ne way, Mary in another.

One day the fancy struck the king that he would rebuild a certain
chapel at Windsor; so he took a number of the court, including Mary,
Jane, Brandon and myself, and went with us up to London, where we
lodged over night at Bridewell House. The next morning--as bright and
beautiful a June day as ever gladdened the heart of a rose--we took
horse for Windsor; a delightful seven-league ride over a fair road.

Mary and Jane traveled side by side, with an occasional companion or
two, as the road permitted. I was angry with Jane, as you know, so did
not go near the girls; and Brandon, without any apparent intention one
way or the other, allowed events to adjust themselves, and rode with
Cavendish and me.

We were perhaps forty yards behind the girls, and I noticed after a
time that the Lady Mary kept looking backward in our direction, as if
fearing rain from the east. I was in hopes that Jane, too, would fear
the rain, but you would have sworn her neck was stiff, so straight
ahead did she keep her face. We had ridden perhaps three leagues, when
the princess stopped her horse and turned in her saddle. I heard her
voice, but did not understand what she said.

In a moment some one called out: "Master Brandon is wanted." So that
gentleman rode forward, and I followed him. When we came up with the
girls, Mary said: "I fear my girth is loose."

Brandon at once dismounted to tighten it, and the others of our
immediate party began to cluster around.

Brandon tried the girth.

"My lady, it is as tight as the horse can well bear," he said.

"It is loose, I say," insisted the princess, with a little irritation;
"the saddle feels like it. Try the other." Then turning impatiently to
the persons gathered around: "Does it require all of you, standing
there like gaping bumpkins, to tighten my girth? Ride on; we can
manage this without so much help." Upon this broad hint everybody rode
ahead while I held the horse for Brandon, who went on with his search
for the loose girth. While he was looking for it Mary leaned over her
horse's neck and asked: "Were you and Cavendish settling all the
philosophical points now in dispute, that you found him so
interesting?"

"Not all," answered Brandon, smiling.

"You were so absorbed, I supposed it could be nothing short of that."

"No," replied Brandon again. "But the girth is not loose."

"Perhaps I only imagined it," returned Mary carelessly, having lost
interest in