clasped. Malcolm's was steady, as he felt Esclairmonde's rest in his
untrembling, but with the quietness of one who trusted all in all where
she trusted at all.

'Poor children! they have all to learn,' hilariously shouted the
Countess. 'They have forgotten the kiss!'

'Will you suffer it, my sister?' said Malcolm, with burning cheeks.

'My brother and my guardian!' responded Esclairmonde, raising the white
brow to his lips.

At that moment back went the door, and in flew Alice Montagu, crying
aloud, 'Clairette! the Queen--oh, Madame, your pardon! but I am sent for
Esclairmonde. The Queen is in worse fits than ever. Sir Lewis can't get
the ring from her. They think she will rave like her father presently!
Come!'

Esclairmonde could only hurry away at this; while Alice, grasping her
hand, continued:

'Oh, have they been persecuting you? I dreaded it when I saw yon little
wretch; but--oh, Esclairmonde, what is this?' in an utterly changed
voice.

'He holds my faith in trust. He will restore it,' said Esclairmonde,
hurriedly.

But Lady Montagu spoke not another word; and, indeed, they were hard upon
the English queen's rooms, whence they already heard hysterical screams
of passion.

Jaqueline had immediately set forth in the same direction out of
curiosity; and Malcolm in much anxiety, since the mission that he had
been cautioned to guard so jealously seemed in danger of being known
everywhere. He had himself been allowed to stand by the Queen's bedside,
and rehearse James's message; but when he had further hinted of his being
sent by Bedford to bring the ring, the Queen, perhaps at the mention of
the brother-in-law, pouted, knew nothing of any ring, and supposed M. le
Duc meant to strip her, a poor desolate widow, of all her jewels.

Then Malcolm had spoken in private with Sir Lewis Robsart, who knew the
ring was among her jewels, and promised to get it for him as soon as was
possible; and it was while waiting for this that Malcolm had been
summoned to the Countess of Hainault's apartments.

But ere Sir Lewis could get the ear of the Queen, as he now told Malcolm,
her mother had been with her. Catherine was dull, jealous, unwilling to
part with anything, but always easily coaxed over. Her mother Isabeau
had, on the other hand, a good deal of low cunning and selfishness, and
understood how valuable an instrument might be a duplicate seal of a
deceased monarch. Therefore she instigated her daughter