shed the perusal, when there came tripping in the
page of Sir John Finett, carrying a sealed billet redolent with the most
costly perfume. The superscription was precisely similar, and nearly in
the same hand:--"To the Fairest, These."

She hastily broke open the packet.

"Beauteous and most matchless queen! jealous of thy coming, the orb
of day hasteneth to hide himself in Thetis's lap. He leaveth thee
our luminary in his stead, whose twin stars shall so outmimic day
that his brightness shall not be remembered. Truly am I in great
heaviness and sorrow, seeing that I cannot be with you in the
opening of the pageant, by reason of mine office, and my duty to
the king. Yet will I not leave you without a protector. My trusty
friend Weldon will enact your faithful knighte. He weareth a black
visard and mantle of spotted silver, and will accompany you to the
bower, from whence he delivereth the queene and her distressed
damsels out of durance. When the dancing begins, expect me.

"THINE."

Little space was left for deliberation. The bell rang out its signal
for the actors to arrange themselves; hearing which, she thrust the
billets behind her stomacher, and hastened to the great court, where, on
a platform supported by four wheels, was builded a sort of hut,
decorated in a tawdry and fanciful style, and yeleped "The Bower of
Beautie."

Into this bower the queen was to be conducted, but the uproar and
confusion was indescribable; strange and antic figures hurrying to and
fro, seeking their companions, and crying lustily for their places. Sir
John Finett and Sir George Goring fulfilled the office of whippers-in,
attempting to establish order out of these undisciplined elements. Grace
drew back; but suddenly there came forth an armed knight from the bower
towards her, wearing a black visor and a mantle of spotted silver,
courteously beseeching her that she would accompany him to her station.
A great curtain of figured arras hung in front, concealing the interior,
where the queen and her maidens were supposed to be held captive. Grace
stepped into this temporary confinement, in which were four other ladies
masked, who graciously saluted their queen. The black-faced visor having
seated himself, the arras was again let down; when several men,
bedizened with ribands and nosegays, wheeled off the vehicle to its
destination on the green.

The bower was garnished with r