's hair was dark; she was not quite so tall as
Eyebright; but their heights matched very well, as, with arms round
each other's waist, they paced up and down "the green," stopping now
and then to take a cookie, or a bit of bread and butter, from the
dinner-pails which they had set under one of the trees.

Not the least attention did they pay to the rest of the scholars, but
Eyebright began at once, as if reading from some book which had been
laid aside only a moment before:

"At that moment Lady Jane heard a tap at the door.

"'See who it is, Margaret,' she said.

"Margaret opened the door, and there stood before her astonished eyes
a knight clad in shining armor.

"'Who are you, Sir Knight, and wherefore do you come?' she cried, in
amaze.

"'I am come to see the Lady Jane Grey,' he replied; 'I have a message
for her from Lord Guildford Dudley.'

"'From my noble Guildford,' shrieked Lady Jane, rushing forward.

"'Even so, madam,' replied the knight, bowing profoundly."

Here Eyebright paused for a large bite of bread and butter.

"Go on--please go on," pleaded Bessie, whose mouth happened to be
empty just then.

Mumble, mumble,--"the Lady Jane sank back on her couch"--resumed
Eyebright, speaking rather thickly by reason of the bread and butter.
"She was very pale, and one tear ran slowly down her pearly cheek.

"'What says my lord?' she faintly uttered.

"'He bids me to tell you to hope on, hope ever,' cried the knight;
'the jailer's daughter has promised to steal her father's keys
to-night, unbar his door, and let him escape.'

"'Can this be true?' cried Margaret--that's you, you know, Bessie--be
ready to catch me.'Help! my lady is about to faint with joy.'"

Here Eyebright sank on the grass, while Bessie made a dash, and raised
her head.

"'Is it? Can it be--true?' murmured the Lady Jane,"--her languid hand
meanwhile stealing into the dinner-pail, and producing therefrom a big
red apple.

"'It is true--the blessed news is indeed true,' cried the true-hearted
Margaret.

"'I feel new life in my veins;' and the Lady Jane sprang to her feet."
Here Eyebright scrambled to hers.

"'Come, Margaret,' she cried, 'we most decide in what garb we shall
greet my dearest lord when he comes from prison. Don't you think the
cram--cram--cramberry velvet, with a net-work of pearls, and,'--what
else did they wear, Bessie?"

"Girdles?" ventured Bessie.

"'And a girdle of gems,'" went on Eyebright, easily, and q