mule at the door, sideways, with her feet on a board, as little
children now ride, and attended by a whole troop of gentlemen ushers,
maidens, prickers, and running footmen. She was a woman of the same
type as the Queen, which was of course enough to stamp her as a
celebrated beauty, and though she had reached middle age, her pale,
clear complexion and delicate features were well preserved. Her chin
was too sharp, and there was something too thin and keen about her
nose and lips to promise good temper. She was small of stature, but
she made up for it in dignity of presence, and as she sat there, with
her rich embroidered green satin farthingale spreading out over the
mule, her tall ruff standing up fanlike on her shoulders, her riding-
rod in her hand, and her master of the horse standing at her rein,
while a gentleman usher wielded an enormous, long-handled, green fan,
to keep the sun from incommoding her, she was, perhaps, even more
magnificent than the maiden queen herself might have been in her more
private expeditions. Indeed, she was new to her dignity as Countess,
having been only a few weeks married to the Earl, her fourth husband.
Captain Talbot did not feel it derogatory to his dignity as a
gentleman to advance with his hat in his hand to kiss her hand, and
put a knee to the ground as he invited her to alight, an invitation
his wife heard with dismay as she reached the door, for things were
by no means yet as they should be in the hall. She curtsied low, and
advanced with her son holding her hand, but shrinking behind her.

"Ha, kinswoman, is it thou!" was her greeting, as she, too, kissed
the small, shapely, white, but exceedingly strong hand that was
extended to her; "So thou art come, and high time too. Thou shouldst
never have gone a-gadding to Hull, living in lodgings; awaiting thine
husband, forsooth. Thou art over young a matron for such gear, and
so I told Diccon Talbot long ago."