mained so fine was but evidence of the
care of those to whom she had given strict orders seven years past, that
in and out of season it must be ever kept as it had erstwhile been. She
had never entered the place since the day the young Marquis of Wessex,
whom she had imprisoned for marrying secretly and without her consent,
on his release came here, and, with a concentrated bitterness and hate,
had told her such truths as she never had heard from man or woman since
she was born. He had impeached her in such cold and murderous terms as
must have made wince even a woman with no pride. To Elizabeth it was
gall and wormwood. When he at last demanded the life of the young wife
who had died in enforced seclusion, because she had married the man
she loved, Elizabeth was so confounded that she hastily left the place,
saying no word in response. This attack had been so violent, so deadly,
that she had seemed unnerved, and forbore to command him to the Tower or
to death.

"You, in whose breast love never stirred, deny the right to others whom
God blessed with it," he cried. "Envious of mortal happiness that dare
exist outside your will or gift, you sunder and destroy. You, in whose
hands was power to give joy, gave death. What you have sown you shall
reap. Here on this spot I charge you with high treason, with treachery
to the people over whom you have power as a trust, which trust you have
made a scourge."

With such words as these he had assailed her, and for the first time in
her life she had been confounded. In safety he had left the place, and
taken his way to Italy, from which he had never returned, though she
had sent for him in kindness. Since that day Elizabeth had never come
hither; and by-and-by none of her Court came save the Duke's Daughter,
and her fool, who both made it their resort. Here the fool came upon the
Friday before Trinity Day, bringing with him Lempriere and Buonespoir,
to whom he had much attached himself.

It was a day of light and warmth, and the place was like a basket of
roses. Having seen the two serving-men dispose, in a convenient place,
the refreshment which Lempriere's appetite compelled, the fool took
command of the occasion and made the two sit upon a bank, while he
prepared the repast.

Strangest of the notable trio was the dwarfish fool with his shaggy
black head, twisted mouth, and watchful, wandering eye, whose
foolishness was but the flaunting cover of shrewd observation and
trencha