may name."

"A thousand thanks, lady, for your kindness," answered Nigel. "I gladly
accept your offer, and shall be ready to set out at early dawn if the
landlord will permit me to depart at that hour."

"Maitre Leroux will be at the palace this evening to receive a letter I
am sending home, and I will direct him to call as you desire, though, as
he loves his ease, he perchance may not be ready to commence the journey
at quite so early an hour as you name."

While Constance was speaking, one of the ladies in attendance on the
young queen turned back and beckoned to Mary Seton, who, hurrying
forward, left Nigel with her friend.

"You will surely not take your cousin's advice, and seek for a post at
this frivolous court," said Constance hurriedly, again looking up at
Nigel's countenance. "Catholics alone are in favour, while the
Protestants are detested. To which party do you belong?"

"I might say to neither, as I am not a Frenchman," answered Nigel,
surprised at the young lady's question. "At the same time I have
heartily abjured the errors of Rome."

"I am glad to hear it; I thought so," said Constance. "I myself am a
Protestant. I am here on sufferance, or rather a hostage, and would
gladly return to my home if I had permission. Persevering efforts have
been made to pervert me, but I have had grace to remain firm to the true
faith, and now I am simply exposed to the shafts of ridicule, and the
wit and sneers of those who hold religious truth in contempt. You may
be astonished at my thus venturing to speak to you, a perfect stranger,
but I am sure that I may trust Mary Seton's cousin; and if you have the
opportunity, I will beg you to tell my father or the good admiral what I
say. I dare not write on the subject, nor can I venture to send a
verbal message by Maitre Leroux."

"I faithfully promise to convey your sentiments to either one or the
other," answered Nigel, casting a glance of admiration at the young
girl, who could thus stand alone in her innocence amid the follies of
that vicious and frivolous court. "As to accepting a place at court,
even should it be offered me, I would refuse it, for my tastes lead me
to seek my fortune on the wild ocean or in foreign lands; and it is with
this object that I am about to visit the admiral, who will, I have been
led to hope, forward my views."

"You cannot apply to a wiser or truer man in France," answered
Constance. She was about to say more, when they