she held the paper over it, and soon saw pale yellow characters
appear and deepen into a sort of brown or green, in which she read,
"My little jewel must share the ring with none less precious. Yet be
not amazed if commendations as from me be brought thee. Jewels are
sometimes useful to dazzle the eyes of those who shall never possess
them. Therefore seem not cold nor over coy, so as to take away all
hope. It may be much for my service. Thou art discreet, and thy
good guardians will hinder all from going too far. It might be well
that he should deem thee and me inclined to what they oppose. Be
secret. Keep thine own counsel, and let them not even guess what
thou hast here read. So fare thee well, with my longing, yearning
blessing."

Cicely hastily hid the letter in the large housewifely pocket
attached to her girdle, feeling excited and important at having a
real secret unguessed by any one, and yet experiencing some of the
reluctance natural to the pupil of Susan Talbot at the notion of
acting a part towards Babington. She really liked him, and her heart
warmed to him as a true friend of her much-injured mother, so that it
seemed the more cruel to delude him with false hopes. Yet here was
she asked to do a real service to her mother!

Poor Cis, she knelt gazing perplexed into the embers, now and then
touching a stick to make them glow, till Nat, the chief of "the old
blue bottles of serving-men," came in to lay the cloth for dinner,
exclaiming, "So, Mistress Cis! Madam doth cocker thee truly, letting
thee dream over the coals, till thy face be as red as my Lady's new
farthingale, while she is toiling away like a very scullion."