to the musicians to direct their play, imagine, if you can, my
surprise when the leader said:

"Master, we have our orders for the first dance from the princess."

Imagine, also, if you can, my double surprise and alarm, nay, almost
my terror, when the band struck up Jane's "Sailor Lass." I saw the
look of surprise and inquiry which Brandon gave Mary, standing there
demurely by his side, when he first heard the music, and I 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 half way
around, and then a great clapping of hands, in which the king himself
joined. It was a lovely sight, although, I think, a graceful woman is
more beautiful in La Galliard than any other dance, or, in fact, any
other situation in which she can place herself.

After a little time the Dowager Duchess of Kent, first lady in waiting
to the queen, presented herself at the musicians' gallery and said
that her majesty had ordered the music stopped, and the musicians, of
course, ceased playing at once. Mary thereupon turned quickly to me:

"Master, are our musicians weary that they stop before we are
through?"

The queen answered for me in a high-voiced Spanish accent: "I ordered
the music stopped; I will not permit such an indecent exhibition to go
on longer."