this that he spoke to Cis, but whatever she ventured to tell him of
the Queen was listened to with delight as an extreme favour, which
set her tongue off with all the eager pleasure of a girl, telling
what she alone can tell.

All through the banquet they talked, for Babington had much to ask of
all the members of the household whom he had known. And after the
feast was over and the hall was cleared for dancing, Antony was
still, by etiquette, her partner for the evening. The young bride
and bridegroom had first to perform a stately pavise before the whole
assembly in the centre of the floor, in which, poor young things,
they acquitted themselves much as if they were in the dancing-
master's hands. Then her father led out his mother, and vice verse.
The bridegroom had no grandparents, but the stately Earl handed forth
his little active wiry Countess, bowing over her with a grand stiff
devotion as genuine and earnest as at their wedding twenty years
previously, for the reconciliation had been complete, and had
restored all her ascendency over him. Theirs, as Mistress Susan
exultingly agreed with a Hardwicke kinsman not seen for many years,
was the grandest and most featly of all the performances. All the
time each pair were performing, the others were awaiting their turn,
the ladies in rows on benches or settles, the gentlemen sometimes
standing before them, sometimes sitting on cushions or steps at their
feet, sometimes handing them comfits of sugar or dried fruits.

The number of gentlemen was greatly in excess, so that Humfrey had no
such agreeable occupation, but had to stand in a herd among other
young men, watching with no gratified eye Antony Babington, in a
graceful attitude at Cicely's feet, while she conversed with him with
untiring animation.