" she asked, and leaned a little
forward in her chair.

"There is a glint of the verdure of England in them, your Majesty, and
the sheen of the blue of her skies and her seas."

"And thou dost consider them, therefore, to be perfect for England's
Queen?"

"God made your Majesty, and we daily thank Him for His abounding
goodness and wisdom."

A faint blush stole into Elizabeth's cheeks, and the blue-green eyes
danced. "Thou dost see merrie England mirrored in these pale orbs?"

"The country lives in your Majesty's heart, and the heart looks out
through the eyes."

Elizabeth sat back. She turned to Raleigh.

"They breed poets in the shadow of Dean's oaks," she said.

"When first I met Master Morgan he was writing verses in the woodlands."

"And to whom?"

"A pretty maiden."

"Ah! What colour are her eyes, bold forester?"

"Blue, an't please your Majesty."

"It doth not please me at all. I thought thy conceit about the 'green
and blue' of England very pretty and spontaneous for me. Now I
perceive 'tis but an old compliment thou hast paid a thousand times
before to some woodland wench."

"Your Majesty mistakes. The thought never came to my mind before I
uttered it just now. I know not what made me think it then, unless
'twas your Majesty's presence inspired me. I am a dull fellow, and no
poet, as Mistress Dawe often tells me."

"Hast never told her that her eyes are blue?"

"I have, your Majesty."

"And that she is the fairest maid on earth?"

"I have said that also, and 'tis God's truth that I think her to be so."

"Humph!"

The exclamation was a little unroyal. Raleigh, who had stood in almost
mute astonishment at Morgan's strange readiness of tongue and aptness
of expression, now began to fear that the blunt yeoman was going to
undo all his previous good work. Elizabeth Tudor was not accustomed to
hear that some other "maid" was the fairest on earth.

"When dost thou hope to wed this dainty nymph?"

"When the maid wills it, your Majesty."

"Hath she no father, then, to command her?"

"She hath; but he would not lay an order upon her, neither would I have
him do so. Maidens will have their whims. I care not, so mine be
constant."

"Thou dost find her wayward then?"

"All pretty things are fashioned so."

"Am I wayward, thinkest thou?"

"Your Majesty would be very woman but that you are also Queen."

"But I am a woman when my crown is off."

Johnnie shook his head. "God