should ever chance to be inspired with it
for a poor worn-out old prisoner. It is the sure sentence of
misfortune and banishment."

"In his sex, madam," here put in Marie de Courcelles. "If it were so
in ours, woe to some of us."

"That is true, my dear friends," said Mary, her eyes glistening with
dew. "It is the women who are the most fearless, the most faithful,
and whom the saints therefore shield."

"Alas, there are some who are faithful but who are not shielded!"

It was merely a soft low murmur, but the tender-hearted Queen had
caught it, and rising impulsively, crossed the room and gathered Mary
Seaton's hands into hers, no longer the queen but the loving friend of
equal years, soothing her in a low fond voice, and presently sending
her to the inner chamber to compose herself. Then as the Queen
returned slowly to her seat it would be seen how lame she was from
rheumatism. Mrs. Kennedy hurried to assist her, with a nurse-like word
of remonstrance, to which she replied with a bewitching look of
sweetness that she could not but forget her aches and pains when she
saw her dear Mary Seaton in trouble.

Most politely she then asked whether her visitors would object to
listening to the conclusion of her day's portion of reading. There was
no refusing, of course, though, as Susan glanced at the reader and knew
him to be strongly suspected of being in Holy Orders conferred abroad,
she had her fears for her child's Protestant principles. The book,
however, proved to be a translation of St. Austin on the Psalms, and,
of course, she could detect nothing that she disapproved, even if Cis
had not been far too much absorbed by the little dog and its mistress
to have any comprehending ears for theology. Queen Mary confidentially
observed as much to her after the reading, having, no doubt, detected
her uneasy glance.

"You need not fear for your child, madam," she said; "St. Augustine is
respected by your own Queen and her Bishops. At the readings with
which my good Mr. Belton favours me, I take care to have nothing you
Protestants dispute when I know it." She added, smiling, "Heaven knows
that I have endeavoured to understand your faith, and many a minister
has argued with me. I have done my best to comprehend them, but they
agreed in nothing but in their abuse of the Pope. At least so it
seemed to my poor weak mind. But you are satisfied, madam, I see it in
your calm eyes and gentle voice. If I see much o