“Brought thee the horns in trophy of thy skill?” repeated the girl in wrathful incredulity. “Brought them to thee, forsooth! Why, minion, thou didst not kill the deer. I slew it myself.”
“Marry! dost thou take thy sister’s quarrel 104 upon thee,” cried the boy. “Know then that I slew it, and I am ready to maintain the matter by force of arms.”
“Francis,” Greville came up opportunely at this moment, “thou art forgetting thyself. Thy mother wishes thy presence. Why doth thou show choler toward this lad? Why, it is the lad who shot the deer!”
“You too, Greville,” exclaimed Francis bitterly. “I think the sight of Elizabeth hath addled thy wits. As for you, young sir, ’tis well that my duty to my mother calls me hence else thou shouldst not get off so easily.”
“At another time then,” replied the boy, “thou wilt find me at thy service. We can settle our difference then.”
“Now heaven forfend!” ejaculated the tutor urging Francis away. “This comes of donning male habit. I will report the matter to my lady, Francis. She will see to’t that thou dost conduct thyself in more seemly manner. ’Twould but amuse my lord.”
“Keep a still tongue in thy head, cousin,” said the girl sharply. “Meddle not with that that doth not concern thee. Couldst thou 105 not see that the fellow did but laud himself? The varlet dare not meet me.”
“Methought he spoke not without courage,” observed Greville. “I should judge by his dress that his rank was equal to thine.”
“His dress, forsooth! What doth hinder any hind from appearing in rich attire?”
“The law of the queen. It regulates dress according to rank, and works with severity against those who dare transgress it,” returned Greville. “There stands thy lady mother. I entreat thee, girl, abide close by her side during the queen’s visit else thy sharp tongue may work mischief for all of us. My lady, here is the child.”