, reading a bit here and a bit there, and gazing spellbound upon the
enigmatic pictures.

Having completely mastered the situation, Rebecca now found time to
consider her comfort. Far on one side, near the door through which she
had entered, there stood a youth of perhaps sixteen, clad in the
somewhat fantastic garb of a page. Having picked up her umbrella,
Rebecca approached this youth and said in a sharp whisper:

"Couldn't you get me a chair, sonny?"

The lad disappeared with startling promptitude, but he did not return.
It was an agony of perplexity and shyness which had moved him, not a
willingness to serve.

Rebecca gazed about at the etiquette-bound men and women around her and
muttered, with an indignant snort and toss of the head:

"Set o' decorated haystacks!"

Then, with head held high and a frigid "Beg pardon, mister!" she elbowed
her way through the dense throng of gentlemen-in-waiting and seated
herself on the bench arranged along the side of the cabin.

"Oof!" she exclaimed. "Feels though my legs would drop clear off!"

At length the Queen looked up.

"Why, what now!" she exclaimed. "Whither hath the strange woman gone?"

A tall man dressed in black and gold stepped forward and dropped upon
one knee. He had a long, humorous face, with high cheek bones, a
straight, good-humored mouth, with a high mustache well off the lip and
a pointed beard. The eyes, set far apart, twinkled with the light of fun
as he awaited permission to speak.

"Well, my Lord of Southampton," said the Queen, kindly, "I doubt some
gay mischief be afoot. Your face tells me as much, my lord."

"Nay, my liege," was the humble reply. "Can my face so far forget the
duty owed to Royalty as to speak thus, not being first admitted to
discourse!"

Elizabeth smiled and replied:

"Even so, my lord, but we forgive the offence if that your face hath
spoken truth. Know you aught of the strange woman? Pray be standing."

The earl arose and replied:

"Of her rank and station, she must be a queen at least, or she doth
forget herself. This may your Majesty confirm if but these your
Majesty's servants be commanded to cross the room."

Elizabeth, puzzled, bowed her head slightly, and the courtiers behind
whom Rebecca had sought rest walked with one accord to the other side of
the cabin, revealing to the astonished eyes of the Queen her visitor
quietly seated upon the bench.

Rebecca nodded with a pleased look.

"Well, there!" she e