msical mistress.

Mary lost no time, but began the attack at once.

"Now, sir, I want you to tell me the truth; why do you refuse my
invitations and so persistently keep away from me? I thought at first
I would simply let you go your way, and then I thought I--would not.
Don't deny it. I know you won't. With all your faults, you don't tell
even little lies; not even to a woman--I believe. Now there is a fine
compliment--is it not?--when I intended to scold you!" She gave a
fluttering little laugh, and, with hanging head, continued: "Tell me,
is not the king's sister of quality sufficient to suit you? Perhaps
you must have the queen or the Blessed Virgin? Tell me now?" And she
looked up at him, half in banter, half in doubt.

"My duties--," began Brandon.

"Oh! bother your duties. Tell me the truth."

"I will, if you let me," returned Brandon, who had no intention
whatever of doing anything of the sort. "My duties now occupy my time
in the evening----"

"That will not do," interrupted Mary, who knew enough of a guardsman's
duty to be sure it was not onerous. "You might as well come to it and
tell the truth; that you do not like our society." And she gave him a
vicious little glance without a shadow of a smile.

"In God's name, Lady Mary, that is not it," answered Brandon, who was
on the rack. "Please do not think it. I cannot bear to have you say
such a thing when it is so far from the real truth."

"Then tell me the real truth."

"I cannot; I cannot. I beg of you not to ask. Leave me! or let me
leave you. I refuse to answer further." The latter half of this
sentence was uttered doggedly and sounded sullen and ill-humored,
although, of course, it was not so intended. He had been so perilously
near speaking words which would probably have lighted, to their
destruction--to his, certainly--the smoldering flames within their
breast that it frightened him, and the manner in which he spoke was
but a tone giving utterance to the pain in his heart.

Mary took it as it sounded, and, in unfeigned surprise, exclaimed
angrily: "Leave you? Do I hear aright? I never thought that I, the
daughter and sister of a king, would live to be dismissed by a--by
a--any one."

"Your highness--" began Brandon; but she was gone before he could
speak.

He did not follow her to explain, knowing how dangerous such an
explanation would be, but felt that it was best for them both that she
should remain offended, painful as the thought wa