"And, Frederick, what dost thou think?" I asked.
"Verily, Walter, I was about to tell thee at the door—and since it had escaped my mind—of how I did mistrust that same packet until I saw ye both arrive safe and free." Then it was that he told me of his meeting Catesby as he left the Palace.
"And dost thou think it safe to go unto this house mentioned in the writing?"
"Well, since the rest of the directions have been so trustworthy I can see no danger in following the remainder. Besides," he continued, "there seemeth to be no other way so secure."
"Well, as no more time may be spared, methinks we had better start. I shame to doubt the writer's good intent, after the great favour he hath done me.
"Say farewell, for the present, my dear. We shall be back this evening."
Tenderly the ex-Queen embraced Hazel; and as I knelt she laid her gentle hand upon my head and said:—
"God protect thee, Sir Walter, and send thee back to me, with yon fair child, which loveth thee so dearly, safe to her widowed foster mother."
"Amen," said I softly, from the bottom of my heart.
"Farewell, dearest Hazel, and may the angels guard thee from, and strike dead those which could so much as harm thee with a thought," sobbed loving little Mary, as the two dear girls embraced and kissed each other.