A Maid of Many Moods

n a favoured spot with the young people from Stratford and Shottery. In spring they came troopin

through the lanes sweet with flowering hedges, each one of them all carrying a posy from Deb Thornbury's garden-for where else grew such wondrous clove-pinks, ragged lady, la

r was there a gayer lass, or one who had a prettier wit. To hear Judith enlarging upon her daily experiences with people and things, was to listen to thrilling tales, garnis

ssion upon her mind, for she viewed the every-day world lying beside the peaceful Avon through the w

eb was roasting chestnuts by the hearth, that they fell to talki

wind. Darby and the two girls listened to the sounds without and drew their chairs nearer the fire with a sense of the warm comfort of the long cheery room. They chatted about the city and the pleas

the Globe Theatre?" asked Judith, after a pause in the conversa

ed the arms of it tightly, and Darby noted the beautiful form of her hands and the

tance with many gentlemen of the Queen's Court and Parliament, for he hath twice been bidden to play in Her Majesty's theatre i

hing, but her eyes-shadowy eyes of a blue that was not all blue, but had a glint of green about i

nto the glowing coals and for the instant his thou

ctual talent that his measure of success upon the stage was due. Now as he leant forward, his elbow on his knee, his chin on his white, almost girlish hand, the burnished aub

his brown study with a little

he playhouses where he is constantly, now peradventure he is fore-wearied of them when once at home, or," with a

n either. Soul o' me! but men be all alike. If ever I have a husband-which heaven forb

nbury entered the room at the moment and heard what his daughter said. The man caught at the edge of the heavy ta

brother after an astonished pause. "E

don then? An' there be not, my faith, t'were time they saw what one is like! Prithee, I have reason to believe I

leasure that I go not to London-well then, I have no mind to go. That is just my thought of it. But," sighing a little, "thou art wiser than I, for thou can'st read books, an' did

izing to be but a maid with this one to say 'Gra'mercy! Thou can'st not go there,' an' that one to add 'Alack! an' alack! however cam'st thou to fancy thou could'st do so? Art void o' wit? Beshrew me but ladies never deport th

riding over from the door where he had been standing in shadow, an amused listener. He put

at the last. Marry, an' I could show them such a brilliant bit of acting at the new Globe-such tone! such intensity! 'twould surely inspire the Company and so lighten my

upon the stage, father?"

en his face grew suddenly grav

ging, "but there are those I would. We must away, neighbour Th

ld not tarry. So Judith tied on her hooded

e two take the road to Stratford; and the sky was pranked out with many a g

he was sorely spoilt by Debora, who would not have him go above stairs till she carried him up herself. The girl sat down

hornbury. His voice trembled, and the

ew play we are but rehearsing, I carry a little cane. I am a dashing fellow, one Mercutio. I

er father. She laid one hand o

thou art always. See! an' thou dost let me away I will stay but a month, a short month-but four weeks-it doth seem shorter to say it so-an' then I'll

k his head in fe

e mind, Deb, but thou wilt never come

eck and laid her cool sweet face against his

softly, then bent and caught little Dor