“A very personable gentleman, is he not?”
“Madam,” rejoined the Countess, who was very lovely in herself, and of a bright and sociable disposition;—“I have often thought it would be more pleasant and profitable for all of us if we had many such personable gentlemen with us oftener!”
A slight frown of annoyance crossed the Queen’s face. The Countess was a very charming lady; very fascinating in her own way, but her decided predilection for the sterner sex often led her to touch on dangerous ground with her Royal mistress. This time, however, she escaped the chilling retort her remark might possibly, on another occasion, have called down upon her. The Queen said nothing. She sat watching the sea,—and now and again took up her field-glass to study the picturesque coast of The Islands, which was rapidly coming into view. Teresa de Launay, the second lady in attendance on her, was reading, and, seeing her quite absorbed in her book, the Queen presently asked her what it contained.
“You have smiled twice over that book, Teresa,” she said kindly;—“What is it about?”
“Madam, it speaks of love!” replied Teresa, still smiling.
“And love makes you smile?”
“I would rather smile than weep over it, Madam!” replied Teresa, with a slight colour warming her fair face;—“But as concerns this book, I smile, because it is full of such foolish verses,—as light and sweet—and almost as cloying,—as French fondants!”
“Let me hear!” said the Queen; “Read me a few lines.”
“This one, called ‘A Canzonet’ is brief enough for your Majesty’s immediate consideration,” replied Teresa;—“It is just such a thing as a man might scribble in his note-book after a bout of champagne, when he is in love for ten minutes! He would not mean a word of it,—but it might sound pretty by moonlight!” Whereupon she read aloud:—
My Lady is pleased to smile,
And the world is glad and gay;
My Lady is pleased to weep;—
And it rains the livelong day!
My Lady is pleased to hate,
And I lose my life and my breath;
My Lady is pleased to love,—
And I am the master of Death!
I know that my Lady is Love,
By the magical light about her;
I know that my Lady is Life,
For I cannot live without her!