Then the clergyman pronounced the blessing, and the congregation dispersed, the village people to their homes, the Sidneys towards the gate leading into the pleasance, which lay on the side of the house nearest to the church.
Mary Gifford held back, in spite of Lucy's entreaties to her to go forward.
'They will all have passed in, Mary,' she exclaimed in an agony of excitement. 'Were we not bidden to see the Countess by Mr Sidney himself.'
But Mary was always modest and retiring, and she stood with Ambrose and her sister awaiting a summons.
It came at last. Humphrey Ratcliffe was at her side, saying,—
'My Lady of Pembroke would fain speak with Lucy. Come forward with me.'
As they followed Humphrey through the gateway in the wall, Lucy could scarcely conceal her agitation.
What should she say? What if Lady Pembroke thought her too young and too ignorant? She had pictured to herself that Mr Sidney would himself have led her to his sister, but he was gone out of sight, and she heard one of the gentlemen say to Humphrey,—
'Sir Fulke Greville has arrived with a message from the Queen. Mr Sidney has gone round to meet him.'
'Ill news, I wonder?' Humphrey said.