When Knighthood Was in Flower

r and a

urt, I could not exactly say. She was such a mixture of contradictory impulses and rapid transitions, and was so full of whims and caprice, the inevitable outgrowth of her blood, her rank and the adulation amid which she had always lived, that I could not predict for a day ahead her attitude toward any one. She had never shown s

But to guess correctly what a girl of that sort wi

d informal. These parties were really with the consent and encouragement of the king, to avoid the responsibility of not inviting everybody. The larger affairs were very dull and smaller ones

ould have a little fête that evening in one of the smaller halls and directing me to be there as Master of the

t carelessly over once, tore it in pieces and tossed it away. I believe the Duke of Buckingham would have given ten thousand crowns to receive such a note, and would doubtless have shown it to half the court in triumphant

th, and it seems at first to have startled Mary a little, also. As you must know by this time, her "dignity royal" was

it, and, after a little hesitation, put it in her pocket. It remained in the pocket for a moment or two, when out it came for another perusal, and then she unfastened her bodice and put it in her bosom. Mary had been so intent upon what sh

nd as still as the grave, and I have to look into every n

n you, Lady Mary,"

ss silent after this. Do you hear? Cough, or sing, or

l the trouble, she impatiently threw to the floor again, and went over to the window bench, where she threw herself down to pout. In the course of five minutes she turned her head for one fleeting instant and looked at the note, and then, after a little

time Mary had forgotten about the note in her bosom; so when Jane began to array her for the dance, it fell to the floor, whereupon bo

dance, but his going made for him an enemy of the most po

ere more or less congenial, and most of them very jealous of interlopers. Strange as it may seem, uninvited persons often attempted to force themselves in, and all sorts of schemes

m, a proud, self-important individual, was standing near the door and saw it all. Now Buckingham was one of those unfortunate persons who never

pompously. "You are not at a jousting bout. You ha

, as he started across the room to Mary, whose eye he had caught. She had seen and heard it all, but instead of coming to his rel

e but another step and I wil

word was out of its sheath, and Buckingham's blade was flying toward the ceiling. Brandon's sword was sheathed again so qui

the point, lest my lord, being unaccustomed to its use, wound himself." This brought peals of laughter from everyb

e from our next list, unless you take a few lessons in good manners." This was striking him hard, and the quality of the man will at once appear plain to

hirst for your blood." She then led him to the king and queen, to whom he made his bow, and the pair co

care of yourself. I was sure you would worst the duke in some way. It

floor entirely to herself and partner. It was the honor of the evening to open the ball with her, and quite curious to see how men put themselves in her way and stood so as to be easily observed and perchance chosen. Brandon, after leaving Mary, had d

tly looking for a partner, while the men resorted to some very transparent and amusing expedients to attract her attention. The pr

house against him, they being very jealous of the "low-born favorites," as they called the untitled friends of royalty. Sure enoug

h arrogance, she was almost shy, and blushed and stammered with quick coming breath, like a burgher maid before her new-found gallant. At once the

some new trophy of

ut when I turned to the musicians to direct their play

rders for the first da

heard her nervous little laugh as, she nodded her head, "Yes," and stepped closer to him to take position for the dance. The next moment she was in Brandon's arms, flying like a sylph about the room. A buzz of astonishment and delight greeted them before they were

ed herself at the musicians' gallery and said that her majesty had ordered the music stopped

ans weary that they sto

accent: "I ordered the music stopped; I will not

the way we do and dance at my balls you can retire as soon as you see fit.

nry, who was laughing,

t me to be thus insulted

r alone; she has sharp claws." The king was really tired of Catherine's sour frown before

and dances I want at my own

d if the girl likes to dance that way, in God's name let her have her wish. It will

The ladies were at first a little shy and inclined to stand at arm's length, but Mary had set the fashion and the others soon followed. I had taken a fiddler to my room and had learned the dance from Brandon; and was able to teach it also, thou

I sought out my sweetheart. Jane was not a prude, but I honestly believe she was the most provoking girl that ever lived. I never had succeeded in holding her hand even the smallest part of an instant, and yet I wa

rs who are more anxious to learn than I

u. When I wish to teach

w a girl to do-refuse me what she knew I so wanted, and then put the refusal on the pretended ground that I did not care much about it. I so told her,

sweet! The little jade! to think that she could hoodwink me so easily, and talk me into a good humor with her soft, purring "Edwin." I saw through it all quickly enough, and

see us here; I can teach yo

ed, with a toss of her saucy little

th patience, so I answered: "My young la

it much better than you," she

n, and foolish as my feeling may have been, I could not bear the thought of her doing it. I resolved that if she permitted another man to teach her that dance it should be all over between us. It was a terrible thought to me, that of losing Jane, and it came like a very stroke upon my heart. I would think of her sweet little form, so comp

w Mary busily engaged imparting information among the ladie

d me where I learned it, and I told him you had taught it to Caskoden, and

ver of the truth, "when possible," but who, I fear on this occasion, wished to appear more truthful than he really was. If a man is to a woman's taste,

ad I told Henry that we four had enjoyed such a famous time in my rooms

ng around the truth some way, and leaving the impr

something else I wished to say. I want to tell you that you have greatly pleased the king with the new dance. Now teach him 'honor and ruff' and your fortune is made. He has had some Jews and Lombards in of late to teach him ne