sort of cradle for their cheeks and chins. Lucy, however, knew nothing of
fatigue; she was too much elated with her position, too earnestly employed
in scanning the dresses of the ladies