FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60  
61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   >>   >|  
tin. Latin, my lord, because the queen is learned, and deference should be paid to her knowledge. The welcome to be spoken by a boy." "Have what thou wilt, Greville, so that it will please the queen," returned the nobleman. "I had word from my Lord of Leicester this morning that his mummers accompanied Elizabeth in her progress. They will give the play with more of satisfaction, I trow, than any of the strolling players who have come hither. The address of welcome could be managed, but what boy couldst thou get to deliver it? Boys there be in plenty, but boys with Latinity----" and he shrugged his shoulders. "Had your lordship only a son," sighed Greville regretfully, "it would be right fitting for him to give the speech. I myself would write it. 'Twould only need to be conned well. Ah, would that thou hadst a son!" "Gramercy!" spoke Francis overhearing the tutor's speech. "Hath he not a daughter? I will give thy harangue, Master Greville." "Nay;" and the old man shook his head positively. "'Twill not do, Francis. The Queen's Majesty would relish it more if 'twere spoken by a lad. Her heart inclineth to them. A pretty lad, for she loves beauty. Marry! 'tis pity thou art a girl!" "Father," Francis spoke quickly, a roguish light coming into her eyes, "I could put on the page's dress again, and who would be the wiser? Not the queen, I trow, for she doth not know whether or no thou hast a son." "If it might be," said Greville eagerly. "The girl is brighter than most lads, and could quickly con the speech. What say you, my lord?" "Let the child have her way in this, my lord," spoke Lady Stafford joining them. "Did she not don the garb to please thee? Now that it be for her pleasure deny her not, I entreat." "When thou pleadest for her, madam, I cannot deny," said her husband slowly. "I thought never to see thee in such dress again, Francis. There seemed necessity for it before. Now----" "Now there is necessity also," broke in Francis. "Shall the queen go without her welcome for the want of a boy? I trow not, when Francis Stafford makes so good an one. Fear not, my father. I have become so accustomed to the dress that each day do I don it. And 'tis but sport." "Have thine own way," said Lord Stafford resignedly. "Do but honor the queen, and I will not inquire too closely concerning the manner." Pleased at receiving the permission, Francis applied herself to memorizing the speech prepared by the tutor whi
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60  
61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Francis

 

speech

 

Greville

 

Stafford

 

necessity

 
spoken
 

quickly

 

joining

 

pleasure

 

entreat


eagerly
 

brighter

 

resignedly

 

inquire

 

accustomed

 

closely

 

applied

 
memorizing
 

prepared

 

permission


receiving

 

manner

 

Pleased

 

father

 

thought

 

husband

 
slowly
 
pleadest
 

managed

 
couldst

deliver

 

address

 

strolling

 
players
 

plenty

 

lordship

 

sighed

 

regretfully

 
shoulders
 

Latinity


shrugged

 

satisfaction

 

knowledge

 

returned

 

deference

 

learned

 
nobleman
 
accompanied
 

Elizabeth

 

progress