laughter from everybody, including the king. Mary laughed also, but,
as Brandon was handing Buckingham his blade, came up and demanded:

"My lord, is this the way you take it upon yourself to receive my
guests? Who appointed you, let me ask, to guard my door? We shall have
to omit your name 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 you when I say that he had often
received worse treatment, but clung to the girl's skirts all the more
tenaciously. Turning to Brandon the princess said:

"Master Brandon, I am glad to see you, and regret exceedingly that our
friend of Buckingham should so thirst for your blood." She then led
him to the king and queen, to whom he made his bow, and the pair
continued their walk about the room. Mary again alluded to the
skirmish at the door, and said laughingly:

"I would have come to your help, but I knew you were amply able to
take care of yourself. I was sure you would worst the duke in some
way. It was better than a mummery, and I was glad to see it. I do not
like him."

The king did not open these private balls, as he was supposed, at
least, not to be their patron, and the queen, who was considerably
older than Henry, was averse to such things. So the princess opened
her own balls, dancing for a few minutes with the 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 drifted into a corner of the room back of a