Simon Dale

my body free from fever, I removed to Mr Darrell's new lodging by the Temple, where he had most civilly placed two rooms at my disposal.

imself as he recounted humorously how his wrath against me had grown higher and higher with each thing that had come to his ears. Eager now to make amends, he offered to go with me to Whitehall, proposing that we should ride in his coach to the Mall, and walk thence together. I accepted his company most gratefully, since it would save me from betraying an ignorance of which I was ashamed, and strengthen my courage for the task before me. Accordingly we set out, and as we went my lord took occasion to refer to my acquaintance with Mistress Nell, suggesting plainly enough, although not directly, that I should be wise to abandon her society at the same time that I laid down the commission she had obtained for me. I did not question his judgment, but avoided giving any promise to be guided by it. Perceiving that I was not willing to be press

they were accompanied by a little boy very richly dressed, and were followed at a short interval by five or six more gentlemen, among whom I recognised immediately my friend Darrell. It seemed then that the Secretary's business could be transacted in leisurely fashion! As the first group passed along, I observed that the bystanders uncovered, but I had hardly needed this sign to tell me that the King was of the party. I was familiar with his features, but he

tle boy, who answered with readiness and vivacity. As to the last member of the group (whom the Duke seemed to treat with some neglect) I was at a loss. His features were not distinguished except by a perfect composure and self-possession, but his bearing was very courtly and graceful. He wor

is very thing; for the King was smiling contemptuously, Buckingham laughing openly, and the gentleman with the plaster regarding me with a great and very apparent curiosity. My lord, meanwhile, wore a propitiatory but doubtful air, as though he prayed but hardly hoped a gracious reception for me. Thus we all stood a moment in complete silence, I invoking an earthquake or any convulsion of nature that should rescue me from my embarrassment. Cer

as he addressed me, "you are not desirous of bear

jesty to the death," said

to ask leave to resign y

t was impossible to s

the King, "was apparent very early in the

fe, Sir," inter

emony," said the King. "But i

uckingham, and he glanced with a significance which I did not understan

lessly and called, "C

son, afterwards known as Earl of Plymouth,

ink you of women?

ght for a moment, the

y tiresome cr

, Charles," said

ver let a thi

t, Charles, no

then that-a string, o

, or a commission," said the King. "S

o more at all, Si

e, and you, and I, are all of one mind on the matter of women. Had Hea

e. Lord Quinton came to my rescue, and began to enlarge on my devotion to His Majesty's person and my eage

ese fine things for hims

that say most who do mos

ng turned to his companion who wore the plaster, and had as yet not spoken a

on, on whom I looked with much curi

nts who do not love

ed Buckingham, with

oice of my Ministers," said the King. Then he fa

t my forbearance is right." With this he bent his head slightly, and moved on. I bowed very low, shame and confusion so choking me th

w that his displeasure extended to me only, had stopped again to speak

The King is a little vexed, but his resentment is not obstinate

xious to see

no further explanation, and in a moment he grew grave again, continuing, "I also am glad to meet with you

my heart to find one of t

ne, if you are wi

dship's most humble a

" said he. And he added suddenly, "You'r

lord; I and

hurch has many enemies. It is th

ry spoke to me on such high matters, it was for

ve other meetings. You are to be found at Mr Darrell's lodging? You may look to hear

ent the King turned r

at my house to-morrow evening. Pray

ground, scarcely abl

woman and an honest man, between whom we may place you. The first should not be difficult to come on, but the second, I fear, is well-nigh impossibl

gone than Darrell ran up to me eagerly, a

d he say

g? Why,

" He pointed to Arlington, who

that I should hear from him. But if he is so solicito

nswer, for Lord Quinton'

question touching my Lord Arlington

, and turned angril

," he cried, "to attack the

much temper. Come, let me be. I have said as much to the Secretary's fa

ecretary's suspected leaning towards the Popish religion had not reached our ears in the country. But Darrell, as though he did not wish to dispute further with a

y arm again. "You made him laugh, and he counts no man his enemy

ds, he grew grave, but he patted my

must trust you in others. Yet there are many who have no fa

not Lord Arlington do

l in my face, and

dent all at once. Since you have seen the King, your business at Whitehall will wait. Let us turn back to the coach and be driven to my ho

r greatly her displeasure and scorn were to be dreaded, yet the meeting was not forgone, all perils being taken rather than that certain calamity. Therefore I went with my lord to his handsome house

t in her by the last four years. She had become a very beautiful woman, ornamented with a high-bred grace and exquisite haughtiness, tall and slim, carrying herself with a delicate dignity. She gave me her hand to kiss, carelessly enough, and rather as though she acknowledged an old acquaintance than found any pleasure in its renewal. But she was gentle to me, and I d

that Lely had lately painted of her. She obeyed; and, having brought me to where it hung, listened patiently to my remarks on it, which I tried to shape into compliments that should be pleasing and yet not gross. T

rm," and she glanced a

ask how it did, and I, a littl

alone was hurt, and the

, "we should all rejoice at that. Are you satisfi

be turned asi

t I could to put myself in the right since," said I, not

id she, with a quick gla

he had not been

e King's leave to d

when she first entered had gone before n

lord tell y

m alone this week

known my intention and commended it so highly, should not have touched on it. I looked in her

we re

the matter with my Lord

nswered as though she did not

d nothing of thi

imple and few word

ended. Then she added, "But although you will not

en I was with the King," I an

to the King,"

w; I had not been long enou

en her," I

made me a curtsey

y, sir, of you

intruder; yet on my soul I was glad to see Carford in the doorway.

tells me news that

madame, a

ng's leave to resign his commis

ht, for I knew that he had been fully acquainted with

to applaud Mr Dale's resolution. But it

deploring that Mr Dale should obt

while her lips were set in a scornf

another topic," said he at last and sullenly enough. Then, a

well here

r quarrel with me very gladly, had I been minded to give him an opportunity; but thinking it fair that I should b

he didn't

er that had been diverted on to

"All the world can't be always think

vexed becaus

I!" said Bar

he was angry now with me. Indeed I began to think that little Charles, the King, and I had be

his friend of yours," she sa

at she saw. There is wisdom in silence; I was learning that safety might lie in deceit. The anger under which I had suffered would be doubled if she knew that Cydaria was Nell and Nell Cydaria. Why should she kno

't seen he

uld learn wha

Barbara's lips curled scornfully, as though she would say, "What is there in this to make men fools? There is nothing in all this," I grew more vehement and painted the picture with all my skill. What malice began, my ardour perfected, u

ely. "I do not know whether others see

s not beauty jealous, and who but a clod will lavish praise on one fair face while another is before him? I should have done better to play the hypocrite and swear that

n an instant Barbara gav

mon! Yes, the creature must be handsom

she spoke no