a message from the Queen. Mr Sidney
has gone round to meet him.'

'Ill news, I wonder?' Humphrey said.

'Nay, only some trifle about the tourney, belike a change in the colour of
the armour, or some such folly.'

Mary and her little son and Lucy were now standing at the end of the
terrace walk of smooth turf, which is raised some feet above the wide
pleasance below.

'Await the Countess's pleasure here,' Humphrey said. 'She is engaged in
talk with Lady Mary, she will send to summon you when she sees fit.'

The ladies and gentlemen in attendance on Lady Mary Sidney and her daughter
were threading the narrow paths of the pleasance and chatting gaily with
each other, the bright dresses of the ladies, rivalling the colour of the
spring flowers in the beds, while the jewelled hilts of the gentlemen's
swords sparkled in the sunshine.

From the trees in the Park came the monotonous note of the unseen cuckoo,
while the thrushes and blackbirds every now and then sent forth a burst of
song, though it was nearly nigh noontide, when the birds are often silent,
as if, in the general rejoicing of the spring, all living things must take
part.

The picturesque side of the home of the Sidneys, which faces this
pleasance, was in shadow, and made a background to the gay scene, which
accentuated the brilliant effect of the gay throng below it.

On the terrace Mary Gifford stood in her black garments, relieved by a long
white veil, holding her impatient boy by the hand, while Lucy, no less
impatient, was hoping every minute that she should receive a message from
Lady Pembroke. The group at last caught the attention of Lady Mary, who had
been in earnest conversation with her daughter.

'Ah! there is Mistress Gifford,' she exclaimed, 'and the little sister of
whom Philip spoke as suitable to be one of your waiting-women. Let us
hasten to speak with them. They have been, I fear, waiting too long.'

'Yes; it was heedless of me to forget them; but there is the bell sounding
for dinner in the hall, shall we not bid them sit down at the board? They
must needs be weary after their long walk, and the service, to say naught
of the sermon,' Lady Pembroke added, laughing.

'Hush, then; I see the good minister coming towards us. He means well, and
is a godly man.'

'I do not doubt it, sweet mother; but let us mount the steps to the
terrace, and show some courtesy to those waiting our pleasure there.'

'They are coming towards us, Mary. Ma