“My sister?” The girl wheeled about, 102 and uttered an exclamation of amazement as she recognized the speaker. “What dost thou here?” she demanded sternly. “And why art thou in that attire?”
The boy, for it was the lad who had shot the deer in the chase, gave vent to a low laugh.
“I came to see the queen. Why should I not? I am her leal and true subject, which is more than thou canst say even if thou didst rattle off her welcome so glibly in Latin. As for my dress, it is my own. Why should I not wear it, Master Stafford?”
“I am as true a subject to the queen as thou art,” retorted Francis. “Why art thou here? Thou shouldst be in durance for the deer which thou didst shoot in the forest,” and a sneer curled her lips.
“So she told you of it,” exclaimed the lad.
“She? Whom mean you?” queried Francis in bewilderment.
“Thy sister, stupid. How else couldst thou have known of the deer? Truly, thou art as much like her as one pea is to another. Should you but don her frock there would 103 be none that could tell ye apart. Where is she?”
Francis laughed outright as the lad’s mistake dawned upon her, and a merry twinkle came into her eyes.
“My sister is occupied,” she answered mischievously. “Marry! it were well for thee that it was she with whom thou didst dispute over the deer. But thou hast been punished enough, else I would not let thee leave this hall before thou wouldst feel the weight of my whip.”
“Beshrew me, I like not thy brag,” cried the other angrily. “Know, Master Stafford, that I was not punished. So soon as the keepers found who and what I was they made apology for treating me in such an unmannerly fashion, and brought me the horns of the deer as trophy of my skill. They now repose in mine own abode.”