Elizabeth. Wonder, Mary! Wonder! And when you know why I do what I do you shall be Queen instead of me. In the meantime you may learn the trade, if you choose. I give you a kingdom to rule in the likeness of a poor player. Let me see how you do it! Yet mark this—though with fair cheeks and black hair you may come by a coronet (but the Earl goes to Ireland) yet if you rule your kingdom by the glance of your eyes, you will lose it as other Maries have done.
Mary. I must reign in my own way—forgive me, Madam!—not yours.
Elizabeth. Girl, do you think you could ever rule in mine? Well, try your way! But—between queens, Mary—one kingdom at a time!
Elizabeth goes out.
Mary [she sits on the table edge, swinging her pretty foot]. So Pembroke goes to Ireland! Ay, and comes back, old winter! I can wait. And while I wait—Shakespeare! Will Shakespeare! O charity—I wish it were Marlowe! What did the old woman say? A kingdom in the likeness of a player. I wonder. Well, we’ll explore. Yet I wish it were Marlowe. [Shakespeare enters.] Ah! here comes poor Mr. Shakespeare looking for the Queen and finding—
Shakespeare. The Queen!
Mary. Hush! Palace walls! Well, Mr. Shakespeare, what’s the news?
Shakespeare. Good, bad and indifferent.
Mary. Take the bad first.
Shakespeare. The bad?—that I have not seen you some five weeks! The good—that I have now seen you some five seconds! The indifferent—that you do not care one pin whether I see you or not for the next five years!