QUEEN ELIZABETH ON PARADE.
"Why, no," said Mr. George, "I don't know that we ought to consider her an old hag for this. It was human nature, that is all. She may have been sincere in her grief at Mary's death, while yet she consented to it, and even desired it, beforehand. We often wish to have a thing done, and yet are very sorry for it after it is done.
"You see," continued Mr. George, "Queen Elizabeth was a very proud and ambitious woman. She was very fond of the power, and also of the pomp and parade of royalty; and she could not endure that any one should ever question her claim to the crown."
"Well," said Waldron, "at any rate I am sorry for poor Mary."
After this, Mr. George and the boys went down the staircase where they had come up, to the court, and then proceeding along the piazza to the back corner of it, they passed through an open door that led them to the ruins of the old abbey, which stood on this spot some centuries before the palace was built. There was nothing left of this ancient edifice but the walls, and some of the pillars of the chapel. The roof was gone, and every thing was in a state of dilapidation and ruin.
There was a guide there who pointed out the place where Mary stood at the time of her marriage with Lord Darnley. The grass was growing on the spot, and above, all was open to the sky. Multitudes of birds were flying about, and chirping mournfully around the naked and crumbling walls.
