"Thomas Miagh which liethe here alone
That fain wold from hence begone
By torture straunge my trouth was tryed
Yet of my liberty denied;"

for that "torture straunge" suggested thoughts of too painful a nature to
dwell upon. The next bore the date, "Anno D. 1571, 10 Sept., and read:

"The most unhappy man in the world is he that is not patient in
adversities; for men are not killed with the adversities they have, but
with the impatience they suffer."

And so she went from one to another, marveling at the resignation,
patience and endurance breathed by many of the inscriptions, and
shuddering at the thought of those "straunge tortures" which were hinted
at by others.

Three days elapsed. On the morning of the fourth day, as Francis sat
listlessly awaiting the coming of her jailer with her noonday meal, which
was the only diversion that her prison life afforded, the door opened to
admit, not her keeper, but Sir Francis Walsingham and two warders. Every
particle of color left her face at sight of him, and she uttered a silent
prayer for help as she arose in response to his greeting.

"Well, young master, I hope that I find you in a more amiable frame of
mind to-day?" half questioned, half asserted the secretary.

"Sir," replied she, "I am of the same opinion as heretofore. I confess
that if to carry letters to Mary, Queen of Scots, be treason, then am I
guilty of rebellion against the queen's highness. Therefore, adjudge me
guilty, and give me, I beseech you, a speedy death. But, if the word of
one who stands in peril of life may be taken, I solemnly declare that my
father is innocent of all design of harming the Queen of England."

"That declaration, boy, will not save him," replied Walsingham sternly.
"By not revealing the conspiracy, if he knew of it, he acquiesced in it.
His first duty was to his sovereign. I now ask you for the last time with
gentleness, in the name of the queen, did he know of it?"

Francis remained silent.

"'Tis enough," said the minister sternly. "'Tis the law that he who
refuses to answer a query put in the queen's name, may be questioned in a
far sharper manner. Bring him along, wardens."

"There is no need," said Francis with dignity as the two advanced toward
her. "I will attend without force."

The wardens bowed and opening the door of the chamber, ushered her into
the corridor. Traversing this for a short distance they came to a f