h she did look up it was with the pleasant smile with
which she would greet a friend from whom she had parted but an hour
before. Evidently Mary was becoming more timid, and using the greater
care to conceal her feeling the more hopelessly she felt herself
entangled in love's silken meshes. As is ever the case with those of
proud spirit, when they are fairly trapped, they play the indifferent,
to conceal their real feelings from the eyes of their captors, or the
curious. However, ere I had finished the telling of the tale to the
Queen, Mary had changed her manner as she would a garment, and stood
before Harleston, looking up in to his face, as though drinking in his
every word. I know not what was the tale he was unfolding; but of one
thing I am certain, and that is, it was not the same as I was telling
to the Queen. This could I see by the expression upon Mary's face,
which reflected nothing if not pleasure.

When I had finished with my story, the Queen, in her gentle look,
thanked me for the service. "But oh! Sir Walter, I have yet greater
trouble than the fate of those at Pomfret," said her Majesty, after
sitting with folded hands and gazing with fixed eyes into vacancy.

"Yes, madam, and what may be worse than the evil fate of those we
love?" I asked, though I knew full well what would be her answer.

"Yestere'en," she said, "Cardinal Bouchier, accompanied by the Bishop
of York, came here to see me. When admitted the Cardinal fawned, as is
his custom, and with oily tongue informed me that my late husband's
hump-backed brother desired my little Prince, the Duke of York, to be
permitted to attend his brother's coronation.

"'Go back to him that sent thee and say that the Queen, the little
Prince's mother, hath the Duke of York in her own keeping, where he
prefers to be, instead of with his uncle.'

"'But, madam,' said the Bishop, 'the little King desires to have his
brother with him, that he may not be lonely.'

"'He should be permitted to come and tell his mother so, instead of
resting as a prisoner, the which mayhap he is," I replied.

"'Nay, madam, truly,' said the Bishop, 'it is the King's own will that
doth not permit him to come and see your Majesty.'

"'And why, sir, may I ask?' Then, without waiting for his answer, I
continued:--'Ah yes, I understand. His Highness, the Protector, hath
poisoned the boy's mind against his mother. A fit act for his Royal
Highness.'

"'No, madam, I am sure that