In Doublet and Hose: A Story for Girls
Page 17
CHAPTER XVII
WHAT FRANCIS OVERHEARD
Francis awaited the coming of the day with some trepidation, fearing thatshe might be obliged to render an account of the night before. And indeedhad the result been other than it was, she would have been called to avery serious reckoning. It was marvelous that there was not more damagesustained, but it came to her ears during the day that the fire had beenextinguished before it had gone beyond the rushes. The hair had beentotally consumed.
The girl soon became aware that the episode was known throughout thecourt. When the Lady Priscilla Rutland made her appearance there wassubdued laughter and titterings among the ladies and their gallants.Francis' shorn head was the cynosure of all eyes, but her manner was sohaughty that it repelled all facetious remarks.
The incident was recounted to Elizabeth. The queen laughed heartily atthe discomfiture of the lady for she was never ill pleased when one ofher maids brought ridicule upon herself, and turning to Lord Shrope whostood near while it was being related she remarked graciously:
"Upon my word, my lord, there is more in that charge of thine than Ithought. If certain rumors which have come to our ears be not verified wewill have him placed nearer our person. Methinks such spirit well trainedcould be made useful."
"You speak truly, madam," returned Lord Shrope. "I know not what is thenature of the rumors, but knowing Francis Stafford, I make bold to saythat Rumor hath played thee false."
"We shall see, my lord," was Elizabeth's reply.
Lord Shrope feared to press the matter, but as soon as it was expedienthe hastened to seek Francis.
"The tide hath turned, child," he ejaculated. "Fate hath at last becomepropitious to thee, for Elizabeth hath begun to look upon thee withkindness. The accident of the hair hath done for thee what naught elsehath been able to do," and he told her what the queen had said.
To his surprise Francis was not so elated as he expected. On the contraryhis words filled her with alarm.
"Said the queen of what the rumors consisted?" she asked withuneasiness.
"No, child; but there can be naught of harm in them. Thy life hath beenso innocent in thy Hampshire wilds that there is no act or thought ofthine but could be laid open to the queen. Thou hast naught to fear fromany gossip. 'Tis only when conscious of baseness that we fear to have ourlives searched. Thou hast done nothing wrong; therefore fear nothing."
"My lord," said Francis touched by his faith, "you honor me too much.Pray Heaven that you may never have cause to repent your words."
"Tut, child! why should I repent them? Now be advised by me, and takeadvantage of the humor of the queen. A good husbandman, as thou knowest,improves the sunshine to make hay. We must do likewise. It is the queen'shabit to repair to her closet to play each day upon the virginals. Thisshe doeth for the most part privately, but, as she plays markedly well,she is not ill pleased to have others hear her. Especially is this trueif it transpires accidentally. Now do you place yourself in the gallerybehind the arras. When the queen plays seem to be drawn into her presenceby the sweetness of her music, even as Orpheus drew Eurydice from amongthe demons. Then excuse thy intrusion with some well-timed phrase.Elizabeth is great, but she hath a weakness for judicious flattery thewhich, in truth, doth not ill accord with her femininity. Then, if shereceive thee graciously, throw thyself upon her mercy and confess all."
"But, my lord, doth it not savor too much of guile?" objected Francis,her spirit revolting at the manner of the transaction.
"It doth, Francis, but what would you? 'Tis the manner of all courts, andthe queen is not deceived thereby. Such things the rather appeal to herif the fashion of them be adroit. What boots the method then if the endis accomplished, and the queen pleased. No harm is done."
"My lord, I like not the style of it. It seemeth to me that nothing isever done in a straightforward manner any more. Is life full of naughtbut crookedness and devious windings and turnings? Let me go to the queenopenly, I beseech you."
"Nay; 'twill avail thee nothing. Subdue thy pride for once, and be guidedby one to whom all the ways of the court are as an open book. Thou dosthold thyself with too much of spirit. Set not thyself above those who areolder and of superior wisdom."
Francis felt the rebuke so sharply spoken, and answered in a conciliatorymanner.
"My lord, I intend not to hold my judgment higher than thine for thou artof superior wisdom and age. I am willing to be guided by thee, but Iwould that the end could be gained by other ways than those ofcrookedness."
"'Tis for thy parents' sake as well as thine," observed the other. "Thouknowest how full of anxiety they must be, and how solicitously they awaitthy return. Thou shouldst be willing to adopt any course that would allaythat uneasiness and restore thee to their arms."
"And I am willing," responded the girl with fervor. "Away, indecision!Away, doubts! No longer will I listen to ye; for what says WillShakspeare:
"'Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt.'
Speak on, my lord. Unfold again thy plan, and I will follow it, be theissue what it may."
"There spake the Stafford blood," exclaimed the nobleman approvingly."Listen, girl, then haste thee to the queen's gallery; for on the hazardof this die depends thy fortune."
Francis gave heed to all of his instructions, and then made her way tothe queen's apartment. The chamber was unoccupied, and she looked aboutin quest of some suitable hiding-place. At one end of the room themullioned window opened upon a long balcony which overlooked the privategarden. Francis resolved to place herself there rather than behind therich tapestries.
She had scarcely taken her position near an open window where she couldboth see and hear without being herself seen when Elizabeth entered. Tothe girl's consternation she was not alone, but attended by Walsingham,Burleigh, Hatton and Leicester.
Elizabeth seemed much agitated, and Francis, unwilling to be a listenerin matters of state, looked about her for some means of retiring when herattention was caught by a name.
"And thou art sure, Walsingham, of the truth of this matter? Hast thouindisputable proofs that Anthony Babington is guilty of design to murderus? Long have I known that he inclined toward the claims of our cousin,Mary of Scotland, but so too do my Lord Stafford, my Lord Percy, andother of our subjects. Yet none of these gentlemen would lift a handagainst the person of his queen. Art sure of what thou art saying?"
"I have here the proofs, Your Majesty," returned Walsingham. "Here is atablet upon which is painted the face of Babington and five others whoare associated with him in perilous enterprise, as thou seest engraved.Further: here are letters which have passed between Mary of Scotland andthe conspirators in which she commends the performance of the deed. Theact was to be committed on thy way to chapel."
"Then, my lord, if this be true, why have you not apprehended these men?Methinks that the safety of your queen should be your firstconsideration."
"Her Highness is right," cried Leicester. "Upon her life depends not onlythe safety of her ministers but the welfare of the Commonwealth."
"Pardon me, my liege lady," said Walsingham, "if I have seemed to becareless of that life which is so dear to all of us. But I wished toinvolve Mary so deeply in this conspiracy as to open the way to rid thecountry of her. Your Majesty will never be safe while that woman lives.She is a menace as long as she remains in England."
"Deport her then," suggested Elizabeth. "France would gladly receiveher."
"Nay, madam. That were to place her where she could abet the design ofPhillip to invade England. That bourne from which no traveler returns isthe only proper abode for Mary Stuart. And for thy protection, madam, Itook precautions. Ballard, the priest, as thou knowest, hath long sincebeen confined in the Tower. Babington has been lodged in mine own housewhere I could watch him. He can be taken at any time. That time hath nowcome. The warrants are issued, not only for him, but for Tilney, Savage,Tichbourne, Stafford an
d other conspirators associated in theenterprise."
Stafford! Francis gave a faint gasp, and started up in terror. Herfather? Was he to be taken with these men? But the queen was speaking:
"Lord Stafford?" she said interrogatively. "Stafford, Walsingham? Surelynot he. He is an honorable gentleman, and would not be concerned in suchfoul designs."
"Did I not tell you some time since that it was whispered in mine earthat Stafford and his son delivered letters to Mary? The whisper hathbecome a certainty. Those letters were to apprise the queen of the intentto slay thee, deliver her from custody, and raise her to the throne. Thishour will I send to arrest Lord Stafford as well as the others. Andthen----"
_SHE GAVE A FAINT GASP_]
"Death to the traitors," said Burleigh impressively. "They must perish,as must all who are traitors to England and to England's queen."
Francis waited to hear no more. Her father to be taken and tried fortreason? That would mean death. She must warn him.
She ran quickly to the other end of the balcony, and swung herself overthe balustrade. Hastily she made her way through the grounds to LordShrope's lodgings, bursting in upon that astonished nobleman just as hewas about to partake of his dinner.