h,
methinks, the hour of night prompts a sleepy one. I was well disposed
bedward when I had your Majesty's commands to attend you."

"I will not long delay you, cousin, from your repose," said the Queen,
"though I fear you will sleep less soundly when I tell you your wager is
lost."

"Nay, royal madam," said Edith, "this, surely, is dwelling on a jest
which has rather been worn out, I laid no wager, however it was your
Majesty's pleasure to suppose, or to insist, that I did so."

"Nay, now, despite our pilgrimage, Satan is strong with you, my gentle
cousin, and prompts thee to leasing. Can you deny that you gaged your
ruby ring against my golden bracelet that yonder Knight of the Libbard,
or how call you him, could not be seduced from his post?"

"Your Majesty is too great for me to gainsay you," replied Edith,
"but these ladies can, if they will, bear me witness that it was your
Highness who proposed such a wager, and took the ring from my finger,
even while I was declaring that I did not think it maidenly to gage
anything on such a subject."

"Nay, but, my Lady Edith," said another voice, "you must needs grant,
under your favour, that you expressed yourself very confident of the
valour of that same Knight of the Leopard."

"And if I did, minion," said Edith angrily, "is that a good reason why
thou shouldst put in thy word to flatter her Majesty's humour? I spoke
of that knight but as all men speak who have seen him in the field, and
had no more interest in defending than thou in detracting from him. In a
camp, what can women speak of save soldiers and deeds of arms?"

"The noble Lady Edith," said a third voice, "hath never forgiven Calista
and me, since we told your Majesty that she dropped two rosebuds in the
chapel."

"If your Majesty," said Edith, in a tone which Sir Kenneth could judge
to be that of respectful remonstrance, "have no other commands for
me than to hear the gibes of your waiting-women, I must crave your
permission to withdraw."

"Silence, Florise," said the Queen, "and let not our indulgence lead
you to forget the difference betwixt yourself and the kinswoman of
England.--But you, my dear cousin," she continued, resuming her tone
of raillery, "how can you, who are so good-natured, begrudge us poor
wretches a few minutes' laughing, when we have had so many days devoted
to weeping and gnashing of teeth?"

"Great be your mirth, royal lady," said Edith; "yet would I be content
not to smile f