judged to suit the Queen's taste, and to become the character of
young mariners from the West. Humfrey had a dainty jewel of shell-
work from the spoils of Carthagena, entrusted to him by Drake to
present to the Queen as a foretaste of what was to come. Lady Talbot
greatly admired its novelty and beauty, and thought the Queen would
be enchanted with it, giving him a pretty little perfumed box to
present it in.

Lord Talbot, well pleased to introduce his spirited young cousins,
took them in his boat to Richmond, which they reached just as the
evening coolness came on. They were told that her Majesty was
walking in the Park, and thither, so soon as the ruffs had been
adjusted and the fresh Spanish gloves drawn on, they resorted.

The Queen walked freely there without guards--without even swords
being worn by the gentlemen in attendance--loving as she did to
display her confidence in her people. No precautions were taken, but
they were allowed to gather together on the greensward to watch her,
as among the beautiful shady trees she paced along.

The eyes of the two youths were eagerly directed towards her, as they
followed Lord Talbot. Was she not indeed the cynosure of all the
realm? Did she not hold the heart of every loyal Englishman by an
invisible rein? Was not her favour their dream and their reward?
She was a little in advance of her suite. Her hair, of that light
sandy tint which is slow to whiten, was built up in curls under a
rich stiff coif, covered with silver lace, and lifted high at the
temples. From this a light gauze veil hung round her shoulders and
over her splendid standing ruff, which stood up like the erected neck
ornaments of some birds, opening in front, and showing the lesser