went into her chamber
very early and closed the door. No one interrupted her until Jane
went in to robe her for the night, and to retire. She then found that
Mary had robed herself and was lying in bed with her head covered,
apparently asleep. Jane quietly prepared to retire, and lay down in
her own bed. The girls usually shared one couch, but during Mary's
ill-temper she had forced Jane to sleep alone.

After a short silence Jane heard a sob from the other bed, then
another, and another.

"Mary, are you weeping?" she asked.

"Yes."

"What is the matter, dear?"

"Nothing," with a sigh.

"Do you wish me to come to your bed?"

"Yes, I do." So Jane went over and lay beside Mary, who gently put her
arms about her neck.

"When will he leave?" whispered Mary, shyly confessing all by her
question.

"I do not know," responded Jane, "but he will see you before he goes."

"Do you believe he will?"

"I know it;" and with this consolation Mary softly wept herself to
sleep.

After this, for a few days, Mary was quiet enough. Her irritable mood
had vanished, but Jane could see that she was on the lookout for some
one all the time, although she made the most pathetic little efforts
to conceal her watchfulness.

At last a meeting came about in this way: Next to the king's
bed-chamber was a luxuriously furnished little apartment with a
well-selected library. Here Brandon and I often went, afternoons, to
read, as we were sure to be undisturbed.

Late one day Brandon had gone over to this quiet retreat, and having
selected a volume, took his place in a secluded little alcove half
hidden in arras draperies. There was a cushioned seat along the wall
and a small diamond-shaped window to furnish light.

He had not been there long when in came Mary. I can not say whether
she knew Brandon was there or not, but she was there and he was there,
which is the only thing to the point, and finding him, she stepped
into the alcove before he was aware of her presence.

Brandon was on his feet in an instant, and with a low bow was backing
himself out most deferentially, to leave her in sole possession if she
wished to rest.

"Master Brandon, you need not go. I will not hurt you. Besides, if
this place is not large enough for us both, I will go. I would not
disturb you." She spoke with a tremulous voice and a quick, uneasy
glance, and started to move backward out of the alcove.

"Lady Mary, how can you speak so? You know--you mu