Walter," said Mistress Elizabeth, sobbing more violently; "but I must leave this place. Do take me away. I cannot stay here but a very short time longer without utter destruction to thy fortunes. Oh! take me away, Walter-take me away!"

"It shall be as thou desirest, sweetest," replied Raleigh, stooping down and kissing her cheek. "I have already arranged with thy father for a private marriage before I embark on a voyage, the good results of which I hope will win my pardon from the queen."

"Thanks, dear Walter," exclaimed she, looking gratefully upon him through her tears; "thou art always good, and noble, and generous: but I am fearful it will be thy utter undoing."

"Think not of it, Bess," said her lover kindly, "and then it cannot fright thee. But the danger is none so imminent. I shall not let her majesty know of our marriage if it can be helped. Thou shalt get away from here as if on a visit to thy father in Aldgate, and so excite no suspicion; in the meantime, I will increase my attentions to the queen, so that she shall have no reason to quarrel with my behaviour; and when thou art secure in thy asylum, I shall start in my good ships for the voyage I intend."

"I would not have thee anger the queen for worlds," observed the other, "for it is in her power to make thy fortunes, or mar them. Elizabeth hath a very woman's heart in some things, though she be masculine enough in others; and she loveth the adulation of handsome men. She much regardeth thee, dear Walter, I know, and from that I am fearful that her knowledge of thy marriage will deeply affect thy prosperity. Indeed, I would rather die than that thou shouldst receive injury for my sake."

"O'my life, thou art a most admirable creature," exclaimed Sir Walter, as he rapturously pressed her within his arms, "and I should be totally unworthy of possessing that rich argosie, thy affections, were I not to risk my life, and all that to it do belong, in endeavouring to secure thy peace of mind. I fear not consequences in such a case, dear Bess. As for the queen, I know that flattery is rarely unacceptable to her; and her name and thine being the same, I can easily quiet the scruples of my conscience, if they say aught against my insincerity, by imagining that it is to thee my homage is addressed."

"I care not, Walter, what thou sayest or what thou doest, as long as thou holdest thy proper quality and station in the court," replied the devoted woman; and then, with a sudden look of right earnest affection, continued, "thy proper quality, said I?-nay, if thou attainest that, by my troth, thou wouldst be king of them all."

"Oh, thou outrageous flatterer," cried Raleigh, sportively shaking his head at her.

"Tis no flattery, dear Walter-'tis the very truth," said Mistress Elizabeth fondly. "And who can look on thy noble form clad in these princely vestments, and not say the same? But above all, who can regard thy noble mind-that costly jewel in a rich case-and deny thy pre-eminence ?"

"Bess! Bess! if thou goest on at this rate," replied Sir Walter with an assumed gravity, "I shall be reduced to follow the obsolete custom

of blushing, which will bear hardly upon me, seeing that I lack blushes most abominably."

At this moment a quick light footstep was heard proceeding along the corridor, and Mistress Elizabeth, as soon as she recognised it, disengaged herself from the embraces of her lover, hastened to the door, which she immediately unfastened, and opening it, gave entrance to her cousin Alice.

"A plague on this love, say I," exclaimed she laughingly, as she bounced into the room nearly out of breath.

"What's the matter, Alice?" enquired her cousin anxiously. 'Ay, what's the matter, sweet coz !" added Sir Walter.

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"Coz! coz, indeed !" cried Alice, somewhat disdainfully, yet with an arch glance of her eye, as she turned sharp round upon the last speaker-"I prythee keep thy coz-ening for those who will listen to thee. I'll have none on't."

"I'faith, Alice, if thy wit be always so sharp, thou wilt lead apes in the next world, depend on't," said Raleigh.

"I don't know, sweet sir, whether there be apes in the next world," said she, with a curtsey to the ground, "but o'my word there be nothing else to lead in this, as I can see." At this Sir Walter good humouredly did laugh outright; in which he was heartily joined by his merry companion.

"But what brought thee into the room so post-haste, Alice?” enquired Mistress Elizabeth.

"Marry, matter enough," replied she: "there be the queen's majesty in her chamber enquiring most piteously for her captain of the guard, and sending the ushers and the grooms in all directions after the lost sheep. I being asked if I knew where he was to be found, did innocently answer, that having for some time past suspected him of the criminal intention of setting the Thames on fire, I did opine that he might be met with in the buttery, begging the loan of a waxtaper for the nonce."

"I'll give thee a beating for that," cried Sir Walter laughingly, as following her round the chamber, with his glove he did whip her over the shoulder, while she, ducking her pretty head, cried out, and sought to avoid the blows.

"Help, good coz, help!" she cried to her cousin, who stood by, shewing by her sweet smiling countenance that she did mightily enjoy the scene. Help! or this valiant Sir Walter Raleigh, who maketh war upon women, will get the better of me."

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"Nay, Alice, I'll help thee not-for thou dost richly deserve all that thou receivest," said Mistress Elizabeth.

"Confess that thou hast slandered me, thou pretty mischief," exclaimed Raleigh, holding up the glove threateningly, as she crouched down at his feet.

"I will confess, holy father," replied she, with an admirable mock seriousness, as she put her palms together, and turned up her brilliant eyes to his-all the while a smile playing about her dimpled cheek that gave to her face an expression of archness infinitely pleasant to look upon.

"In the first place, holy father, the queen is not in her chamber, because she is still with the lords of the council."

"Oh, thou abominable transgressor!" cried Sir Walter, with all the seriousness he could assume.

"In the second place, she hath not sent for thee, because she requireth thee not.”

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Daughter! daughter! thy iniquity is palpable," said he with the same gravity.

"In the last place, I have just met with master secretary, who saith that the council is about to break up, and enquired if I had seen thee. Thereupon I sent him where I knew he would not find thee, and hastened to where I knew I should."

"Thou must do penance for this," observed Raleigh; then somewhat maliciously added, "therefore I do condemn thee to the scarcely endurable punishment of holding thy tongue for a whole hour." "I' faith thou hast it this time, Alice!" exclaimed Mistress Elizabeth, with undisguised glee.

"And now, beauties, I must be under the painful necessity of hurrying my departure," said Sir Walter, taking up his hat, and gallantly bowing to the fair cousins; then smiling triumphantly on the laughing Alice, who had remained on the floor where he had left her, wearing the most pitiful face that eye ever beheld, he was about to make his exit, when Mistress Elizabeth rushed before him.

"Stop, Walter," cried she, hastily, "till I see if the coast be clear for thee," as she opened the door, and looking out cautiously, immediately added, in a more subdued voice,-"'tis as it should be; and now, dear Walter, let me once more entreat of thee to keep on good terms with the queen."

"I will strive all I can, dear Bess,"replied her lover, affectionately raising her hand to his lips, "and be sure that thou make proper and speedy preparations for thy departure from this place."

"I will not fail," said the beautiful woman; and, in the next moment, she was watching the noble form of her affianced husband retreating with hasty strides along the corridor.

Sir Walter Raleigh proceeded onwards, passing several doors on each side of him, and various passages that led to divers parts of the palace, till he came to a staircase of fair proportions, the balastrades of which were finely carved, having at their extremities rampant lions, most ingeniously wrought out of the solid wood. At the bottom of this flight of steps he passed sundry of the yeomen of the guard, placed there upon duty, who gave him instant salutation; and still advancing, met with pages, grooms, and ushers, hastening on their business, who, with great show of respect, did do him reverence. With these were sometimes mingled the higher officers of the palace, and gentlemen and noblemen of the court, either intent upon their duties, or discoursing with one another, as they walked carelessly along, and with them he did exchange abundance of courtesies. As he was turning sharply round a corner, he came suddenly against a courtier of a very notable aspect, and of right commendable habili– ments; his face was fair to look upon, and dressed with a constant smile. An observer might suppose him of an ingenuous nature, and

of a remarkable honesty; gentle in his behaviour, upright in his conduct, and chivalrous in his disposition yet was he a thorough courtier, as will anon be made manifest to the reader. He was young; that is to say, of some thirty years or so; and being of a handsome figure and countenance, his apparel, though it lacked the splendour of Sir Walter Raleigh's, was evidently worn to set them off to the best advantage.

"Odds pittikins, Sir Walter," exclaimed he, laughingly, as he recovered himself from the shock, "dost take me for a Spanish galleon, that thou runnest me down in this pitiless fashion?"

"Thy pardon, my good lord," replied Sir Walter, as he held out his hand, which the other shook with all the fervour of old friendship, "Lord Henry Howard hath so proved himself the queen's good soldier, as to make it impossible for any one to take him for a Spaniard."

"Nay, thou flatterest me there," said the Lord Howard, with an appearance of considerable modesty, "I did but follow the example of that worthy and approved good knight, Sir Walter Raleigh,-and but at a humble distance, as all must who would tread in his valiant footsteps. But, confess-confess thee, man! wert thou not dreaming of another armada, and wert intent on boarding the biggest ship of them all, when thou didst bear down upon me with thy whole broadside so courageously?"

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Indeed, my lord, I was thinking of a different matter,” replied his companion.

"I doubt thee hugely," responded the other, shaking his head, "for'tis so much in thy fashion. Then wert thou busying thymost fruitful imagination in search of new discoveries, and, instead of steering into some delectable bay, full of all enticing prospects, thou of a sudden didst drop thy anchor upon my new doublet :—was it not so?" "Thou art again in the wrong, my lord," replied Sir Walter, smiling; "I was on no such voyage. I am bound to her majesty, where my attendance is required. If nothing better await thy pleasure, will it please thee walk with me, my lord ?"

"I am infinitely gratified by thy courtesy," said Lord Henry, with a most courtier-like inclination of his head, as he proceeded alongside of his companion, " and will do myself that honour. The queen is expected in the presence chamber, on her return from the council; and I was but making a stroll in the mean while, when thou didst me the especial favour of nearly running me down. But what a superlative taste thou hast in thy appointments," suddenly exclaimed he, as he noticed the splendid attire of Sir Walter; "tis most exquisitely fashioned, and of a very dainty conceit."

"Dost like it, my lord ?" enquired Raleigh, carelessly.

"On mine honour, I admire it hugely," responded his lordship, with a vast shew of admiration. "I marvel not thou shouldst be the very model of dress amongst us, for thou art truly delicate in the choice of thy fabrics, and infinitely curious in the manner in which they are to be worn. I do know a certain lord who would give his ears, had he thy apprehension of these things."

"Be his ears so long then, that he would get rid of them for so

trifling a result?" asked his companion, with some affectation of

seriousness.

"In truth thou hast hit it," exclaimed the Lord Howard, with a hearty laugh. "Between ourselves, he is marvellously apt to play Midas to thy Apollo."

"By what name goeth he?" enquired Sir Walter; "for as far as my penetration sufficeth, I know of none such."

"Dost not know the Earl of Essex ?" whispered the other.

"Most assuredly do I, for a gentleman of many noble qualities," replied Raleigh.

I tell thee, out of friendship, he doth affect thee not at all," said his lordship, in the same low voice.

"Then hath some villain slandered me to him," observed his companion, quickly; "for, although he hath his faults—as who hath not? I do believe him to be of a right honourable nature."

"I have ofttimes heard him speak slightingly of thee, Sir Walter -by this hand have I," continued his lordship, with increased emphasis, yet still in a subdued tone.

"Thou must have mistaken his meaning, surely," responded the other,." I have done him no offence. But he may speak slightingly of me without disparagement, my good lord, for possibly I may not have done sufficient to deserve his eulogy."

"I tell thee, in friendship and in secresy, noble Raleigh-for it be dangerous to say anything against one so high in favour-that he hath disparaged thee villanously, ever since thy quarrel with that ruffianly follower of his, Sir Roger Williams."

"Ha!" exclaimed Sir Walter, turning round quickly, and looking his companion full in the face.

"Thou hast done too much to please him, noble Raleigh: thy gallant actions are ever before his eyes-thy well deserved praises are continually ringing in his ears. He must make comparisons; and whenever he doth compare himself with thee, either in appearance, in wisdom, or in honourable deeds, he findeth himself at a disadvantage; and that doth fret him hugely. Thou knowest he is proud-and that proud men are vain-and that vain men are apt to undervalue the qualities they do not themselves possess. Marvel not, therefore, that he doth not appreciate thee according to thy exceeding merits. I tell thee this, out of my infinite love for thee, wishing to put thee on thy guard."

"I am much beholden to thee for thy consideration," replied Sir Walter, as if musing upon what he had heard; "and yet he hath always been, to all appearance, most friendly disposed towards me.' "To all appearance, I grant," added his lordship, dwelling in a marked manner upon the words; "but thou mayest rely upon what I have stated. Use it as it pleaseth thee, noble Raleigh; but well convinced am I, that what I have said out of affection, thou wilt employ after such a fashion as may not be likely to do me an injury." Depend on it, thy interests shall be well cared for," responded Sir Walter.

The preceding conversation continued whilst the parties proceeded along sundry passages and through various suites of rooms magni