When Knighthood Was in Flower

on in

Brandon and Princess Mary, the latter of whom was in the

ed; in fact, just the reverse, but he was the last man to brook an affront, and

, and often the result of conscious demerit-but he knew himself, and knew that he was entitled to his own good opinion. He was every inch a man, strong, intelligent and bra

and what all Mary's beauty and brightness would have failed to do, her honest, open acknowledgment of wrong, following so quickly upon the heels of her fault, accomplished easily. It drew him within the circl

upon the sleeve. Then he had that strong vein of prudence and caution, which, in view of Mary's unattainablenes

would be slow to love, but when love should once fairly tak

cuddled up to Jane, who slept with

of the boldest men I ever knew. He says anything he wishes, and, with all his modest manner, is as cool with me as if I were a burgher's daughter.

, who was in an excellent humo

should Brandon fall in love with the princess, which was almost sure to happen, but for them to fall in love with each other meant Brandon's head upon the block, and Mary's heart bruised, broken and empty for life. He

n was to be gained or lost. Brandon's element of prudence might help him, and might forestall any effort on his part to win her, but Mary had never heard of prudence, and man's cauti

oned me to her, and, resting her elbows on the top of a cabinet, her chin in her h

ane told me, but he

main silent concerning an adventure that would have set most men of the court boasting at a great rate. To have a tilt with the

at do you think of this new friend of yours? And he did not boast about having the better of me? After all, there is more virtue in his silence than I at first thought." And she threw back her head, and clapped her hands and laughed with th

ontinental wars ever since he was a boy. I repeated to her stories of his daring and bravery, that had been told to me by his uncle, the Master of the Horse, and others, and then I added what I knew L

st advocate in you, Sir E

ed. "There is nothing

eld the king almost in the palm of her hand, so I t

m, and I hope that you will speak a word i

over, and men are coming home, there are hundreds waiting for more. My father's great treasure is squandered, to say nothing of the money collected from Empson, Dudley, and the other commissioners. There is nothing to give unless

for his deserts," I replied

ngly; "Captain Brandon no longer, but Charles Brand

my ears,"

teresting a person at court; I shall at least see that he is presented to the queen at once. I wonder if he dances

rom beneath the shade of those long, black sweeping lashes; when her red lips parted, showing her teeth of pearl, and she gave the little clap of her hands-a sort of climax to the soft, low, rippling laugh-she made a picture of such exquisite loveliness that i

as lived much in France, where the game was invented, but I have no doubt he would scorn to waste

dare venture a wager he does both," I replied, not liking

id Mary quickly, for she loved

n," s

lute, which will not frighten you away, I know, and we will try his step. I will have cards, too, and we shall see what he can do at triumph. Jus

in her drawing-room, the companies were never so small as two couples only, and the king and qu

cared very little for that. The princess loved gambling purely for gam

awakened Brandon and told him of the

urprised in all my life. For once I was almost caught with my guard down, and did not know how to parry the thrust. I mumbled over some sort of a lame retaliation and beat a retreat. It was so unjust and uncalled-for that it made me a

"but said she had come off second best, and

a great deal of valuable information," he replied; and then turned

d if he knew that he had been invited to sett

if he played cards and danced; and, as to the matter of Mary's sport, I felt there was but little, if any, da

y, by an unfrequented route, and presented ourselves, as

title and estates of the late Duke of Suffolk, and he had laughed over it in the best of humor. If quick to retaliate for an intentional offe

ot care. It made them laugh, and their laughing was so contagious it made me laugh, too, and we all enjoyed it

enterin

he Duke of Su

ourtesy, with hand on breas

ace! goo

it was with a little halt in his step, and a big blowing out of the cheeks, in ludicrous imitation of his lat

k upon; that time of life when one

e without ceremony, and only we four. No one know

thought,"

ther matter. Well, no one knows it then, and we can have a famous evening. You did not expect this, Mast

urprised at anything your highness might graciously concl

e you one of these days;" and the time came when she was full of surprises for him. Mary continued: "But let us not talk about the other day. Of what use are 'other days,' anyway? Before the ev

Jane had told me of the "Sermon

s much as I," sa

Jane with a softening glance quite too admiring and co

ows went

and away we went in a rippling chorus, all about nothing. Some persons may call our laughter foolish, but there are others who consider it the height of all wisdom. St. George! I'd give my Gart

which we all joined, Mary asked: "What sha

f could not live within a league of her, but those very demure

I will play." And she reached for

aning so much more to three of us than to Brandon. Jane and I joined in the laugh, and when Mary clapped her hands that set Brandon off,

ad probably put it out of his mind-so she, evidently anxious t

her chair in an instant ready for the dance. This time the girl's lau

-eyed and glowing; Brandon, almost rosy, with eyes that held the color of a deep spring sky, and a wealth of flowing curls crowning his six feet of perfect manhood, strong and vigorous as a young li

cing, unless it were Mary's. Her slightest movement was grace itself. When she would throw herself backward in thrusting out her toe, and then swing forward with her head a little to one side, her uplifted arm undulating like the white neck of a swan,-for her sleeve, which wa

ier couple?" I asked Ja

e toward Mary, and I judged, or rather misjudged, Jane by myself. I supposed she would think of Brandon as I could not help thinking of Mary. Was anything in heaven or earth ever so beautiful as that royal creature, dancing there, daintily holding up her skirts with thumb and first finger, just far enough to show a distracting

an with the warmth of a simoon, and at the same time feel like a good healthy south wind toward a dozen others. That is the difference be

see that the girl was thoroughly enjoying it. They kept up a running fire of small ta

Galliard, at the same time-one is apt to balk the other-but Brandon's dancing was as easy to him as wal

I heard Mary ask in t

ew a mischievous, knowing glance over her shoulder to see if I had

y the new game, 'honor and ruff,' whi

e; I have been wishing to learn, but no one here seems to know it. In France, they say, it is the only game. I

them," repl

t once. How now, Master of the Dance? Here i

to hear it,

written in the time of 'The Sailor Lass,' I will

andon's suggestion, he stepped deliberately in front of Mary, and, taking her right hand in his left, encircled her waist

d me to teach you th

h a fluttering little laugh, looking up into his face with a half shy,

man's shrug of the shoulders, and then

-they dance it? With your-their

ity otherwise," answered Brandon, with a glimmer of a

urt; I am beginning to believe you would dare do anything you wish. I more than

ul of modesty, and grieve that you should think

elieve you are laughing at me-at m

think she was right. Prudery is no more a sign of virtue tha

ute for a moment, in evide

hink so more than ever now. I know it. Oh, you make me angry! Don't! I do not like persons who ang

ll bounds; I will not tolerate your boldness another moment." I thought she was going

s on the floor, and I enjoyed it and fe

me here to win a wager for you, made on the assumption of my stupidity and lack of social accomplishments, and

m?" demanded Mary, evident

have been a dullard, indeed, not to have seen it myself after what you sai

antly struc

owever, this time." Then, half apologetically, "After all, it is not such a grievous charge to make. I believe it ne

and Mary, that fair bundle of contradictions and quick transitions, stepped boldly up to B

shy and coy, though willing, being determined to learn the dance. She was an apt pupil and soon glided softly and grace

eath. Brandon kept the conversation going, though, and she answered with glances, smiles, nods

ime her answer came they were nearer us, and I heard her say: "I am afraid I shall have to forgive you again if you are not careful. Let me see

Jane. It is like flying; your partner helps you so. But what would the king say? And the queen? She would simply swoon with horror. It is del

rs worse, and gave B

e asked, with a

nd her royal dignity, which was the artificial part of her, rebelled against it now and then in spite of her real inclinations. The habit of receiving only adulation, and living on a pinnacle above everybody else, was so strong from continued practice, that it appealed to her as a duty to maintain that elevation. She had never before been called upon

tly polite, was very different from anything she had ever known. She enjoyed it, but every now and then the sense of her importance and dignity-for you must remember she was the first princess of the blood royal-would supersede even her love of enjoyment, and the girl went d

were going, for she liked it. But there was the other part of her which was princess, and which kept saying: "Remember w

emark over Jane's sh

r my excuse my desire to please you. Be sure I shall offend no more." This was said so seriously that h

d it looked as if Bran

nd became as affable and familiar as earlier in the evening. Brandon, however, was frozen. He was polite, dignified and deferential to the

art infinitely preferring pleasure to dignity, she said: "Oh, this is wearisome. Your game

you wish to laugh. I can not please you in both ways, so

ashed and she

o forgive me, and hereafter desire you three, upon all proper occasions, when we are by ourselves, to treat me as one of you-as a woman-a girl, I mean. Where is the virtue of royalty if it only means being put upon a pinnacle above all the real pleasures of life, like foolish old Stylites on his column? T

worthy-no, I do not mean that; I know you will always be worthy-but forever. Now we are at rights again. Let us try to remain so-that is, I wi

tle startling to Mary, though she permitted him to hold her hand much longer than there was any sort of need-

ematurely and without cause; it makes it harde

sed regret to Jane that I could not h

etty little love songs and some comic ones, too, in a style not often heard in England, so far away from the hom

ted. Jane having rested, Brandon offered to teach her the new dance, saying he could whistle an air well enough to give her the step. I at

ing toward me: "Perhaps Sir Edwin will teach me

the new dance was as good as done for already. That

now and then, drew Brandon out to tell of his travels and adventures. He was a pleasing talker, and had a smooth, easy flow of words, speaking always in a low, clear voice, and with perfect composure. He had a way of looking first one auditor and then another straight in the eyes with a magnetic effect that gave to everything he said an added interest. Althoug

y, as it mattered not where he fought, so that there was a chance for honorable achievement and a fair ransom now and then. He told us how he had gone to Barcelona and Salamanca, where he had studied, and t

a pack of howling, starving wolves than the Scotch; they fight like very devils, which, of cour

said: "Oh, Master Brandon, tel

wned at the princess in surprise

looking out into the darkness. Mary saw what she had done, and her eyes grew moist, for, with all her faults, she had a warm, tender h

ettily upon his arm. "I should have known. Belie

asking, and I thank you: I wanted but a moment to throw off the thought of that terrible day." Then they cam

tless and uneasy, full of blushes and hesitancy, and with a manner as new to her as the dawn of the first day was to the awak

rd or the new dance?" And Mary standing there, the picture of waiting, willing modesty, lifted her fr

orm, but a real man, with all the irresistible infinite attractions that a man may have for a woman-the subtle drawing of the lodestone for the passive iron-had come into her life. Doubly swee

ious, dominating force so sweet to woman, of the man she could love, and had known the rarest throb that pulses in that choice

h she took a sip, and handed them to Brandon and me. She then paid me th

spoke concerning that even

koden. I can still thank God I am not in love

ther man as she had treated him, but I thought best to leave it

ed me to bring Brandon to her that she might have a little s