an, "return whence you came, and choose your fares better
henceforth."

Two of the barge's crew extended each a hand to Rebecca.

"Bend onto that, Poll!" said one, grinning.

"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Rebecca. "I never see sech impident help in
all my born days! Ain't ye got any steps for a body to climb?"

A second gorgeously dressed attendant backed hastily out of the cabin.

"Look alive!" he said, peremptorily. "Her Majesty waxes impatient. Where
is the woman?"

"Ay, ay, sir!" replied the sailors. "Here she be!"

They leaned far forward and, grasping the astonished Rebecca each by a
shoulder, lifted her quickly over the rail.

The first gentleman messenger beckoned to her and started toward the
cabin.

"Follow me!" he said, curtly.

Rebecca straightened her skirt and bonnet, shook her umbrella, and
turned quietly to the rail, fumbling with the catch of her bag.

"I pity yer manners, young man!" she said, coldly. Then, with some
dismay:

"Here you, mister, don't ye want yer money?"

But the waterman, only too glad to escape at all from being involved in
her fate, was pulling back to the northern shore as fast as his boat
would go.

"Suit yourself," said Rebecca, simply. "Saves me a dime, I guess."

Turning then to the impatient gentleman waiting at the door:

"Guess you're one o' the family, ain't ye? Is your ma in, young man?"

Fortunately her full meaning was not comprehended, and the person
addressed contented himself with drawing aside the heavy curtain of
cloth of gold and motioning to Rebecca to precede him.

She nodded graciously and passed into the cabin.

"That's better," she said, with an ingratiating smile. "Good manners
never did a mite o' harm, did they?"

Before following her, the messenger turned again to the young
lieutenant.

"Give way!" he said.

At once the sweeps fell together, and the great barge resumed its course
down the river.

As Rebecca entered the glass and gold enclosure, she was at first quite
dazzled by the crowd of gorgeously arrayed courtiers who stood in two
compact groups on either side of her. Young and old alike, all these men
of the sword and cloak seemed vying one with another for precedence in
magnificence and foppery. The rarest silks of every hue peeped forth
through slashed velvets and satins whose rustling masses bedecked men of
every age and figure. Painted faces and ringed ears everywhere topped
snowy ruffles deep and wide, while in every h