“Thou’rt a bold lass,” said the Queen, but she stooped still lower.
“I want to warn you,” said Elfrida, quickly whispering, “and don’t not pay attention because I’m only a little girl. I know. You may think I don’t know, but I do. I want to warn you——”
“Already once, this morning I have been warned,” said the Queen. “What croaking voices for May-day!”
“Who warned you, your Majesty?”
“An old hag who came to my chamber in spite of my maids, said she had a May charm to keep my looks and my lord’s love.”
“What was the charm?” Elfrida asked eagerly, forgetting to say “Majesty” again.
“It was quite simple,” said the Queen. “I was to keep my looks and my love so long as I never dropped a kerchief. But if I dropped a kerchief I should lose more than my looks and my love; she said I should lose my head,”—the Queen laughed low,—“within certain days from the dropping of that kerchief—this head you see here;” she laughed again.
“Don’t, oh, don’t!” said Elfrida. “Nineteen days, that’s the warning—I do hope it’ll do some good. I do like you, dear Queen. You are so strong and splendid. I would like to be like you when I grow up.”
The Queen’s fine face looked troubled.
“Please Heaven, thou’lt be better than I,” she said, stooping lower still from her horse; Elfrida standing on tip-toe, she kissed her.