he wished to spend at Wingfield.

Sadler was one of Mary's most gentle and courteous warders, and he
spoke of her with much kindness, regretting that her health had again
begun to suffer from the approach of winter, and far more from
disappointment.

The negotiation with Scotland on her behalf was now known to have
been abortive. James had fallen into the hands of the faction most
hostile to her, and though his mother still clung with desperate hope
to the trust that he, at least, was labouring on her behalf, no one
else believed that he cared for anything but his own security, and
even she had been forced to perceive that her liberation was again
adjourned.

"And what think you was her thought when she found that road closed
up?" said Sir Ralf. "Why, for her people! Her gentlewoman, Mrs.
Mowbray, hath, it seems, been long betrothed."

"Ay, to Gilbert Curll, the long-backed Scotch Secretary. They were
to be wed at Stirling so soon as she arrived there again."

"Yea; but when she read the letter that overthrew her hopes, what did
she say but that 'her servants must not grow gray-headed with waiting
till she was set free'! So she would have me make the case known to
Sir Parson, and we had them married in the parish church two days
since, they being both good Protestants."

"There is no doubt that her kindness of heart is true," said Richard.
"The poor folk at Sheffield and Ecclesfield will miss her plentiful