Part 2 (1/2)
”Do thou go, Hazel dear, and when thou hast found her, tell her that I wish to speak to her”
Hazel courtesied, I bowed, and we passed on, searching for Mary and Harleston
”The Queen is the best mistress that any servant could wish for,” said Hazel, e had gone a few paces ”She is never angry, and so kind; she treats both Mary and hters”
I did not wonder that the Queen did use the either of those dear, dainty one far ere we etting on famously,” observed Hazel; ”for they are so preoccupied that they do not see us co”
When they careat attention to so to her, burst forth into her rippling, childlike laugh Then, as she caught sight of us, she stopped suddenly and said:--
”Oh, here they coht that yeto search for you”
”And what has Sir Frederick been telling thee that was so a?” I asked
”Oh!” replied Harleston, ”the Lady Mary hath been co ht, and then I, in order to, in so her some of the stories that I had heard in France, where indeed they are h not so accoard to the truth”
Here Hazel delivered the Queen'sand chattering, like nothingthe castle I found some orders from Duke Richard, the fulfillment of which did keep me busy for the remainder of the day
The next few days, Harleston and I spent inready for the march; so we did not seebefore we left Windsor, we one in search of them When they beheld us, they caht that Hazel did not look as happy as was her wont; but itto see her look sorrowful, and therefore, I did iine it
”We have come to receive the benediction,” said Sir Frederick
”And also a charly put in
”Indeed thou needst not to laugh, Walter,” said Mary, solemnly, and with reproof in her tone and s, and therefore they are worthless to thee; for in order to be protected by these mysterious benefactors, one must have unquestioned faith in their ability to protect Now, Sir Frederick,”
she continued, with a slight hesitation, ”if thou art not so skeptical as Walter there, and if thou wilt promise to keep it safe, and not to lose it, I will lend thee a charm that will indeed protect thee fro hath ever harmed me”
”'Twould truly be a fiendish fate which could send harm unto one so fair,” said he Then, as she did hand unto him, the chariven to her by her father, who had obtained it fro his hand over his heart, he swore to protect it as he would his life, and never to perht of doubt, as to its ability to protect, to cross his ive unto me a charly, e had gone some little way
”Thou dost not believe in theood,” she replied, with a toss of her pretty head, as much as to say, ”Now, thou wouldst be skeptical”
”Do but give it me, and I do hereby swear to trust in it, and no doubt as to its virtues shall ever cross my mind; yes, this do I swear by all the saints of paradise” Now this did I consider an exceeding fine speech, and therefore I was not prepared for the reception that it did receive, which was a burst of laughter, and clapping of the hands frohed she; ”Oh, Sir Walter, thou hast ; thou wouldst have made such a splendid priest; thou saidst those words with such a religious tone, and looked so saintly” Then, as I showed my disappointment and annoyance, ”Colove, which I do now coers of this war Now, aht I kissed that glove so fondly that Hazel had to warn me not to eat it, as it would not protect s which allan opportunity to say Presently I was interrupted insuddenly upon Harleston and Mary, ere sitting on a bench beside the path
”Is Sir Frederick telling thee some more stories, Mary?” asked Hazel,the thee, just now,” replied Mary, as she looked atover her fair features Then, as I reddened to the ears, both Harleston and Mary burst out a-laughing, and I, after sta with Hazel, to deliver to the Queen,--which set theht it best to keep quiet
However, as ere bidding good-by to the girls, Hazel said soetthem that she calledfixedly at the ground:--”Relove, and do not want any harer”
”Oh, fear not; I now do know that I shall return again” And ere she could prevent me I seized her hand and kissed it
I went back to round