"Spanish ships and men, madam, ah! and how would it be with my
father--Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, I mean?"

"Not a hair of their heads shall be touched, child. We will send
down a chosen troop to protect them, with Babington at its head if
thou wilt. But," added the Queen, recollecting herself, and
perceiving that she had startled and even shocked her daughter, "it
is not to be to-morrow, nor for many a weary month. All that is here
demanded is whether, all being well, he might look for my hand as his
guerdon. Shall I propose thine instead?"

"O madam, he is an old man and full of gout!"

"Well! we will not pull caps for him just yet. And see, thou must be
secret as the grave, child, or thou wilt ruin thy mother. I ought
not to have told thee, but the surprise was too much for me, and thou
canst keep a secret. Leave me now, child, and send me Monsieur Nau."

The next time any converse was held between mother and daughter,
Queen Mary said, "Will it grieve thee much, my lassie, to return
this bauble, on the plea of thy duty to the good couple at
Bridgefield?"

After all Cicely had become so fond of the curious and ingenious egg
that she was rather sorry to part with it, and there was a little
dismal resignation in her answer, "I will do your bidding, madam."

"Thou shalt have a better. I will write to Chateauneuf for the
choicest that Paris can furnish," said Mary, "but seest thou, none