latter precaution was needless, for the good Queen feared neither
angel nor devil. And now the Doctor inquired what _belle_ of antiquity
she would first see.

"To follow the order of time," she answered, "they should commence with
HELEN."

The magician, with a changing countenance, now exclaimed, "Sit still!"

Sydney's heart beat quick. The brave Essex turned pale. As to the Queen,
not the slightest emotion was perceptible.

Faustus soon commenced some muttered incantations and strange
evolutions, such as were the fashion of the day for conjurors. Anon the
gallery shook, so did the two courtiers, and the Doctor, in a voice of
anger, called out,

"Daughter of fair Leda, hear!
From thy far Elysian sphere;
Lovely as when, for his fee,
To Paris Venus promised thee--
Appear--appear--appear!"

Accustomed to command, rather than to be commanded, the fair Helen
lingered to the last possible moment; but when the last moment came, so
did she, and so suddenly, that no one knew how she got there. She was
habited _a la Grecque_,--her hair ornamented with pearls and a superb
aigrette. The figure passed slowly onwards--stopped for an instant
directly opposite the Queen, as if to gratify her curiosity, took leave
of her with a malicious smile, and vanished. She had scarcely
disappeared when her Majesty exclaimed--"What! that the fair Helen! I
don't pique myself on beauty, but may I die if I would change faces with
her!"

"I told your Majesty how it would be," remarked the enchanter; "and yet
there she is, as she was in her best days."

"She has, however, very fine eyes," observed Essex.

"Yes," said Sydney, "they are large, dark, and brilliant--but after all,
what do they say?" added he, correcting himself.

"Nothing," replied the favourite.

The Queen, who was this day extravagantly rouged, asked if they did not
think Helen's tint too _China-white_.

"China!" cried the Earl; "Delf rather."

"Perhaps," continued the Queen, "it was the fashion of her time; but you
must confess that such turned-in toes would have been endured in no
other woman. I don't dislike her style of dress, however, and probably I
may bring it round again, in place of these troublesome hoops, which
have their inconveniences."

"O, as to the dress," chimed in the favourite--"let it pass; it is well
enough, which is more than can be said for the wearer."

A conclusion, in which Sydney heartily joined, rhapsodying--