"He is in attendance on me," said Blount--"on me, the noble Earl of

Sussex's master of horse."

"I have nothing to say to that," answered the messenger; "my orders are

directly from her Majesty, and concern this gentleman only."

So saying, he walked away, followed by Walter, leaving the others

behind, Blount's eyes almost starting from his head with the excess of

his astonishment. At length he gave vent to it in an exclamation, "Who

the good jere would have thought this!" And shaking his head with a

mysterious air, he walked to his own boat, embarked, and returned to

Deptford.

The young cavalier was in the meanwhile guided to the water-side by the

Pensioner, who showed him considerable respect; a circumstance which,

to persons in his situation, may be considered as an augury of no small

consequence. He ushered him into one of the wherries which lay ready to

attend the Queen's barge, which was already proceeding; up the river,

with the advantage of that flood-tide of which, in the course of their

descent, Blount had complained to his associates.

The two rowers used their oars with such expedition at the signal of

the Gentleman Pensioner, that they very soon brought their little skiff

under the stern of the Queen's boat, where she sat beneath an awning,

attended by two or three ladies, and the nobles of her household. She

looked more than once at the wherry in which the young adventurer was

seated, spoke to those around her, and seemed to laugh. At length one

of the attendants, by the Queen's order apparently, made a sign for the

wherry to come alongside, and the young man was desired to step from

his own skiff into the Queen's barge, which he performed with graceful

agility at the fore part of the boat, and was brought aft to the Queen's

presence, the wherry at the same time dropping into the rear. The

youth underwent the gaze of Majesty, not the less gracefully that his

self-possession was mingled with embarrassment. The muddled cloak still

hung upon his arm, and formed the natural topic with which the Queen

introduced the conversation.

"You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our behalf, young man.

We thank you for your service, though the manner of offering it was

unusual, and something bold."

"In a sovereign's need," answered the youth, "it is each liegeman's duty

to be bold."

"God's pity! that was well said, my lord," said the Queen, turning to

a grave person who sat by her, and answered with a grave inclination

of the head, and something of a mumbled assent.--"Well, young man, your

gallantry shall not go unrewarded. Go to the wardrobe keeper, and he

shall have orders to supply the suit which you have cast away in our

service. Thou shalt have a suit, and that of the newest cut, I promise

thee, on the word of a princess."




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