And then, as her eyes grew dim, and her bosom heaved, I could guess
whither her thoughts had flown, and how my happy lot contrasted with her
own.

I had told her all I knew of Ludar, up to the time of the poet's letter.
But for a long time I durst not tell her of his visit to my master's
house that evening while I was at Canterbury. At last, however, I
summoned up courage, with Jeannette's help, to tell her that; and it was
pitiful to see how it moved her.

"Talk of it no more," said she. "He will not return; or if he does, the
sight of me--to whom he owes all these troubles, who tempted him to
desert his duty and ruined his life--will drive him hence. Jeannette,"
said she, taking my little mistress' hand in hers, "why must one live
when it would be so happy to die?"

"Maiden," said Jeannette, boldly, "you do wrong to talk so, and I shall
love you less if you say it again. Of course he will come, and of
course he loves you, and of course all will be happy yet. Is the God
you pray to less kind and strong than ours?"

The maiden said nothing, but her cheeks flushed as she lifted
Jeannette's little hand to her lips. And after that we seldom spoke
together of Ludar. Yet he was in all our thoughts.

As for me, I wandered about the town night by night for many a week,
hoping to hear of him. But never a word could I hear. And in time
people ceased even to talk of the Scotch Queen and all the troublous
times which had ended at her death. And a leaden weight was falling on
my heart, as I wondered if I was never again to hold my friend's hand in
mine; when one day I chanced to stumble on news of him in the strangest
way.

It was near midsummer that a journeyman came urgently one day to my
master from Master Barker's, her Majesty's printer, desiring his aid in
the setting up in type of certain matter which was to be printed
forthwith, but which Master Barker (being crowded with other work), must
needs hire out to be done. My master, who desired by all means to keep
the good graces of the Queen's printer, undertook to give the help asked
for, and handed to me the paper to put in type. I opened it, and found
it headed thus:--"A List of Persons who in these late grievous times
have suffered punishment for treasonable acts against the state and
person of her Most Gracious Majesty. To wit--"

Then followed a goodly list of names of persons suffering death in the
ill cause; headed by that of the Scotch Queen her