s falling to heartily. Under the
influence of warmth and comfort her fear of the woman had vanished.
"Think you, good mother, that the storm will soon pass?"

"Nay;" answered she her face softening at the appellation. "Not till
midnight comes; for

"When storm comes at end of day
The midnight hour takes the rain away.'"

The girl's face clouded.

"Then I must forth at midnight," she declared.

"Thy need must be urgent that impels thee onward through the darkness,"
observed the woman keenly. "Boy, what is thy business? Would have me read
the stars for its issue?"

"Nay, mother," answered Francis in agitated tones. "Were it favorable all
would be well, but if it were evil I would not know of it. But it will
not be ill. It must not, shall not be!"

She arose and paced the floor, chafing that she must be inactive when
time was so precious. The dame regarded her curiously. Presently she
spoke.

"Mistress, I may not call thee because of thy garb. Master, I cannot
because of thy sex; but whatsoe'er thou art, tell old Margery why thou
art so dressed, and why you wander forth alone?"

"Woman, are you in very truth a witch?" cried the girl in astonishment.

"So men call me," returned Margery dryly.

"But save for the few who were told, not one at the court penetrated my
masquerade," said Francis. "Then how is it, that thou, at our first
meeting, know that my dress covers a maiden?"

"Old Margery hath lived long, and her eyes are sharp," answered the dame.
"But tell me. What brings you hither, if you are of the court?"

Francis paused in front of the woman and looked long and earnestly into
her eyes. Something she saw there made her say impulsively:

"Good mother, thou must be in truth the witch men call thee, because
thine eyes impel me to tell thee all. Listen! and I will unfold the tale
from the beginning." And she recounted the affair of Elizabeth's coming,
the reason for donning the page's dress, her going to court, and now the
cause of her desire to reach her father. The woman listened attentively.

"Child, thou hast done well. And thou sayst that none of the queen's men
have passed thee?"

"None, mother. I have outstripped them all," exulted Francis. "Let me but
continue in the lead for a few hours longer so that my father may have
opportunity to get to a place of safety, and I care not how soon they
come."

At this moment there came the sound of hoarse shouting of men, fol