“Come here, my lad.”
Francis approached diffidently, and, unused to the customs of the court, remained standing.
“Kneel, boy,” whispered one of the ladies whom she afterward learned was the Duchess of Rutland. “Where are thy manners?”
“Thy pardon,” murmured Francis in consternation sinking upon one knee. “I knew not. I——”
“There! ’tis naught.” Elizabeth extended her hand graciously, and the girl retained presence of mind enough to kiss it respectfully. “My good Rutland, expect not court manners in the midst of a forest. The youth means well enough, I dare say, and I liked well his words of welcome. ’Tis a pretty lad! His tresses match our own for brightness.”
Francis looked up somewhat indignantly. Her locks were of red in truth, but they were glossy and lustrous becoming golden in the sun, while Elizabeth’s were a dull red and false.
“Oh, no, Your Majesty;” interposed one of the ladies. “The lad’s hair is well enough, but I should as soon think of likening a weed 108 to a rose as of comparing such lack-lustre locks to your liege’s.”
“Foolish girl!” chided Elizabeth though a smile played about her lips for this great queen did not object to the most fulsome flattery. “To speak such words to me who am an old woman. Now the lad, we dare affirm, doth not think me so fair as his mother who is, in truth, a beautiful woman. Speak, boy!” She smiled at Francis as she spoke and rearranged her draperies coquettishly.
Francis’ young nature was filled with scorn for the vanity of the woman before her, queen though she was. Her mother’s face arose before her with its delicate complexion guiltless of the powder and the rouge affected by the ladies of the court. Her tresses were streaked somewhat with gray, but they were still her own. Her eyes were as blue as periwinkles and full of tenderness and love. The girl’s eyes swept the painted face above her, and her heart grew hot within her breast at the queen’s question. Amazed at her own audacity she arose and said boldly:
“Madam, I crave pardon, but my mother is to me the fairest woman in the world.” 109